Original subtitles

Previously on Star Trek: Discovery:

We got you, gray.

We'll find a way to help you be seen, truly seen.

I can't believe I get to start my life again.

Book, you there?

I keep seeing him. Leto.

I don't know if he knew, if I ever let him know how much I loved him.

I'm sorry.

I'm gonna figure this out for you, whatever it takes.

Starfleet academy feels like 1000 years ago.

- Nothing feels simple. - It's okay to feel that way.

Something's off, or I'm off.

I was hoping that we could talk about it.

- What exactly is this anomaly? - We're not certain.

We know it's there.

We know it's moving, but we can't get a handle on what it is.

I offer the services of the ni'var science institute.

A crisis such as this requires all to contribute.

This anomaly threatens us all equally. We must all work together.

This is commander fickett of the u.S.S. Credence.

We have your dilithium shipment ready.

We are grateful to receive it, commander.

It has been a long time.

Happy to help.

Looking good.

Everything is ready, commander.

We have their coordinates.

Good work. Thank you, lieutenants.

Computer, lower the shields for transfer.

Locking on your coordinates now.

Security breach.

Commander!

Stand down.

- I need your dilithium. - Wait your turn like everybody else.

I'm afraid that's not possible. Please step aside.

That's not gonna happen.

Please, my friend.

Choose to live.

I'm sorry.

Fourth and most recent in a string of identical dilithium thefts.

Killing a starfleet officer, though, that's new.

The killer is a ni'var citizen

and a qowat milat nun known as j'vini.

Her cohorts are mercenaries,

confirmed to be operating under her orders.

Thanks to the tracker we planted in the dilithium she stole,

we now have her coordinates.

These thefts began

after the gravitational anomaly was discovered.

Might there be a connection?

As of now, we have no indication of motive.

J'vini's crimes, however, are clear. She must be detained without delay.

This would be an appropriate time for the qowat milat to join us.

Thank you, president t'rina.

Admiral, ni'var is a trusted ally of the federation.

Despite the fact that these crimes were committed on starfleet vessels,

we will not respond without ni'var's guidance.

Thank you. Indeed, we are more than allies.

It is my hope that we will be united under the flag of the federation.

The dangers posed by the anomaly

make our cooperation all the more important.

I understand that at the moment,

no inhabited systems are threatened by its trajectory,

yet it could change course at any time?

That is the case, madam president.

Commander stamets has been leading the efforts

to understand its movements.

He's eager to collaborate with the ni'var science institute.

And they are ready to receive him. Here, too, we offer our services.

This is an internal qowat milat matter.

And as such, we ask that starfleet turn her coordinates over to us.

We believe j'vini most likely is acting as a qalankhkan

on behalf of a lost cause.

Most likely?

- You have doubts? - No.

Why would she steal the dilithium? The federation is giving it away.

I don't know.

This is the first news we've heard of j'vini in several years.

But I trust she has a reason.

The order must be allowed to discover that context.

Mom, she killed a starfleet officer. You cannot excuse that with context.

We do not excuse j'vini's actions.

However, we must be the ones to pursue her.

No one but her sisters will be able to bring her in alive.

The unique ways of the qowat milat must be respected.

Admiral Vance,

would starfleet be amenable to making this a joint mission?

A venture of mutual goodwill would reflect the spirit

of the pending union between ni'var and the federation.

Under the circumstances, we would, of course, be amenable.

As would the qowat milat.

Might I suggest captain Burnham be permitted to represent starfleet?

She has my confidence.

And dare I say the confidence of her mother?

Whatever j'vini's circumstances,

I think we can all agree that these actions

cannot be allowed to continue.

Bring her in safely.

I'll prepare to leave immediately.

Captain.

- If we may speak frankly? - Of course.

This joint mission is a political necessity.

Ni'var and the qowat milat must feel respected, but make no mistake.

You are in charge.

I thought we landed on mutual goodwill there.

Goodwill and leadership are two different things.

This anomaly, it is the biggest threat we have faced since the burn.

This is our moment to serve

and to show why restoring the federation is so critical.

We cannot do it without ni'var,

but we also can't do it if those who attack us don't see our strength.

J'vini must be brought in.

