"My boyfriend is the most awesome person I ever met," Tyler said. "Bringing me a Klingon baldric to complete my Klingon simulation? Perfection."
"I am happy for you," Burnham said.
"He just got back from a week long mission in the Marine Corps," Tyler said.
"Captain Lorca was not away," Burnham said.
"Yes, he was," Tyler said.
"That would be impossible as I had spoken to him face to face," Burnham said.
"Oh," Tyler said. "that was a double."
"A double?" Burnham asked, raising her right eyebrow.
"He calls him his stunt double," Tyler said. "who is more southern than him."
"And I suppose he doesn't say git 'er done," Burnham said.
"Gabe? Saying that? No," Tyler said. "That is not his style."
"His double was very convincing," Burnham said. "he could have left Commander Landry in charge."
"There are times when Marines don't come back from their missions during war," Tyler said.
"He was willing to leave a double commanding his ship indefinitely?" Burnham asked.
"No," Tyler said. "The double posing as Gabe would have been reassigned to Earth and then Landry takes over."
"Logical," Burnham said.
"Has the soreness faded for Tilly?" Tyler asked.
"It has gotten better," Burnham said. "Since the link has been terminated with T'Tellis, this experience will not repeat. . . That I am assured of."
"And Tilly is okay with that?" Tyler asked.
"Disappointed but understanding," Burnham said. "Claimed it was the best sex marathon she had."
"I can imagine," Tyler said.
"Would you?" Burnham asked.
"Me?" Tyler said, gesturing to himself. "No," Tyler shook his head. "There are better things in life that make me happy."
"And parties?" Burnham asked.
"I love parties," Tyler said.
"I am not a social creature," Burnham said.
"You get to see your girlfriend all dressed up and pretty," Tyler said.
"She is pretty all the time, Tyler," Burnham said.
"Small talk is hell for people like you," Tyler said. "Just bare with it."
"I will endeavor to do so," Burnham said, as the two walked into the partying and colorful room playing late 1970's party music.
Officers had their hair styles prepared for that era. Many of the black officers had their hair up in afros, long pointy collars, and sparkly earrings to boot. Tyler left Burnham's side coming in the direction of Lorca who was playing a game with Detmer and Airiam. It had to do with Beer pong, Burnham folded her arms as she came to the side of the entrance drifting away in the colorful room. Tilly moved from Rhys with a laugh lightly tipping him away holding onto a glass and headed toward Burnham.
"Hello, space wifey," Tilly said, with a slur wrapping a arm around the shorter woman's shoulder. "Wan. . . wanna dance?" "
"You are drunk, Tilly," Burnham said, hands clasped behind her back. "You are in no position to dance."
"Am too," Tilly said.
"Are not," Burnham said. "I recall dancing meaning having control over your bodily functions."
Tilly burped.
"Uh huh," Tilly said, with a nod. "Let's dance," Tilly placed the drink onto the table then took Burnham's hand. "I have a thing for musicians."
"I can see that," Burnham said, as Tilly guided her over to a space.
Tilly placed a hand onto the woman's waist then moved to the slow paced music and Burnham placed her free hand onto Tilly's side. Tilly had a drunken smile looking at the second officer admiring the small things about her. The well carved face, the perfect eyebrows, and the pleasant hair style. She wasn't too tall, too short, too big, or too skinny. Burnham was perfect just the way she was. Burnham followed Tilly's movements as though she was unfamiliar to dancing. She stepped onto Tilly's shoes multiple times. Tilly drunkingly smiled looking down toward her feet then giggled looking back up toward the second officer. A large smile appeared on the ensign's face making her glow. Pinkish cheeks with visible acne on her face. The chubby rounded face was a notable characteristic that Burnham enjoyed cherishing. Tilly's free curly hair was on her shoulder with a head band on the center of her head making a split between her wild, curly hair.
