Cascading Echoes

Remembrance

As Michael stood in the turbolift, feeling the gentle hum of the ship beneath her feet, she leaned back against the cool wall, eyes closing momentarily. The aftereffects of the alien brandy still clung to her, a dull throb at her temples reminding her of the excess of the previous night. She regretted drinking so much, but in that moment, it had felt necessary—an attempt to quiet the noise in her head, to dull the relentless loop of guilt that had kept her awake for days.

The events on Galorndon Core still played out vividly in her mind, Vothi'Cha and Lt. Jo'til lost in the chaos, the pressure of command, and the danger they had narrowly escaped. Now, heading to Captain Pike's, Ready Room for the debriefing, she knew she would have to relive it all again.

She inhaled deeply, pushing the ache from her shoulder as she kneaded it with absentminded fingers. The stress of command, the weight of the lives lost under her care—it was all catching up to her. She couldn't ignore the toll it had taken on her physically as well as emotionally. The quick shower had done little to wash away her tension, and she had chosen to skip breakfast, knowing she wouldn't be able to stomach anything before the meeting. Tilly's voice messages and holo-vid requests blinked unanswered on her console, the persistent chirping of her comm device reminding her of everything she was avoiding.

As the turbolift doors opened, two med-techs entered, both of them carrying techpads and murmuring to each other quietly. Their uniforms were simple, devoid of any emblems or Starfleet insignia, save for a single gold stripe that extended down the right leg of their pants. They were clearly part of Dr. Zarrell's medical team, likely assigned to the recent recruits brought on board after Discovery's repairs. The faint sound of their discussion drifted toward her, something about medical readouts that caught her attention.

Michael shifted, glancing at the two techs and interrupting them before she could stop herself. "Excuse me," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Do you know how Ensign Kuma Thompson is doing?"

The two med-techs exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable, before the taller of the two responded, "We've never worked with a patient by that name. We were assigned to Dr. Zarrell's team only a few days ago. Came aboard after the station recruitment during repairs."

Michael blinked, surprised. "Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were new," she said, offering a brief nod. "I'll check in on him later."

The two techs gave her a polite nod before exiting the turbolift at their destination, disappearing into the corridor leading to the med labs. Their departure left Michael with a growing sense of unease. Kuma had been in sickbay for days, and now these med-techs claimed they didn't know him? Something about that didn't sit right with her. She made a mental note to check on him after the debriefing, her concern for her crewmate adding yet another layer to her already crowded mind.

The turbolift continued upward, finally arriving at the bridge. The doors slid open, revealing the familiar buzz of officers at their stations. Michael stepped off, her gaze briefly scanning the room, before heading toward Captain Pike's, Ready Room, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

Inside the debriefing chamber, Captain Pike, Mr. Saru, Lt. Stamets, Dr. Asana (via secure holo-vid feed), and Dr. Hugh Culber were already seated around the large table, reviewing their notes and discussing the aftermath of the mission. The air was thick with excitement, although it was a quieter kind—mingled with a sense of exhaustion and reflection. Each officer was entrenched in their own thoughts, the events of the recent test and mission heavy on their minds.

Michael took a seat, her posture rigid but outwardly composed. She exchanged nods with Stamets and Saru, who both acknowledged her presence. Stamets's expression was still tight, his focus clearly centered on the connection between Discovery's AI and the Cepheid Matrix that had allowed them to retrieve the away team. Dr. Culber, seated near the far end, gave her a look of quiet understanding, his eyes reflecting the unspoken solidarity of those who had seen and survived the worst.