Absolutely.

If you feel your mother will make this too difficult...

No. J'vini took the life of a starfleet officer.

I will bring her to justice. I promise you that.

Good. I'm counting on you.

No. You're almost finished.

I was gonna ask you a question if you have a second.

For you, always.

Oh, thanks. I really appreciate it.

So, I'm...

That was disturbingly not delicious.

Is something amiss with the replicator?

No, no. I, um...

Sorry, ordered Mac and cheese on purpose.

There's something amiss with me, and Dr. Culber's helping with it.

While your dislike of cheese certainly renders you a rarity among humans,

I was not aware it was considered an actual disorder.

Oh, no, no, it's not. Um, I'm sorry.

I'm trying new things

because my comfort zone has become uncomfortable.

Or too comfortable. Unclear.

Dr. Culber thought it might help if I shake things up,

so I slept with my pillow at the other end of my bed,

and I took the long way to the bridge this morning.

And I was hoping I could try out a little gardening

by watering some of your plants?

What is it you hope to gain from novelty?

To be honest, I'm not sure yet.

I do keep thinking about those cadets at the academy

and just how certain they are

that they are exactly where they're supposed to be.

I used to have that.

Clarity of purpose can be difficult to achieve.

Sorry. I know you have some places to go. It's not important.

I confess to having dined quickly. I am speaking with kaminar.

Oh, well, give su'kal my best.

Oh, he would appreciate that.

However, today's call is with the local council

to discuss our role in retrofitting kaminar's space port.

My home world recently voted to return to the stars.

I will look for something meaningfully unusual for you to do.

Till then, you're welcome to mist my plants.

Oh, but do take care to not touch the swampkelp while it is in bloom.

- Why? What happens if I do? - It is better if you do not know.

Hey, thought I'd find you here. Stamets give you another job?

Yeah. It's more like a tachyon treasure hunt.

Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but it keeps me close to the action.

Such as it is.

Speaking of action, mind if I requisition your ship?

Starfleet and oowat milat only.

Oh, I see how it is.

Love a man up, then leave him without his ship?

I will return it washed and waxed. And I thank you.

How is he?

He's got a new theory. Primordial wormhole.

- Primordial wormhole, huh? - Four out of five factors point to yes.

One: Gravitational distortions are consistent with wormhole behavior.

Two: So is the shape of the gravitational well.

Three: Its ability to change direction.

Four: It contains a massive amount of accreted dark matter.

Which reminds me, I've given it a nickname.

The dma, dark matter anomaly.

Too much of a mouthful to say every time.

Right.

Everything points to a primordial wormhole except one missing factor.

Let me guess, tachyons.

Always present at the birth of a wormhole.

- Without tachyons... - We're back to square one.

The evidence is in here. We just have to find it.

Until I know what the dma is, I can't predict its behavior.

And we can't prevent another...

The ni'var science institute will be a great help.

- I'm sending the raw data now. - Okay. Keep me posted.

I wanna go to the science institute with you.

Oh... no, no, no. You really wouldn't.

It's gonna be so boring.

Field equations, manifolds, torsion tensors. Math, math, math.

I need to be doing something. Helping. Come on.

I can't bring these scientists up to speed

without a clinical, forensic discussion of your loss.

I can handle it.

Thank you.

It's me.

Almost.

I'll finally be a part of the world again.

No more looking in from the outside, feeling invisible.

The world has no idea what it's been missing.

The crew's gonna love you.

I mean, not as much as I do, obviously.

Thank Dr. Culber for me again.

Wait a few minutes and thank him yourself in person.

Dr. Culber, guardian xi is arriving.

Guardian xi, welcome.

I believe I've prepared everything you need for the incorporation.

An atypical arrangement,

as befits a zhian'Tara unlike any other.

Adira tal, greetings.

Thank you so much for doing this.

It is my joy to assist. Do we have gray tal?

Oh. Uh...

He's right here.

Greetings.

Tell him that I'm honored by his presence,

and I couldn't be more grateful for his help.

He's really grateful you're here.

Guardians are kind of like his heroes.

He was on his way to becoming one of you before things went sideways.

It is my hope that our work today will allow you to resume your training.

