The motorcycle came to a stop in front of the house.
Amanda was the first to slid off the motorcycle once it parked.
Sarek came off the motorcycle afterwards.
The two bondmates came up the stairs.
There were two Vulcans stationed side by side on each side of the door with linked hands behind their back. The door automatically opened before the two then they went in ignoring the security officers. Amanda came to his side. They heard the voices of women from the adjoining room. Sarek and Amanda exchanged puzzled looks. They came to the threshold of the living room to see there were dozens of their adopted children listening intently to Burnham and Georgiou. Amanda grew a smile on her face wrapping her hands along Sarek's shoulder. Sarek noticed that Burnham's was tightly clenching her wrist laid on her lap. Burnham turned her attention toward Sarek.
It's time, father, Sarek heard her voice in his mind as though she were face to face with him.
Sarek briefly closed his eyes then reopened them.
"And then Michael flipped off the Orion," Georgiou finished.
"I did not flip them off," Burnham replied. "I gave them the sign they feel more expresses peace."
"You gave them the middle finger," Georgiou said, with one hand on the side of her thigh looking over toward the woman.
"It gave the message that we failed to get across initially," Burnham supplied.
Georigiou shook her head then turned her attention on toward the several children and her eyes landed on Sarek. Amanda had unwrapped her hand from around the older man's shoulder.
"Michael will finish the story," Georgiou said.
"Aye, Admiral," Burnham said, earning giggles from the pre-teens.
Georgiou made her way toward the two highly respected individuals in the Federation.
"Amanda Grayson, S'chn T'gai Sarek," Georgiou smoothly pronounced his clan name. "I am Philippa." She held her hand out.
"You are as gorgeous as she says," Amanda said, shaking Georgiou's hand. "the woman who stole my Mikey's heart."
"That is most unfortunate," Sarek said.
"Sarek," Amanda said, as the hand shake ended. She gave a chastising look back. "Don't say that."
"No, it is understood," Georgiou said. "I am older than her."
"It is not that," Sarek said.
"Then what is it?" Georgiou asked.
"It is that she is experiencing her bethrothed's urge and there is a chance you may not be unable to attend the ceremony due to other matters that bring you here." Georgiou raised her eyebrow then shifted toward Burnham. She turned toward the two. "I assume you cannot stay long."
Georgiou wore a knowing look.
"I had all the time before the war," Georgiou said. "and now it is dwindling. T'Shay won't end the war. Option is off the table."
"Is our agreement still on?" Sarek asked.
"You can still make your goodbyes," Georgiou said. "and then we go to some allies."
"You mean Koloth," Sarek said.
"Yes," Georgiou said.
"Attend to T'Shay's belongings, my wife," Sarek requested.
"Yes, my husband," Amanda said, then left his side.
"How long do you have to spare?" Sarek asked.
"A hour on Vulcan," Georgiou said.
T'Shay sat on the edge of the ready made bed. Amanda left Sarek then headed down the stairs. Sarek sighed looking over toward the door to the bedroom. He walked toward the door. The door automatically opened before the Ambassador allowing him into the room. T'Shay was fumbling his fingers together with antennas aimed down. Sarek sat down next to the child. Sarek looked down toward the blue hybrid. He was a child of two words. Two worlds that he could not call home. Just like Spock. The parallels were uncanny. Not wanted by Andoria's people and seen as a liability from Qo'nos. T'Shay looked over toward the Vulcan with his antennas turning toward him.
"You don't like me?" T'Shay asked.
"It is not because I like you that we are sending you away," Sarek said. "It is for your safety."
"My sister can protect me," T'Shay said.
"She will not always be there," Sarek said.
"Then her partner," T'Shay said.
"They are part of a war, T'Shay," Sarek said. "In war, the chances of survival are slim. Starfleet and the Federation have the chance of losing."
"So you believe it is logical to send me to other people more capable of protecting me?" T'Shay asked.
"When one cares about their adoptive child and does not wish for their death . . ." Sarek said. "Their logic is uncertain when it comes to them."
"I do not want to go," T'Shay said.
"According to Klingon biology, you shall grow up quickly to a warrior and protect yourself," Sarek said. "You will not need to be protected by others."
"I don't want to be a warrior," T'Shay said. "I wish to be a explorer."
"You can be both," Sarek suggested.
T'Shay looked over toward the duffle bag beside him then toward his hands as his antennas followed.
"I don't want to hurt people," T'Shay admitted.
There was silence between the two.
"Have you heard of Indiana Jones?" Sarek asked.