The ship jerked forward making couples collide against each other. Glass fell off the table crashing to the floor shattering into pieces spilling on the floor. Including Tilly falling into Burnham's arms. Tilly covered her mouth with a giggle with her head resting on Burnham's shoulder. Her hands wrapped around Burnham's side and a smile grew on the ensign's face. Abrupt yet completely necessary. Lorca came onto the makeshift stage across from the center of the make shift dance room then whistled drawing the attention of all the officers. All eyes were on the captain in a white partially unbuttoned shirt. He held up a glass in one hand.
"I don't normally speeches but this is required. Let's start off with a toast. To the ten thousand Starfleet officers who gave their lives to save ours," Lorca said. "We have lost friends, family members, and loved ones in this war," there was solemn yet attentive looks shared around the room. "Yet we still have hope that we can end this war and not let it happen to anyone else, again. Starfleet Command sent a official word that we are to this party because we have acquired a consultant. Consultant L'Rell," everyone's attention turned onto L'Rell who was beside a table drinking as much as she can from a long glass in her hoverchair. "and because of her consulting, we are making a great comeback." He held the glass up. "To ending the war."
"To ending the war!" came the cheers earning a smile from Lorca.
"Continue as you were," Lorca said.
Lorca's eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted his dance partner. Lorca came down from the top and joined Tyler. Lorca was the one who initiated the kiss with Tyler by planting it on his lips. Tyler's hand flailed in surprise at first then moved on to the man's forearms. Airiam came over to the side of L'Rell coming back toward the table that had lots of beverages and food prepared for the party. It was Tyler who broke the kiss off. The two men drew apart being ignored by the other officers. Tyler's left hand came to the man's elbow while his other hand let go of the other forearm. Their foreheads touched and they genuinely appeared to be happy with each other.
"Captain Lorca, report to Transporter room," came over the intecomn. "report to the Transporter room."
"I will finish this after I get back," Lorca said.
"You better," Tyler said. "You still have a promised dance."
"Be right back, Ash," Lorca said, lightly patting on the side of Tyler's face then walked away exiting through the doors.
Burnham and Tilly continued dancing together dancing in synchronization. There was laughter from around the two. A smile on Tilly's face and a smile in Burnham's eyes looking toward the ensign. Tilly started the kiss planting it on Burnham's lips with a hand on her side. Burnham prolonged the kiss managing to continue moving slowly to the music. Other couples were dancing together that was slow drawn out. Tilly was the one who broke off the kiss with a smile back at Burnham.
"Wanna have a threesome tonight with a midshipman?" Tilly asked.
"I will consider it," Burnham said. "Very willing."
"You won't regret it," Tilly said.
"I am sure I won't, ashaya," Burnham said.
"What does that word mean, anyway?" Tilly asked.
"It is a very old word," Burnham said.
"Old as Vulcan?" Tilly asked. "Don't avoid the question."
"Just as old," Burnham said. "It means love."
"I feel so honored to be called by a sappy Vulcan word," Tilly said, with a hiccup. "I never got called princess by my parents."
"You never talk about your father," Burnham acknowledged.
"He was. . . a okay. . um. . parent," Tilly said. "Agreed with with my mother mostly. Helped me unbraid my hair, took me out to ball games, and indulged me in whatever I was interested in. . . He died on one of those colonies a few months ago attacked by the rogue Klingons," Tilly took a sigh. "Only parent I got left is my mother. . ." she grimaced. "Not really a mom. I don't really look forward to introducing her to you."
"If you do not wish to share your life with your mother then I will accept your decision," Burnham said.
"I am lucky to know someone so understanding as you," Tilly said.
"Speaking of understanding," Burnham said. "who is this midshipman?" Tilly pointed toward a male Violacean sitting on a couch comfortable outfit. "I approve."
Stamets came out of his shared quarters then made his way down the familiar path. He rubbed the back of his neck while in a fresh Starfleet uniform. The partying that Culber had dragged him into had been wild. And he slept on the wrong side of the bed because of it. Culber wasn't worried or concerned about it only reassuring him that the soreness will be gone by the next morning. If his head was tilted to the side no one was making a comment about it. Frankly, he missed Ephraim. Culber was lucky that they were not taking as many big jumps. Sometimes the jumps required sapient navigation and then there were times they didn't. They had dialed back on jumping with a human in the DASH booth.