However, your unique situation is attended by unpredictable dangers.

I cannot guarantee that your consciousness can find a new home

in a synthetic body without a host's mind to guide you in.

We must accept the possibility that you could be lost.

Tell him that I'm lost without this.

I've been living in an in-between place for too long already. I have to try.

He understands the risks.

- He's good to go. - Do we have the consent of tal?

- We do. - Then let us begin.

It sounds difficult.

Uh-huh. My mother's bringing a qowat milat sister with her.

I should add a tactical officer to balance the numbers.

Can't have the mission appear to favor either party.

This mission would be straightfonnard if it weren't for the politics.

- Don't get me started on rillak. - I will not.

But I would like to offer a recommendation

for your tactical addition.

Lieutenant tilly.

She has a long and impressive list of skills,

but combat falls kind of at the bottom.

That may be so, but Dr. Burnham and her qowat milat companion

are certain to be highly combat trained, as are you.

Given the delicate nature of politics,

you might consider making use of tilly's intuitive diplomatic skills.

She does have a way of putting people at ease.

I believe she may do the mission good, and it, her.

It can be hard to get out of your comfort zone

when you can barely get out of the lab.

You know, getting the opportunity to do this could be really good for me.

Um... I'm so sorry.

Not that it's good that your sister is getting arrested.

Obviously that's not... that's not good.

That's bad. That's not good at all.

You worry that I'm dismayed by your enthusiasm?

I'm not.

Absolute candor.

Yeah, I dig that.

You told me that when Spock was accused of murder,

you didn't believe it.

And your trust in your brother was justified.

That's different. I knew him.

And I know her.

Who is she to you?

I need to know who I'm dealing with.

When I first came to this future, I was broken.

A qowat milat sister nursed me back, unwavering for more than a year.

Yes, you've told me.

That sister was j'vini.

I was once her lost cause. She gave everything to heal me.

I owe her everything.

Approaching destination.

You need to leave your phasers on board.

They are not the qowat milat way.

We are not qowat milat. And they'll be set to stun.

If you go with phasers, I'll never get through to her.

You wanna put us in front of a member of your order unarmed?

- That's not gonna happen. - Did I say unarmed?

We'll be at a disadvantage.

It was agreed that the ways of the oowat milat would be respected.

This is so outside my comfort zone.

It's heavier than I expected.

Sorry. So sorry. I moisturized my hands this morning. Apologies.

- Don't worry. I'll be good to go. - Good, because we're here.

I'm not reading any life signs on the surface.

Check under the surface.

She has to be around here.

One inhospitable uninhabited chunk of rock

makes as good a hideout as any other,

so why this one?

Mom, did j'vini have ties to a person or place nearby?

If she did, she chose not to share it with her sisters.

You were right. There's a cavity beneath us.

- Atmosphere? - It's breathable.

I'm getting a faint reading from the dilithium tracker as well.

Warning. Intruder alert.

I didn't want more blood to be spilled. That can stop right now.

Choose to live by leaving immediately.

Come after me, your lives are forfeit.

We're gonna ignore that warning, aren't we?

Mm-hm.

- Let's move. - Okay.

This isn't supposed to be happening.

I can't see him anymore. I can't feel him.

The enjoining was a success.

However, I do not yet sense his presence in the synthetic body.

Hey. Gray.

We must have Patience.

The process can take time.

Please, keep me apprised.

Thank you.

This can't... this can't be it.

We're supposed to just sit here and do nothing?

It's like guardian xi said. It could take some time.

It's him, but it's not.

It's not him, and I don't really know what to do with that.

Let's go for a walk. Dr. Pollard will be here.

Gray's monitors will alert us to even the slightest change. Come on.

Lost cause or lost civilization?

This feels like a mausoleum.

The degree of desiccation suggests these pods are several centuries old,

possibly older.

Why would she bring dilithium to a crypt?

I have no idea.

As your lieutenant suggested,

maybe she's simply utilizing this moon as a safe house.

Hey, check it out. Grave robbers?

Yeah.

But why would a grave robber bother doing this?

J'vini's cloak.

I've never seen a species like it.

The database says unknown.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that we found her lost cause.

Unlikely.

