wuh tor nam-tor tel-tor's gas'rak el'ru kosu = the to be bonded's right hand woman
Tyler turned with folded arms from the direction of the observation windows. He saw the captain in the familiar green shirt that highlighted his muscular figure with broad shoulders. The bright blue eyes contrasting against the nightlights. The bright morning light highlighted the white corridors with a beige like ceiling. Lorca came over to the security officer's side with hands linked behind his back.
"Captain," Tyler said.
"We're off duty," Lorca said. "Call me Gabriel."
"I have gone rusty being away for so long," Tyler shook his head. "You should be sleeping."
"And so should you," Lorca said. "I had a feeling that one of my morning officers wasn't sleeping."
"I see . . . him. . every time I lay on a bed and try to sleep," Tyler said. "The counselor told me that the first step to reclaiming my life is to reclaim the bed."
"You can't put yourself to do it," Lorca said.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Tyler asked. "I feel like there is."
"Everyone has that difficulty after being victimized," Lorca said. "I once knew a victim. Back aboard the Buran."
"How did she do it?" Tyler said.
"She had a cat," Lorca said. "the cat was killed in the explosion."
"Getting myself a pet for emotional support wouldn't be one of Starfleet's priorities," Tyler said.
"Actually, that is not true," Lorca said. Tyler turned his head in the direction of the captain. "come with me."
"All right," Tyler said.
Tyler and Lorca left the observation deck then headed down the corridor passing by several science officers including a sleep walking Lurelle. The two men stopped in their tracks. Lorca tagged after the Andorian then assigned him over to a security officer. Lurelle slumped against the muscular woman's chest as he snored. Lorca dismissed the lieutenant then returned to what he was doing as he dusted his hands off. The two men vanished along the corridor reappearing at the doors to Lorca's cabin. Lorca gestured the man onto the bed. Tyler looked on, confused, but obeyed. Lorca came out of his cabin holding onto something quite large in his arms that was purring loudly. The partial light pouring in to the room allowed him to see that it was furry and brown.
"This is Merkin," Lorca said, placing the tribble onto Tyler's lap.
Tyler looked up toward the captain.
"Do they help you sleep?" Tyler asked.
"They do," Lorca said.
"I feel bad that I am taking your support animal," Tyler said.
"Don't be," Lorca said, gripping the man's shoulder tightly. Lorca watched the wearyiest of smiles grow on the man's face.
"You didn't have to do this," Tyler said.
"You were wandering the halls with a night crew looking to make yourself useful. You are not exactly Superman, Ash," Lorca said. "I used to be that way, though I was always found by Doctor Soval and sometimes confined to my quarters. Good times."
"You're talking about it like it is a good thing," Tyler said.
"It is," Lorca said. "I had read everything aboard this ship when Ephraim gave me Merkin."
Lorca sat down alongside Tyler on the bed.
"Maranville would have liked you," Tyler said.
"Captains can admire the greats from a distance and become great themselves," Lorca said.
"As he did," Tyler said, gently stroking Merkin.
"You can stay in my cabin if you like," Lorca offered. "Seeing a friendly face in his place? Wouldn't that help?" Tyler contemplated
"Gabriel, you need sleep," Tyler said.
"Ellen can take over for me while I catch up on snooze," Lorca said. "she is a competent officer."
"You mean to tell me that you have done this often?" Tyler said.
Lorca turned away from Tyler looking down toward his hands.
"I see it as getting more experience for the bridge on that chair," Lorca said. "Experience she will need to navigate this needless war should I unexpectedly die. I don't necessarily intend to stay up late. What I do is watch the news then update my federation chart and see where we're at. I have gone to counseling. Helped me get back onto my feet however fleeting it was not being on a ship." Lorca paused, rubbing his hands looking out toward the window. The stars reflected against his eyes. "Having one hundred thirty-five lives dependent on me. I worry that I won't get them back home alive. Nothing that Merkin can help in. I sometimes find some morning officers sleep walking through my ship then I have to turn them around." Lorca looked over with a smile toward the security officer. "All in a nights work."
Burnham was cuddling with Tilly in bed who was fast asleep. Burnham had awakened and traced along the larger woman's hand. She was in a very fortunate position. Burnham closed her eyes as a smile grew on her face. Burnham felt along Tilly's right cheek. A smile curled on the woman's almost pink like face. The messy sprawling curls laid on Tilly's shoulder. One of Tilly's hand cupped the other side of her face. The living, growing bond was more than a thread as it had been month ago. It had grown into something beautiful. Just as beautiful as the one she shared with Georgiou. From here, she can sense the admiral's stress and hope. Tilly was the equivalent of a stress free activity that had nothing on its mind.
"Tilly," Burnham said, softly.
"Mmm," Tilly said.
"Would you like to be my Lek Noy?" Burnham asked.
"Mmm, what's that?" Tilly said.
