The Joining of Two Women by the Gods

Posted on Wed Dec 27th, 2023 @ 11:11am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Inara Senn

Mission: Hard Earned Peace
Location: Holodeck 1, Josephine's Program

Inara entered the Holodeck and moved to Josephine's Grave. Kneeling down at it. "I know... I caused you great pain. But I knew she was going to torment you anyway. What is worse, my love? Pain in your body from Hela's torments or pain in your soul, knowing I was once again a slave?" Inara asked. "I don't believe you're gone. Something in my heart says so." She noted. "I think you're still here. But I had to make that decision. I know you. To see me as a slave was something I could not do. It's just, I had to oppose her, oppose her in every way. I can no longer carry this pain." Inara noted. "This revenge, this hatred, this grief, even the pain, I can't bear it Josie. No matter what Hela has done or will do, I had to let go. I had to let go." She began to shed tears. "Every moment of pain, hate, and rage, for the moments of love we shared. I will move on, and grieve no more, but I will always remember you. I love you my darling Josie. I always will. No god or even the devil could change that." Inara stood.

"She is aware, though you were never Hea's slave. You were on your way to becoming it, but you weren't her slave" the familiar voice of Brigid said.

"I do not do this for any of these gods, entities, whatever. I don't care anymore. But I care for you." She placed her hand on the monuments face. "Across the endless dimensions of time, reality, and space. We will have each other in our hearts. I'll try to be better for you. You never needed me to avenge you. I should have realized that about you. I've done you such a disservice. Answering, what was done to us with revenge. So trivia and elementary, and I responded with revenge. I am ashamed. Inara Senn is not who you fell for. Arrianna is. I don't know if I can be her again, but for you, I would have altered fate itself. I will be a woman worth your love again. As for Hela... She is nothing to me, you are my everything."

"You cannot be who you once were, but Inara can be a new you. A version of you that you and others can be proud of, that you can be proud of. One who can stand against Hela and her vileness" Brigid said in a tranquil voice.

Inara spoke to Brigid. "Something's going to happen, she's going to do something terrible. I spoke to Dr. T'ghann-Travis." She noted. "Shoniara may have accepted Hela's game and debt, but Hela sought her out to begin with, just like she sought me out. She's playing the long game with us. I will not give myself to rage again Brigid, but I loathe that woman. I knew what she was when she used Josephine against me. And now I know what she is when she tempted Shoni. It's through anger and hatred that she tempts us, isn't it? Gains control? But she doesn't understand mortals very well. I resisted her because I didn't want to let Josie see me as a slave again. What is more painful Brigid, pain of the body or pain of the soul?" Inara noted. "If I didn't finally resist her and let go, the price would have been more than losing her."

"You are partially correct" Brigid admitted. "Not about Hela's relationship with your colleague, but you do understand that Hela seeks something quite important and powerful. No, sadly it was your colleague who sought out Hela, begged for a great favor, and in doing so, doomed herself into servitude to Hela. Hela's power over what you consider death is immense, one of the most powerful of our kind in that way. Anger and hatred are weapons she uses, though she uses many of your emotions against you, most notably grief and regret. She has already managed to ensnare another of your colleagues aboard this vessel, though she has been vexed by another."

"She double-deals like a Ferengi." Inara noted. "And I don't know if we can stop her without you and Morrigan. Look, I understand that the situation between you, Morrigan, and Hela may be complicated. I am to blame for Josie going to Hela... but she cannot remain here. Please tell me if there's any way I can save my crew from her." Inara mentioned. "I'm willing to admit that some of your kind do offer something benevolent, but I cannot believe Hela is some storm we have to weather."

Brigid offered a smile. "My dear, the situation amongst my people is beyond complicated. The mythologies of your people are the closest means to understanding us that you may have, and even then, they are skewed by your limited understand of us. When you people were far more primitive, many of us came to your worlds and functioned as deities in your mind, though not all of us were benevolent. Even when we were functioning as deities on your worlds, we had complicated relationships amongst us." Brigid walked over and looked at the surroundings. "You know, I was always fond of Eire. The humans there were a magical folk, full of life. Mother and father both adored them as well. Mother has an interest in you. She believes in rebirth."

"Rebirth.." Inara noted. "I thought myself Edward Dantes... I ended up being Captain Ahab." Inara mentioned. "But I also sense... envy in Hela.. Explain to me; what is this fascination you have with us? In so many ways, we are inferior to you."

