"Burnham, we're in a time loop," Culber repeated himself for the forty-fifth time.
"We're in some kind of pocket universe that is making my mushrooms grow and absorb the crew," Paul said. "we're still working on ripping a hole in the pocket universe. No, we cannot jump because it would kill Hugh and then I would be the last handy navigator to go to." Burnham raised a eyebrow. "I die."
"How can a starship fall into a pocket universe?" Burnham asked.
"You ask that and we never have a answer," Culber said.
"Your ship jerked into it," Paul said. "I know it doesn't make sense since it would have to have been pulled in by some outside force. We don't know what that is." he held his hand up. "No," The scene panned over to spores landing on the shoulder of a lieutenant then slowly a mushroom began to form after sinking into the shirt. Common mushrooms were forming on the glass paneling. "we do not need to go into DASH engineering as the mushrooms are spreading from there and infecting that goes inside it. Death is imminent in less than thirteen hours. It is a very painful process."
Burnham shuddered at the memory of recovering from the mushrooms then looked toward the two.
"You can do this without me," Burnham said, earning a head shake from Culber.
"I tried that for the first few loops," Culber said. "I committed mutiny. Still got forced to make a jump. This needs the first officer, the second officer, and third officer all in agreement to commit mutiny for the safety of the crew and the ship against the captain. We can do it without roping in everyone and trashing their careers. I don't want to commit mutiny again. I broke his heart and I don't want to see him heartbroken again. Should we break through this time loop then it must be done without mutiny."
"Never knew my partner was truly capable of it until I came here," Paul said, whole heartedly as he patted on Culber's shoulder.
"What if we tried climbing?" Burnham asked. "If all the searching has failed perhaps that can be done."
"I don't think a starship can climb, Commander," Paul said.
"A shuttlecraft can," Burnham said.
"That will take special additions-" Culber said. "No," he shook his hands. "that's exactly how you died in the past loops."
"If you want to do climbing then the additions must be taken onto the ship and be tied to the shuttle craft," Burnham said. "That will take a few hours with cooperation."
"A form of towing," Culber said.
"That could work," Paul said.
"Theoretically, if this were to succeed. . ." Burnham said. "Time might restart only the loop is over."
"I know there is a 'but' there," Paul said. "Spit it out, Commander."
"Except the shuttlecraft will remain in the pocket universe where the pilot may have to live out the rest of their life," Burnham said.
"That is off the table," Culber said. "That has to be another way."
"We have to work as a crew not alone," Burnham said.
"I don't want to face Lorca again under these circumstances," Paul said.
"It makes one wonder how you got any of the parts needed to make a shuttle explode in shuttle bay without cooperation," Burnham observed.
"Yeah, I was out in a shuttle craft with Paul while you were talking Lorca into not using me immediately," Culber said.
"Did it work?" Burnham said.
"Yes. . . briefly," the two men said, with folded arms.
"Except he didn't just die," Paul said. "every one did, ship was flat like a pancake for five minutes and then it was back to big ol' ship with blood all over the place. I had to set off the self destruction sequence. I don't want a repeat of that."
"If you do not wish to interact with the captain then perhaps you should go down to someone who is manning the bridge," Burnham said. "and let the captain be drunk."
Paul and Culber exchanged a concerned glance together.
"Saru is good for sore eyes," Paul said. "Speaking of who, I haven't seen him lately."
"No," Burnham said.
"Airiam?" Paul asked.
"No," Burnham said.
"Then who?" Paul asked.
"Doctor Culber report to DASH engineering," came over the intercomn.
"Culber, I am a telepathic positive individual and it would be wise to request I lower my shields to hear your thoughts," Burnham said. "we do not need a mutiny."
Culber nodded.
"Can I die for you this time?" Paul asked.
Culber and Stamets were braced together in their quarters as a large destructive force broke through their door then vaporized them.
"Commander, do not request for the captain to the bridge," Burnham said, as she entered the bridge.