"No," T'Shay sad.
"A great man," Sarek said. "He wished to bring artifacts to the museum. He had to hurt people to get what he wanted."
"Did he want to hurt people?" T'Shay asked.
"No one wants to hurt others when doing the right thing in the beginning," Sarek said. "He suffered betrayal, heartbreak, and loss. . . Yet, he did not give up being a rescuer of the artifacts." Sarek placed a hand on T'Shay's shoulder. "If Indiana Jones never defended himself then no one would have been able to see historic artifacts."
"I think I see," T'Shay said.
"Killing should be the last thing you do, T'Shay," Sarek said. "When there is no option on the table. Only then does violence come in."
T'Shay sighed then looked over toward the Ambassador.
"Can I keep my name?" T'Shay asked. "You've been the kindest family I had. Only family I had. And please, stay, for a few more minutes. . . Just a little longer."
"As you wish," Sarek replied.
Burnham was in her old bedroom in deep meditation. Georgiou looked on with concern toward the woman. She held her communicator in one hand as she slowly stepped away from the doorway. The door closed to the bedroom. She came over to the center of the corridor. She sighed, placing her back against the wall and folded her arms. Saru's voice came out of the small device.
"Captain, I expected your return two hours ago," Saru said, with a click.
"You can relax, Number One," Georgiou said. "We are leaving Vulcan as scheduled with our passenger."
"Not on schedule," Saru said. "we were supposed to be headed to the meeting point."
"Consider that meet point void," Georgiou said. "Plans have changed. We are initiating Plan Koloth."
"Aye, Admiral," Saru said.
"Any news that I missed?" Georgiou asked.
"The Discovery sent a message one hour ago that they were engaged in a heavy fire fight above a Dilithium Mining Colony. A few minutes ago we received a update that they are performing repairs and the battle is over. Lorca wishes for a message to be handed down to his second officer to meet up in one day at Starbase 46." Saru said. The sounds of clicking coming on and off the informative reply. "Admiral, do we have another route to go in ending the war?"
"Yes," Georgiou said. "we do." She briefly closed her eyes then reopened them. "I will inform you in the ready room in thirty-two minutes. Georgiou out."
Twenty minutes came and went for the household of Sarek.
A loud mound was made in the backyard.
There was a Vulcan tree sapling planted into the mound.
The view returned into the large, partially submerged house.
Sarek and T'Shay were coming down the stairs. Burnham's hands were linked behind her back standing along the side of Amanda. Georgou was in front of the doorway with her hands linked behind her back. The children were scattered about the household studying their graded homework. A medium puffy bear yet lion like cub waddled down the hall chased by The'lik. The'lik came to a stop picking up the mewing cub. The'lik came to a pause at the bottom of the stairs.
"Dif-tor heh smusma, sibling," T'Shay said, giving the ta'al sign.
"Sochya eh dif," The'lik said, returning the gesture.
T'Shay turned her attention onto Amanda.
"Mother," T'Shay said, as the woman knelt down toward him. "When I see you and father again, I will have repaid you."
"You do not need to repay us," Amanda said. "You have repaid us every day."
"I wish to became someone great as the two of you," T'Shay said.
"You need not," Amanda said. "You have already achieved that."
T'Shay hugged Amanda, tightly.
Slowly, Amanda ended the hug and his grip loosened. He let go of the colorful dress then came over toward Burnham. Burnham's mental shields lowered as did T'Shay. Burnham and T'Shay stared at each other in silence for a few minutes. Burnham's facial expression did not change. Then they raised their mental shields at once. T'Shay walked over toward Georgiou then gave her the nod. He slid back up the strap to his duffle bag. Georgiou looked over toward Burnham who seemed to remain motionless. Whatever the urge was doing to her, she was keeping the facade that nothing was wrong.
It was very alarming for Georgiou. The way Burnham kept to herself seemed that something was wrong. She had been extremely Vulcan like in the beginning of their friendship. Burnham had evolved into a person who balanced her emotions not as rigidly as Vulcans did and yet human at the same time. It must be very nerve wrecking on her to keep this up and extremely necessary. Georgiou held her hand out for T'Shay. They walked out of the household. The door automatically opened before them. Georgiou took out her gold and black communicator once they went down the stairs.
"Georgiou to Shenzhou, two to beam up," Georgiou said.
They were outlined and engulfed in orange shades of light. The classic melody of the transporter filled their ears. Their surroundings changed from the hot, sandy scenery to the purple scenery.