If j'vini had pledged her sword to it,

her oath would have ended with its demise.

How are you so sure that there's an oath here at all?

You believe she's operating from a place of honor?

Her mercenaries killed one of her sisters.

She'd draw against us if she believed we pose a threat to her cause.

Oh, mom, she's not above the law.

The reasons matter. I thought you'd understand that.

You agreed to a joint mission 'cause I'd give the benefit of the doubt?

I just had a thought.

My mom and I didn't get along.

She didn't really like children, um, touching her, needing things from her,

generally being around her.

But if she was here right now, I would just give her the biggest hug.

- Seismic activity? - No.

Controlled matter and antimatter reaction.

Dilithium's been activated.

This isn't a moon. It's a ship.

And j'vini just powered it up. Where's the dilithium?

Tracker says it's...

Right above our heads.

There should be a way up there.

Fan out. Search the chamber.

Or we could take the turbolift.

Given the non-linear behavior

and topological structure of the dma,

it appears that any planet within 12 au of the ergosphere, as kwejian was,

will sustain gravitational shearing, resulting in catastrophic instabilities.

A primordial wormhole accounts for this shear, but so far...

Your theory and its challenges are clear to us.

Fantastic.

Given time, I would work this out myself,

but time is of the essence, so here we are.

Um... could we discuss the schedule for the day?

Science first, nap later.

I need all brains on deck here.

Our scientists work in a meditative state

to sharpen focus and concentration.

Oh, well, I'll, um, wait over there then, in my own sharp state.

May I offer a warm redspice?

Many find it soothing when experiencing emotional distress.

That obvious?

Your grief is to be expected.

But your body language also expresses guilt.

Illogical, as your loss was caused by a force of nature and not your fault.

I wasn't aware vulcans were so emotionally attuned.

A common misconception.

Vulcans experience emotions, some quite strongly.

We simply choose to suppress them in favor of a logical approach.

Care to give me a few pointers in that approach?

The discipline of the arie'mnu requires a lifetime to master.

For the uninitiated, respite would be fleeting at best.

A drowning man only needs one breath.

I believe you require a different set of tools than I can offer, Mr. Booker.

As a kwejian, emotion is as essential to you as air and blood,

rendering the suppression of guilt inadequate.

What you require is freedom from guilt.

There must've been a sign it was coming.

I missed it.

If I hadn't, I could've saved my family.

That is not illogical.

It is a truly bizarre reaction system.

The controls must be housed somewhere else on the moon.

Bingo.

Hello, little tracker.

Can you power the ship down from here?

I think so, but j'vini will definitely know it's been sabotaged.

Just see what you can do.

This shows a supernova, a moon leaving its world.

That's the ship we're on. Their own planet became unlivable.

And that's no mausoleum out there.

Cryostasis?

The species in the cocoons are alive.

Now we found her cause.

She's protecting them from grave robbers.

Got it.

Great work.

What now?

Now I need you to stay here.

As bait.

It was a mistake.

I should have never let gray do it. He'd be here. He'd be safe.

The choice wasn't yours.

Yeah, but what if he's really gone?

And please don't tell me he'll always be here

in my heart or my memories or whatever.

It's not the same.

No, it's not.

But I'll tell you, you're not alone. We're all here for you, adira.

Connecting with someone can be a guiding light when things get dark.

I presume gray remains in limbo?

It could last indefinitely.

The uncertainty might be the hardest part for them.

It's a challenging time for us all.

Of late, I'm often reminded of a kelpien adage.

"It is difficult to ride two valebeasts with only one set of buttocks."

Try riding three of them.

You are doing a tremendous job, doctor.

With both jobs.

Serving as medical officer and ship's counselor cannot be easy.

Well, that's why I'm here. To help. Or at least try.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is reach for one another.

It's weird not feeling you.

Not even knowing where you are.

I keep thinking you're just all alone.

Lost, maybe.

Dr. Culber said this thing about connecting with people

being like a light in the dark, so...

I figured maybe if you can't find your way...

That I could be the one to guide you.

So I'm here, reaching,

and I'll be here until you come back.

So please come back.

I'm way outside my comfort zone now.

Move away from the engine, now.