Landry looked over in confusion toward the second officer.
"Number Two, you should be enjoying the party," Landry said.
"I would if we were not in a time loop inside a pocket universe," Burnham said.
"We are in a time loop," Landry said, in disbelief.
All eyes were on the second officer.
"We have been inside this timeloop for approximately more than a week." Burnham came to the side of the commander. "We have a visitor arriving in the Transporter room right this moment who happens to be someone else capable of navigating through the mycelium network."
"Who is our secondary navigator?" Landry said.
"Lieutenant Commander Stamets," Burnham said. "Every time we try to jump in this time loop, we kill our navigator."
"Lorca is a very stubborn captain," Landry said. "Unlike him, I wouldn't risk my crew just to get out of a pot hole. He deserves to party while I take care of the bridge. I don't suppose you got a plan."
"Aye," Burnham said, with a nod. "we do."
"Doctor Soval, Landry would like this version of Stamets to have the implants removed," Burnham said, as Paul was sitting on the biobed with his hand cupped together looking toward the ceiling. "It is absolutely necessary."
"To make him blend in and unable to do a jump," Soval said, observing the young pale and sad man.
"Indeed," Burnham said. "I have been informed that they have put away the DASH components in his lab."
"That is quite a logical course of action," Soval agreed. "Unable to be distinguished from his counterpart," he looked over toward the second officer. "By the way, where is he?"
"Spending time with his partner," Burnham said. "He is going to need some time before he meets Commander Stamets."
"Yes, yes," Soval said. "If I were to met Captain Soval then I would need that too," the Vulcan had a small bemused laugh earning a strange look from Paul leaning forward. "I will see if I can squeeze him into my schedule and if my assistant is up for it."
"I am up for it," Parchi said, in the background.
"Looks like I do have room in my schedule for this," Soval said. "Commander Stamets, you are to report to the operation room in fifteen minutes."
"I never met you before," Paul said, in awe.
"Really?" Soval asked.
"There were mostly human doctors," Paul said.
"A mostly human environment," Soval said. "I must have died in his timeline. Perhaps my ship was destroyed." then he left the two.
Burnham faced the Astromycologist.
"I take it we never went this far coming to sick bay," Burnham said.
"This is the first time, actually. We didn't really gather the crew in engineering to do make the changes in the shuttle craft," Paul said. "If it means we get a little bit closer in the next fifty loops to going home. I intend to do anything."
"I intend for this to be the last loop," Burnham said. "I will be not in the shuttle bay with you working on the device."
"Must be the worst party you attended," Paul said.
Burnham sat into the chair alongside the Astromycologist in silence.
"My first party was a diplomatic one that I had to attend as Sarek's Ward," Burnham said. "It was a month after my parents death and seeing Klingons there. ." Burnham paused, regaining her emotional composure, then sighed. "I couldn't speak, I couldn't talk to them, and I couldn't move. I know it was for a minor treaty. It was dreadful and it was very sad so Sarek took me away and taught me how to prevent my feelings from getting in the way of duty. It was the worst party yet it was the beginning to help me with my trauma. Perhaps it was the best party and I am not entirely sure."
"That's not a bad party," Paul said, wiping a tear off. "You never talk about Sarek. Only got to meet the ambassador twice."
"Our family is no ones business until it is," Burnham said. "That is the Vulcan way."
Paul nodded.
"So," Paul said. "Are these uniforms like the Constitution uniforms? Rank on sleeves?"
"They are," Burnham said.
"I was wondering this entire time why you didn't have a pip on your badge," Paul said, then he took off his badge. He held it up so she could get a good look. Burnham had a look of intrigue at it then leaned back from the biobed linking her hands behind her back. He placed his badge onto his chest. He looked over toward the woman. "So you still have badges?"
Burnham slipped it off.
"It is very thin," Burnham said. "It may look sewn into the uniform but it is not. Looks can be very deceiving."