"It is the ancient phrase for best man on Vulcan," Burnham said.
Tilly's eyes briefly opened while patting on the second officer's cheek with her larger hand.
"I would love to be your honor attendant," Tilly said.
"For you information, it shall not go through," Burnham said. "I have a plan."
"Good plans take lots of time and knowing," Tilly said.
"I am quite aware," Burnham said.
"So you're like a psychic?" Tilly asked. "What number am I thinking?"
"Three," Burnham said, raising a eyebrow. Tilly pouted. "I do not need to be psychic to know that you would fight for me."
"I so would," Tilly had a snort like giggle earning a smile back from Burnham.
"Let's hope no one dies because of it," Burnham held her two fingers out for the ensign.
"You're a excellent planner," Tilly said, returning the gesture. "I trust you."
Tilly planted a kiss onto Burnham's cheek.
"T-Tilly," Burnham said, painfully. She clenched her lower torso, wincing.
"What is wrong?" Tilly bolted up, looking down on Burnham.
"Sarek," Burnham said, and with that she lost consciousness.
"Michael?" Tilly said, placing a hand onto Burnham's shoulder. "Michael!" Tilly managed to pick up Burnham, her left hand sliding under her back, and the other under her legs. Tilly speeded out of the shared quarters. "Come on, Michael, stay with me." Tilly increased her speed, panicked and very scared.
She was soaring through the cosmos away from the Discovery, thousands of light years through space, without any obstacles in the way. Freely going where she was being called. Burnham appeared in the Vulcan embassy. The familiar scenery was slightly comforting. The familiar yellow walls. The holographic figures on the wall displaying historic moments in federation history. She saw several young Vulcan children being given a tour by a tall dark Vulcan with curly hair. Burnham mindlessly walked down the hall headed toward the botanical garden. A very familiar one that she had seen in her youth. Sarek was standing alongside inside the garden with Amanda by his side. Burnham slowly approached the large group.
"Sarek," Amanda said. "You are being modest." she placed a hand onto his chest then lowered it.
"That I am not," Sarek said. "my entry in the annual musician was up to par as many of the attendants."
"You won," Amanda reminded.
"And this is the botantical embassy garden," T'Surak said, leading the group out of the embassy.
Burnham observed that the children were not in brown school outfits but in rather yellow outfits that seemed to be designed in Vulcan Fashion. It almost looked like the child sized sand dunes were walking. Some of the children had slightly rounded ears and some had human like eyebrows. Sarek turned toward the children. A memory took over the scenery. Sarek was watching the young, dark child storm away with hands in fists. Sarek turned his head away in the childhood memory rubbing the side of his forehead as though he had a difficult discussion when in reality that was a discussion about ducks living on Vulcan. It returned to what she had arrived in. She noticed the warm look in the ambassador's eyes.
"Husband," Amanda said, mentally jabbing him in the elbow. "we have children."
"I did not realize we did," Sarek said. "they tend to klingoff me."
"Bad pun, bad pun," Amanda said, shaking her index finger back.
"Is being a Ambassador stressful?" a child asked.
"When it comes to emergencies, it is," Sarek said, as several Vulcan chaperones came toward the Ambassador.
"Sarek," Burnham said. "Why did you bring me here?"
"He already has gray hair," Amanda said. "he just uses the colorizer a lot."
"I do not use the colorizer," Sarek said. "After all, my wife, that is all you."
"Me? Gray?" Amanda said, baffled. "I am too young to be getting gray hair at my age."
"As am I," Sarek replied.
"Vulcans do not get gray until their two hundreds," T'Surak said. "It has been recorded."
"In a few years I will be getting gray before you," Amanda said. "I am going to miss watching you grow gray."
"What makes you think that, my wife?" Sarek asked, alarmed.
"I am only human," Amanda said. "Learn from Ambassador Sarek, children," she kindly directed the comment toward children. "humans can get ill and not come back from it at their advanced age." Sarek tilted his head raising a eyebrow back at the younger human with confusion in his eyes.
It came from behind.
Hot, screaming pain came from the marriage bond.
As though someone had decided to make a boiling dagger and stab it directly into the location where the Vulcan heart was located then twist it repeatedly. Then it was taken out of the injury that bled green blood. A long curved dagger with Klingon like inscriptions fell to the ground. The children were silent as Sarek's free hand came onto the injury. Amanda's look of warm turned into horror. Sarek fell to the ground. Amanda applied pressure to the injury. Burnham clenched onto the side of her waist where the Vulcan heart was located. She leaned forward attempting to keep herself balanced. Burnham had a look of hurt then from behind she overheard Sarek's voice.
"Michael," It was Sarek's distinctive voice.
Burnham shifted toward Sarek who's hand was raised out toward her.
"Father," Burnham said, confused.
Sarek's eyes bore no emotion and his face was well composed given the circumstance.
"I am not taking you with me," Sarek flexed his fingers out sending Burnham flying.