He came to a stop when hit a wall.
"What is wrong with my lab?" Stamets asked.
"The mushrooms are spreading," came a yeoman.
Stamets turned toward the yeoman.
"How?" Stamets asked.
"Don't know how," the yeoman shrugged. "They overtook a few of the night officers and it was quarantined."
"This is not the time for the mushrooms to get infected," Stamets grumbled to himself. "I can fix that."
"I don't recommend trying that," the yeoman said.
"They are from my original batch," Stamets said, as he came over to the panel. "I know them better than anyone."
"They took out the best astromycologists on the Discovery," the yeoman said. "I heard they were eaten alive."
"Mushrooms only eat when the person is dead," Stamets said, as he looked over to see blue glowing spores floating out of the doorway. "What the fuck?" he stepped back in bewilderment going toward the transparent doors. "This is not normal."
"That they are not," The yeoman said.
Stamets turned around then headed in the direction the yeoman was coming from.
"I'm going to speak with the captain about this!" Stamets said.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" Detmer shouted, shaking Tilly's shoulder.
Tilly turned and looked over to see the helmsmen.
"Keyla?" Tilly said, rubbing the side of her aching head. "What is going on?"
"Get up is what going on," Detmer said. "We have to leave. Captain's orders."
Burnham bolted up.
"On our way," Burnham said. "We will be right behind you."
"Don't wait," Detmer said. "Captain Lorca is giving everyone a head start to the escape pods. The mushrooms are growing like crazy!"
Detmer walked away shaking her head. Tilly was the first one off the bed then speeded into her uniform at maximum warp. Burnham put on her purple two piece outfit that was nearby inside a cubby. Tilly took Burnham's hand as she was slipping the purple warm shirt over and fled down the hall with the shoeless second officer. Burnham observed the walls becoming coated in spreading mushrooms. It was as though they were being effected by a different variation of a time dilation that worked on them only. Burnham came to Tilly's side following the train of Starfleet officers. Suddenly the ship trembled with a loud roar. Tilly and Burnham stopped as the officers ran on ahead. Tilly embraced Burnham and then the Discovery exploded.
The ship jerked forward making couples collide against each other.
Glass fell off the table crashing to the floor shattering into pieces spilling on the floor.
Including Tilly falling into Burnham's arms. Tilly covered her mouth with a giggle with her head resting on Burnham's shoulder. Her hands wrapped around Burnham's side and a smile grew on the ensign's face. Abrupt yet completely necessary. Lorca came onto the makeshift stage across from the center of the make shift dance room then whistled drawing the attention of all the officers. All eyes were on the captain in a white partially unbuttoned shirt. He held up a glass in one hand.
"I don't normally speeches but this is required," Lorca started. "Let's start off with a toast. To the ten thousand Starfleet officers who gave their lives to save ours," Several of the officers nodded in agreement. "We have lost friends, family members, and loved ones in this war," The scene panned over to fleeing officers running down the corridors heading toward the shuttle bay as the walls became covered with spreading mushrooms. "Yet we still have hope that we can end this war and not let it happen to anyone else, again."
The scene panned out of the Discovery as several corridor were exploding. Panel by panel covered in unique spreading mushrooms. The sounds of explosion was non-existence then turned back toward the intact vessel.
"Starfleet Command sent a official word that we are to this party because we have acquired a consult. Consult L'Rell,"
From Culber's quarters, Stamets was hypoed slumping over on Culber. Stamets was slipped onto the bed put under the covers. Culber tucked Stamets into the bed then made a run for it out of their quarters.
"And because of her consulting, we are making a great comeback," Lorca then added with a hopeful look. "To ending the war."
Culber came into the transporter room joining the transporter chief and watched a figure solidify.
"To ending the war!" came the haunting cheers.
Finally, the camera moving off to Tilly and Burnham holding hands as everything they knew exploded around them.
The cheers made a smile grow on Lorca's face.