"Wow," Paul said. "Golden?" he raised a eyebrow. "And you're not even in the command track." he looked up toward her then handed the golden badge back.
"All badges are golden," Burnham said. "I take it they correspond to the track you're in."
"They do," Paul said.
Burnham placed the badge onto her chest on the right side.
"Commander Burnham," came the call of a man. Burnham turned in the direction of the Violacean from earlier. A midshipman in security red. "She fell asleep while we were making out. Could you take Tilly to her quarters?" Burnham was unable to reply as she stood there contemplating what to do. As though she were stuck between staying as support and collecting her bondmate.
"Go ahead," Paul said. "I will be out for awhile."
Burnham nodded then came over to the midshipman's side.
Burnham slumped Tilly's left arm onto her shoulder then walked away leaving sick bay. Tilly was snoring away leaned against Burnham's shoulder. Burnham held onto Tilly's hand guiding her down the hall. Burnham's footsteps echoed behind her going through the not as well occupied corridors. The doors opened before her to the shared quarters. Burnham placed Tilly onto the bed then slipped off the small boots, the earrings, and the head band. Burnham observed the tired ensign as she slid up the covers to the bed over Tilly's shoulder. Burnham slipped out of her blue shirt and black pants then joined into the bed with Tilly. Burnham snuggled in grabbing hold onto Tilly's larger hand.
"L'Rell, are you okay?" Detmer asked, coming to the side of the Klingon and placed a hand onto the back rest of the hove chair.
L'Rell was staring out into the window.
"There are no stars," L'Rell said. "As though hope is gone."
"Hey," Detmer said. "it is just the blinds."
"Blinds?" L'Rell asked.
"Its a mandatory setting on the windows for night shift to give allusion that it is night," Detmer said. "The bridge has different settings."
"Since my time here, I have not noticed," L'Rell said. "I should have."
"When you are not feeling well, everything is a blur," Detmer said.
"You speak as if you experienced it," L'Rell acknowledged.
"I have," Detmer said.
"What is it that made you feel sad?" L'Rell said.
"I have a prosthetic eye," Detmer said.
"A ocular implant," L'Rell said.
"We call it prosthetic," Detmer said. "acts like a real eye but it doesn't look like one."
"That is nothing to be depressed about," L'Rell said.
"I was depressed because I lost a part of myself," Detmer said. "Michael told me that honor felt it was part of you."
"It is more than that," L'Rell said. "It is like what you humans call. . . faith in yourself. . only it applies to those part of your blood."
"Faith in your family," Detmer said.
"If you think of it that way," L'Rell said. She looked over toward Detmer. "You have nothing to be sad about."
"I do," Detmer said. "Would this war make me become a cyborg by the time it is over? Will I still look young and capable of service to Starfleet? Would my new parts become my new weakness?" she sighed with her arms folded. "What if I had lost a part of my head and required a cranial implant? Losing my eyebrow? Unable to grow hair from the other side of my face? Would people still like me despite what the war has done to me? I was stumped for a couple of days because of it."
"That is angst," L'Rell said.
"Maybe," Detmer said.
"How did you reconcile with that?" L'Rell asked.
"Joann helped me get back up," Detmer said.
"Lieutenant junior grade Osowekun," L'Rell said.
"Yes, isn't she beautiful?" Detmer asked. "she is like a princess ripped out of a fairy tale and placed into Starfleet."
"She is elegant," L'Rell said.
"Ever since then, I have been walking among clouds," Detmer's face was glowing. "All I see are clouds in the atmosphere. I see a orange sky with the sun in the distance. I see beauty in the void. And it is the best thing that has ever happened to me," she looked over with a smile toward L'Rell. "One day you might find it and everywhere you look in the night, that is what you see."
L'Rell was touched.
"You are kind," L'Rell said.
And Culber finished to himself while leaning against the doorway, word for word, "That's what Starfleet is made of."