Someone to confide in

Posted on Fri Jan 12th, 2024 @ 3:55pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson

Mission: Hard Earned Peace
Location: Counselor's office

Callie was sitting in her office updating the latest patient files, with everything that was going on lately it felt good just to get to sit and do what she normally did. She looked up at the door as she picked up on familiar presence outside.

Shran was stressed. He wanted to get back to the peace talks, but the situation with Shon and Hela and everything else regarding it had really pushed him. It appeared the talks were in recess once again, so he sought out Callie in her office.

"Come in Captain" Callie smiled as she greeted Shran. "I sensed you outside the door, your presence is one that I've gotten used to sensing. Please make yourself at home and tell me what I can do for you."

Shran looked frustrated. "Glad you and Jon have been able to handle the peace talks. I would prefer to be there. This situation with Hela has spiraled into a horrible place. I honestly don't know what is worse, Shon losing a child to Hela, or the deeply personal tormenting she seems to be doing with Inara which has sent Inara into some sort of dissociative rage. I think you are going to be very busy in the foreseeable future counselor, because I don't know what I can do for either of them at this point."

Callie sighed and nodded. “I knew Inara was having a hard time, but I didn’t know about Hela. She’s taking one of Shon’s children? One of the twins?” She gave Shran a surprised look.

"The Hela situation is out of control" Shran admitted. "Yes, Shon made a Faustian deal with Hela, and she has returned to claim her prize, which apparently is one of Shon's unborn children, which I am now led to believe is in fact some sort of demigod. And to make matters worse, there is a risk she might attempt both of the babies in a bid to resurrect Loki." Shran looked bamboozled from all of that, but he continued, "This is all bad enough, but the entire situation has somehow drawn in Inara who seems determined to remain on the warpath with Hela no matter the cost and has in fact now angered another of these entities that is known as Morrigan. Honestly counselor, dealing with situations like this wasn't something we learned about at the Academy. What am I supposed to do in a situation in which I am essentially powerless?"

Callie looked equally as bamboozled at that question. "I wish I could say Captain. The fact that Hela isn't causing complete chaos seems to suggest you're doing well so far, but when it comes to Shon..." she shook her head. "We are more or less powerless against these so-called gods." she paused. "Maybe there's a way to call upon Hela's maternal side? It sounds like she herself would perhaps have to give up Shon's child, or children in order to resurrect Loki. Perhaps we should appeal to the maternal side of her, persuade her that she'd be losing too if she did that? That the babies are safer here with us?"

"It has been made blatantly clear to me, painstakingly so even, that keeping the child here with us is not an option. It has been suggested that doing so would end in all our deaths." Shran began pacing the room, looking a bit like a madman. "It is my job to protect those who serve under me. It is one of the primary duties of any captain. But I can't protect Shon from this horrible thing. The sad reality is that Shon brought this on herself, and now I have to make the Vulcan decision. Tell me doctor, do the needs of the many really outweigh the needs of the few or the one?"

“For starters I’m not a doctor.” Callie offered a brief smile. “As for that, I can’t say. All I know is that I understand how Shon must be feeling, if anything happened to my babies...” she sighed. “I guess you do what you have to do Captain, while the rest of us pick up the pieces. I’ll do whatever I can for Shon.”

"I'm a father, Callie. How can I ask Shon to just give up a child? It would destroy her. It'll destroy all of us if I don't. It is a Catch 22. No good options, just picking which is the lesser of two evils." He slammed his hands onto the table. "And then you have Inara, who I think at this point wants to go to war with Hela, consequences be damned. She has been given ways out, and yet she apparently refuses to take them. She lashes out and dismisses anyone who tries to help her, as if everyone is going to harm her."

Callie nodded. "I need to understand more of what's going on with Inara, what's deep down that pushing her to this, only then we might be able to help her. I don't give in very easily; I will do what I can to help her." she paused. "As for Hela, I've absolutely no idea what to do about her. She makes everyone nervous, because none of us know what she's likely to do next."

Shran nodded. "I think at this time, Inara is the one you can most assist with. We'll need you to help with the aftermath of the Shon-Hela situation to be sure, but you can do something regarding Inara now. Maybe you can get through to her, past her irrational defenses." Shran paused for a moment, considering his next words. "As for Hela, she and the situation surrounding her is reminiscent of something from Earth that Admiral Carroll was a fan for. They were called comics, graphic short novels depicting fantastical events. In these stories you had as you do in all such tales, a powerful villain and a hero. In this case, Hela is the maniacal supervillain, and while we have heroes, the main player opposite seems to be Inara, and she is playing a role known as the antihero. Most of these antiheroes are significantly damaged individuals that are fixated on righting wrongs that they perceive are more than they really are. Inara believes she can defeat the villain, just like all these other comic book heroes and antiheroes. But this isn't some work of fiction, and some villains really are too powerful to defeat. Somehow though, I'll find a way to neutralize Hela."

Callie nodded. "Just be careful captain, the last thing we need is anything happening to you." she offered a caring smile. "I'm hoping that Hela has a side that will see reason, in the meantime I'll do what I can for Inara."

He cracked a slight smile. "I do appreciate being worried about." Shran nodded in affirmation. "Perhaps, but that assumes what we see as reason is what she sees as reason. My experience with these entities has me convinced that they certainly know more than they let on. Not unlike dealing with the Q in that respect. Some are more benevolent than others, and those we consider malevolent are only that way from a certain perspective. I believe Hela is far less evil than Inara would suggest, but that doesn't mean she isn't dangerous and perhaps a bit insane, though that might be a clinical diagnosis better left to you counselor."

Callie offered a wry smile. "I'm not sure I want to spend time around Hela to find out. It's not just me I have to protect, who knows what she could do to my twins. I'll stay on her good side to avoid any risk to them."

"I don't think you have anything to worry about, nor do your twins. I don't think Hela has any intention on harming any of us. She came for Shon's child as payment for a debt. She has toyed with Inara, but she hasn't actually physically harmed her directly. I almost believe they have something similar to our Prime Directive, and they have to avoid certain direct interference with us" Shran mused. "Though this is just theory" he said with a smile. "I'll leave you to your work Callie" he said as he exited.