I choose to live. One hundred percent, I choose to live. Absolutely.

Michael?

You should've left, Gabrielle.

I'm here to help you. I just need to understand...

- Captain. - No, Michael. I've got this.

Please. You don't have to do this.

J'vini, let her go.

You, get my warp drive back online.

I know coming with us would mean that you abandon your cause.

But what if you don't have to abandon it?

I know you don't wanna kill her.

And I think we can offer you a solution.

You would say whatever you have to to get me to drop my guard.

No. No, no lies, I promise you.

We have a few minutes while tilly repairs the systems.

Oh, yeah, at least...

I mean, I'm hurrying, but I really did a number on this thing.

The species sleeping in the cocoons, they're your lost cause, aren't they?

You can trust her, j'vini. She's my daughter.

They're abronians. The last of their kind.

Their biomatter has high concentrations of iatinum.

It's what the grave robbers wanted.

And the abronian who wears your cloak was special to you?

Taqlonen.

I didn't know him, but that doesn't matter.

Going as fast as I can.

I was traveling through this star system when suddenly I felt...

Love, community, family, and suffering.

It was as if someone was calling out to me, begging me for help.

The telepathic distress signal was from taqlonen?

There was no one else in range.

His people were under attack.

I needed to protect the rest of them.

I accepted his cause as my own.

This was not the path I expected, but this is where I'm needed.

I promised, as long as I was breathing, no further harm would come to them.

The carvings on the wall suggest they traveled here while in cryosleep.

And this planet we're orbiting was meant to be their new home.

And when they wake, I will make sure they claim it.

The dilithium was necessary.

Why? If they were supposed to be here, why move them?

You know about the gravitational anomaly near this sector.

Yes, we do.

Without the dilithium, I wouldn't have been able

to move the abronians to safety it it had come this way.

If you had asked, we would have given it to you.

Starfleet doesn't dispense dilithium to individuals.

They would have wanted the name and location

of the species j'vini was representing.

And you couldn't risk the abronians' safety

by asking on their behalf and revealing their existence.

Killing your officer was never my plan.

But his death was not in vain.

I believe the abronians were meant to wake a long time ago.

And there's no logical reason

why they would have remained in cryostasis,

so I have to conclude that there was some kind of failure

in the cryo system.

So if we fix the problem and help them wake,

won't your oath be fulfilled?

You have until she finishes.

Are you done?

We are.

Within the scope of the data you provided,

we are unable to identify any factors to indicate the presence of tachyons.

In the absence of such evidence, your hypothesis remains unproven.

No. No, this has to be what it is. Lives are at stake...

Your emotional response to factual analysis is illogical, for a scientist.

Perhaps proof may be obtained another way.

We do have a witness.

Tachyons are superluminal.

Upon hitting kwejian's atmosphere,

they would've created cherenkov radiation,

a glowing blue cast to the sky.

Paul asked me the same thing a million times.

I don't remember a glow.

Stored memories often hold more details

than an individual can access.

A mind meld could uncover them.

No. No, you can't ask him to.

He'd have to relive all of it.

What if she's right, though?

You shouldn't be re-traumatized because of my failure.

I'll figure out the dma another way.

Thank you.

But if this is how I can help...

I wanna do it.

What do I do?

Just remember.

My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts.

Just do it. Now.

I have what I need.

No, wait. There's something else I need to see.

Look at them.

It's like they're still here.

You understand you cannot alter the memory.

You can only relive it.

There's this moment of leto I keep seeing.

The last moment I saw him.

I'm happy you're here.

That's it.

I turned to my brother, but leto looked back at me.

That's what I missed.

He saw me, and he knew I loved him.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My condolences are inadequate.

Are you all right? You look...

Did you find anything?

There was no qualitative evidence of superluminous radiation.

Tachyons were not present.

I'm sorry you had to go through that for nothing.

It wasn't for nothing.

I found the problem.

They'll wake in a few minutes.

That's why you kept them safe.

This path is at an end, j'vini.

Your next path awaits.

I'm sorry.

I fixed the engine.

That way, if the anomaly comes this way, the abronians can escape.

Let me?

I understand.

May truth be your guide on your new journey.