"Ahab? No, not at all. I picture you more of a Van Helsing. That would frighten Hela a bit if she realized it. Do you know the story of Van Helsing? The power he was given, and the eternal quest he swore to fight?" Brigid responded. Her eyes widened as Inara continued to speak. "Inferior? Far from it. Less evolved would be more accurate. But you are correct, many mortal species do fascinate us, most notably the humans. It is because of their potential. They have a dichotomy, a duality, that is both amazing and terrifying all at once. You may notice that in much of the mythology that surrounds us, humans, both in life and even in death, are made warriors for us. Humans, they make fantastic warriors for causes, and we do love our causes."

Inara looked at Brigid. "I don't think the Survivors of the Second Battle of Chin'toka would see it that way, as we spent five years and almost a billion lives lost fighting the Dominion and its allies. I know, I was there for it." Inara noted. "We were fortunate the Founder surrendered before we had to invade Cardassia Prime. And I'm not even sure what happened that made the Founder give up. They were telling us it was going to be uphill all the way." Inara noted. "But right now, I need to talk to dh'Klar about getting Hela off this ship. She's more than worn out her welcome, if there ever was one."

"Do you think you're the only one to survive the war? Many aboard this vessel fought in the war you speak, were more involved in the front lines than you. Your captain, he is what you mortals call a war hero. His lieutenant, the one called Grayson, he saw much during the war. We are aware of that conflict, we watched. Some of us reveled in it, some of us mourned the loss of life. It was a war that was not supposed to happen, but better for all that it did happen rather than when it was originally meant to, because the outcome was better for all." Brigid wiped away a single tear from her cheek. "Such loss. Such brutality. Such waste. You should speak with your captain. He too wishes to remove Hela from the ship. Doing so will not be easy."

"I think I know what she really wants. She wants Shoniara to give herself willingly for her daughters. And she'd do it too. She always wanted Shoniara. That's why she tempted her. Thank you, Brigid."

"No. I understand why you believe that, but Shoniara giving herself to Hela would be a bonus, not what she is after. Your colleague gave Hela the opportunity she has sought for centuries" Brigid replied reluctantly.

"What did she do?" Inara noted. "You can't say..." Inara mentioned. "This is not going to end well, is it? Tell me, what can I do to save her, if not her, then her children?" Inara mentioned. "I cannot allow Hela a single victory. I do not even want to be subject to her after death." Inara mentioned. I would rather wander limbo forever, than surrender to my love's murderer."

"You will have to accept that you may not be able to save everyone. Your colleague made a deal, that must be honored, no matter how much you dislike it" Brigid said emphatically. "I know you don't want to hear that, but fate is a tricky thing, as I have tried to tell you. You may not be subject to Hela, but that will depend on if she continues to have interest in you."

"Dammit Brigid. You and Morrigan are here to help us, yet you can't help us. It's like you have your own prime directive here, and I say that with my usual criticism for how vague it is." Inara mentioned. "It's like you're dancing around eggshells with a treaty with the Romulans."

"You want us to fight your battles for you. You want to avoid taking responsibility for your mistakes. It is not our way to coddle you" Brigid responded forcefully.

"Mistakes? Coddling? What do we use against a god? I shot her with a phaser set on the maximum setting, the most a type one hand phaser can achieve, and it should have killed a damned elephant." Inara noted. "I then resisted her efforts to enrage me, and when she couldn't claim me, she decided to kill me. And for that I am grateful beyond words for your and Morrigan's aid. You forced me to confront my past, but if we have to do this ourselves now, so be it." Inara mentioned. "I'm going to dh'Klar to recommend we arm every crewmember on this ship and remove her with force. It may not work, she'll probably kill us all, but the Starfleet officer inside me tells me wickedness and evil must be opposed, even what I tried to do, I admit was wickedness and evil. So, help us remove this bitch, or don't, but I guarantee you, Hela will not kidnap an unborn child without a fight!! As futile as it may be. It is a cause worth dying for." Inara left the Holodeck and tapped her comm badge, "Senn to Captain dh'Klar. I think it's time to remove Hela from our ship... or die trying."

Brigid watched as Inara stomped away. She looked on in dismay. She spoke softly aloud, "Always the rash action, the impulsive, never the rational despite claiming it as your compass."

Shran was on the bridge looking over information with Deanna when Inara's comm message came through. =^=My ready room lieutenant. =^=