[Star Trek: Discovery] A Larger Picture (Un Disegno Più Grande-English Version-)

Ep. 6 "The Sounds Of Thunder" (pt. 2)

~Chris~

I enter the mess hall, reluctantly, to inform Tyler. God, I really don't want to see him.
I sit down, approaching the pad with Saru's report.
-What is that? -, he asks me.
-Saru's report... which I want to share with you.  Thanks to his enhanced vision he was able to observe the red angel.
He takes the pad and reads: -The entity seems to be... humanoid... wearing a mechanized suit equipped with technology that goes beyond the knowledge of the federation...
-So it is someone... and that is human, or alien, has an extremely advanced technology.
-Someone who manipulates destinies of entire species... Control, which elaborates the evaluations of the threats, is right to be alarmed by...-. He takes a moment's pause.  -What would it be? An entity who travels in time to pursue his goals?
-When we forced the Ba'ul to decentralize their energy, the angel exploited their momentary vulnerability and used his advanced technology to save the Kelpians from genocide...
- And what would happen if he were to use it against us?
-Section 31 and Control's evaluations of the threats seem a bit paranoid...-.  I sigh, and between us there is a moment of silence.  -Do you know that we are no longer at war?
-We don't want another one to break out... the last war, sir, was hard for those who fought it.  Some are still torn apart.
He gets up abruptly and leaves.  I breath, count up to ten.  I'm split in half.  One part of me feels guilty, the other would just want to throw him in the jail.
I get up, ready to head for the exit, but Grace is just entering the hall doors right now.
-Look who's here!
-Hi Kyd.
She approaches the replicator.  -Coffee, black!
-Do you still drink like you used to?
-More and more!  Please don't start annoy me about dangerous levels of caffeine!  I haven't missed those advices in the last seven years...
-They are too many... I don't want my chief medical officer to start at warp ten through the ship's corridors!
She looks at me for a while. 
-Is it everything all right? You've been a little off...
-No, I'm fine... listen...
-Yup?
-What can you tell me about Tyler?
She raises an eyebrow.  - Bad topic for me ...
-What do you mean?
-We were friends, I always considered him a great officier, loyal to his crew... until... he killed my best friend...
-Aren't you like the others?  Who tell me to think he was Voq and not Tyler?
-He was Voq.  But in Tyler's eyes I still see the same atrocious fate.
-Do you say I can trust him?
-On that I have no doubt... he is faithful to the fleet, and above all to Michael.  He would never do anything to endanger her...
-Is there anything between them?
-It's a long story...
He scrutinizes me carefully for a while.
-What's up?-, I ask her.
-You look pale Chris... come to the sick bay...
- There's no need for it, Kyd... I'm just a little tired.  After the mission with Discovery, I'm going to take a month off...
-Any good ride?
I smile bitterly.
-Chris... what did I say was wrong?
-I didn't give you the news... Tango passed away two years ago.
- Oh my God I'm sorry Chris...
- Yeah... he was old, but he was sorry both for me and for Tom.
-You still have Freeck...
-Also he will be kicking the bucket, and now they are no longer mine. I'm never there to look after them as I should.
-Who's at your home now?
-My uncles.  With work Tom and I are never there to keep such a big estate.
-How Tom is doing?
-He's fine, he found a poor girl who can stand him!
We both laugh.
-I was hoping to see him again sooner or later...
-Finished the mission you could stay a weekend on the estate... I gladly host you, and you would see Tom and Freeck.
I smile at her, and she chuckles.
-We won't have two horses to ride...
-I can get one for you in English, so avoid fool ...
-Hey!  I'd done pretty well with the American!
-If you say so...
-What do you mean?
-That a couple of times you were about to end up against a tree!
We laugh again, and again.
-Chris...
-Mh?
-Have you ever thought about how ... how everything changed?
-From that period on the estate?  Yes, I thought about it...
We are silent for a while.
-Kyd...
-Yup?
- I never thanked you for... for what you did for me at that time... you didn't have to do it.
-I never weighed myself, not even for a moment.
She puts her hand on mine, in a moment they are intertwined, and I stroke her thumb.  She looks into my eyes, and then takes her small hand, a little hesitant, ending the contact.
-I have to... I have to go Chris.  Good night.
-Goodnight Kyd ...
She gets up, and leaves, leaving me alone.

_______________________________________

-Captain Robin to Yorktown, we ask permission to leave the Hangar.
-Granted, have a good trip!
I leave the Hangar, ready to start with the warp engines towards the Xyrillian planet.
-We are at one quarter impulse, captain, waiting for your permission to activate the warp.
-Go on lieutenant, let's not waste time!
In an instant the engine bends, straight towards our destination.
-So Lieutenant... do you want to talk with the Xyrillians about the arrangements?
I remain open-mouthed for a moment.  I didn't expect it.
-I? With all due respect, Captain, isn't it... a mission too delicate to entrust to a lieutenant, is it?
-I will always be there to support you, you're not alone.  You know the specifications of the agreement, it could be useful as an experience, to evaluate a possible promotion...
-Excuse me?
-Your behavior in these two and a half years was exemplary Christopher.  You're certainly one of the smartest officers I've ever seen. 
-I ... I don't know what to say ...
-Don't say anything lieutenant. You deserved it.
A sudden jolt brings us out of the warp.
-Status!
-We have come out of the warp, a ship approaching 500 km!
I read an unexpected data on the screen, I turn to my captain.  - They are Klingon...
-Klingon?  Shields to the max, weapons ready!  Open a channel!
I activate the communications button.  -Channel opened!
-Here is captain Jennifer Robin of the federation starship Yorktown! We have no hostile intentions!
Soon after, a blinding flash and nothing more.

_______________________________________

Notes:

“Coffee, black!”
Need I say more?

LLAP