May the love of your sisters illuminate your way.

May the universe be your map as you walk the stars.

For now the path follows you.

Hey. You may wanna see this.

It's the path they're meant to be on.

You gave them that.

We gave them that.

J'vini said she was unsure of her path until she met taqlonen.

And then you said that there was another path ahead.

The oowat milat are very big on the path thing, right?

Well, paths end and change throughout everyone's life.

When we say "choose to live,"

it's an abbreviated form of a longer saying:

"The path you are on has come to an end.

Choose to live."

If you find yourself at the wrong end of a oowat milat sword,

it's pretty easy to see that particular path is over for you.

You either move on to a new path and live, or you stay and die.

What if the death is more metaphorical?

In everyday life, a path's end can be harder to recognize.

You must be willing to look inside yourself with absolute candor.

Another thing you're very big on.

Thank you for what you did today.

You wondered why I agreed to a joint mission.

In truth, it was because I was afraid I might not be able to bring her in.

And I knew you'd make me.

Well, you were right, mom.

Reasons do matter.

She kept an entire species from extinction.

Doesn't erase her crimes, but it does mean something.

The details of j'vini's arrest are in her file.

I would like to formally request

that mitigating circumstances be taken into account during her sentencing.

Thank you, captain Burnham, for your service.

Your request won't be necessary.

Admiral Vance?

President t'rina, starfleet remands the prisoner j'vini to your custody

for extradition to ni'var.

Peace and long life.

Jolan tru, daughter.

May you find peace with this.

Tell me she'll be held accountable.

That's up to ni'var now.

You gave me a mission.

Which you executed admirably.

Your role in this matter has now concluded, captain. Admiral.

Patrick fickett.

First officer of the credence.

He had a partner, ha'ryl. He had two kids.

Krenn and na'El. I know.

Then you know they deserve justice.

I agree. I also know bringing ni'var into the federation will benefit millions.

Justice will be served, captain. In time.

You're really okay with this?

I'd have preferred a different outcome,

but it's hard to argue with the president trusting in ni'var

as we ask them to trust in us.

Do you like music, captain?

Sure.

Think of us as an orchestra.

You're first-chair violin, with the showy, challenging solos.

I'm the drum section, setting the pace, providing backbone.

She's the conductor.

When she signals us, we play.

It's not ourjob to know if the cellist is drunk

or the woodwinds and brass are at war.

We each have our part.

And we must all trust that she knows the symphony.

That was a lot of analogy.

Well, they pay me by the letter.

Come.

I hear percussion. What are we listening to?

It is the song of the kaminar sea frog.

I fell asleep to their chirps as a child,

and my recent stay rekindled my love for their lullaby.

Very beautiful. Is it strange to be back?

A work in progress.

But I do my best each day to find balance.

You suggested to Michael I go on today's mission, right?

I thought it might further your quest for new experiences.

- I hope you found it helpful. - I did. Thank you.

- Can I try that? - Certainly.

- This is the swampkelp bloom? - It is.

- So, what happens if I touch it...? - Ah...

I'm sorry. I'm just kidding.

Sorry.

Oh, my god.

Are you okay?

Are you... you?

I'm definitely me.

You okay?

Guardian xi is on his way.

- Take it slow. We don't know yet... - Thank you, thank you. Thank you.

I don't even know how to thank you.

I had some words planned, but they don't even come close.

It's okay. You don't have to say anything.

Guardian xi.

We are so grateful you're back.

You get a hug as soon as I see you in person.

What's it like? How do you feel?

And home.

Thanks to you.

Did you...

You heard me?

I felt you.

Reaching for me, guiding me.

I, um... I wasn't sure without tal linking us anymore.

We'll always be linked, adira.

Always.

Kwejian forest.

This was too painful a week ago.

It was too painful this morning.

But also...

Nice.

What happened today?

I got a memory back.

And I realized...

Someday, if I'm lucky, the grief will fade.

And if I don't want all my other memories to fade with it,

I have to open myself back up to them.

Good and bad.

Your ikhu zhen amulet.

It's been years since I've worn it.

It didn't feel right.

Now it does.

You seem peaceful.

In this moment...

Yeah.

Sometimes that's all we get.