Forced Therapy

Posted on Thu May 29th, 2025 @ 6:48pm by Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Lieutenant Inara Senn & Jasmine Armstrong

1,816 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Cead Mile Failte
Location: Planet

Ayana remained and kept watch after the captain and others returned to the ship. Inara was her security charge at this point, though she knew that Ms. Armstrong was soon to beam down. She kept a respectful distance from Inara, seeing her standing in a green grassy field away from the ruins. As expected, Ms. Armstrong materialized near Ayana.

Ayana looked at her, "You have your hands full. She is less than enthusiastic about staying down here."

Jas chuckled. "What's going on here. Oh psychology." She chuckled. "Yeah, Inara doesn't consider that a science." Jas smirked.

"Not my idea. I'm just here to make sure she remains alright. Well, I suppose you are too" Ayana replied. "I assume the captain informed you of the situation. Not sure if you want to deal with this, but I think if anybody can force her to exorcise her demons, it's you."

"Mm hmm." Jas noted. "Time to teach you about Inara 101, Aya." She noted. "You know that old saw, genius and madness are two sides of the same coin? Well, sums up Inara well. The thing is she is really a kind and thoughtful woman, when she wants to be. But God... Too much has been stacked up on her since the last war began. And damn does she expect the finest from people. But I took my time and carved my way through the shell." Jas smirked. "It was kinda fun, countering her scientific brilliance with reality, and I still have the time of my life. Peeling back the layers of Inara Senn." She noted. "The real Inara isn't too different from you and I."

"I'll take your word on that" Ayana replied diplomatically. "I believe she is a good person. Deanna says as much. Says that Inara isn't the persona she puts forward, that it is a facade to protect her from getting hurt. Suppose that is why Deanna keeps trying with her. I'll keep my distance, give you an opportunity to talk with her. With luck that goddess lady won't show up again. I'm not against it, just feels strange encountering creatures that were thought to be myth and legend."

"Oh, believe me, at least with the Q you know what you get. These entities are a puzzle." Inara mentioned.

Ayana looked at Inara, "The fact that figures from Earth's mythology exist amazes me. Scares me a bit as well, if I'm honest. These Tuatha, I don't feel on guard about. They seem to be benevolent generally. Certainly not the malevolence we have seen with Hela, or the chaotic nature of the Q." She offered a smile, "Would you like me to leave you to talk with Jas?"

"I question their motivations, Lt. Hills, and it is unclear to me why they waste their time with us." Inara mentioned. "They are not us, they do not understand the concept of a finite life, yet they are intrigued into interference. Intervention at best, meddling at worst. And even we do not beam down to prewarp cultures and sell them a batch of phaser rifles, as we know what will happen."

"We don't, others do. The Klingons used to when it served their purposes, or so I learned in my history class at the Academy" Ayana replied. "I understand you questioning the motivations. Nothing wrong with being cautious when dealing with anyone, especially a race that is vastly more advanced than either of us, perhaps more evolved. I'm not a philosopher, just a tactical and security officer. I suppose how you view what they do is subject to your perspective. They obviously don't limit themselves by a Prime Directive the way we do. I would say though, we don't know what their experience is with finite life. I doubt they were born immortal, if they are indeed immortal."

"Alright, get out here Danu. You want to get into my head. Let's get it all over with." Inara mentioned.

"She did not say she wanted to get into your head" Morrigan said calmly as she appeared next to Jas. "She told you that you needed to address your own issues. Humans would say exorcising your demons. Your mind is chaotic. You have torn yourself in two, and Danu knows this cannot stand if you are to survive what is to come in your future. You have challenged fate, tried to control it, all because you didn't like things were. You messed with the fabric of time, and for that you were punished. In a strange twist, your companion here was brought into this time frame. Fate does not turn a blind eye to those that would force its hand, especially when time is involved. Things are in motion that cannot be undone."

"Vague...." Inara crossed her arms.

"Do you need everything spelled out for you? Surely you are capable of dealing with your own dichotomy. Danu only wants to prepare you for what will come. Even we cannot keep all things from happening" Morrigan replied. "No need for you to revert to your impetuous nature. Simply work with your companion to sort yourself out."

Inara turned to Jas. "'Even we cannot keep all things from happening.' She says. 'Things are in motion that cannot be undone.' What in the name of the Sacred Rings of Betazed is she talking about."

Jas shrugged. "Maybe she's trying to tell you that life is suffering and to get over it?"

"Easier said than done. " Inara mentioned. Inara sat on something.

"Inara, you always pull the weight of the world with you. Maybe it's time to let go?"

"You are not responsible for everyone and everything. You have only yourself to concern yourself with, to control. You cannot control what happens to anyone else, no matter how much you may wish. Each individual, no matter they mortal or not, controls only their own fate" Morrigan stated.

"I joined this fleet to explore. I ended up fighting some war. And I got too damned good at it, and I used science to massacre my enemies." She noted. "And I didn't fight clean, I fought dirty. Just to survive." She noted. "I did it to come home." Inara mentioned. "So yes, I did unspeakable things just to..."

"Yes..." Jas noted, "You did survive it."

"And I hate it Jas. By the sacred rings. I did it so I wouldn't die there."

"War, one of the most natural and predictable things for all mortals, as is the guilt that many feel from surviving. I have fought in countless wars, lost many in those wars. Humans, Xelridians, Caitains, even my own race, so many good warriors, just people that fought for causes they believed in, and many never returned. To dismay is only natural, but you cannot continue to feel the guilt you feel. It is unproductive" Morrigan stated honestly.

"Not to interrupt..." Ayana began, "but I'd be remiss not to add in on this subject. I don't think anyone joins StarFleet to go to war. We all joined to explore, but not everyone we encounter in this galaxy or universe shares our values, and being in StarFleet means defending those who require the defense. We have battled the Klingons, Romulans, Xindi, Gorn, Cardassians, Tzinkethi, Borg and the Dominion to name but a few since venturing out into space. And while each of those wars has been costly, we have also met many races and become friends with them...Vulcans, Andorians, Tellerites, Caitains, Risians, Bajorans, Betazoids, and countless others. We even became friends with some of those we warred with. I understand you have seen a lot, you've lost a lot, but no more than anyone else who has ever had to fight. Don't allow the events of a war to define you. Don't allow guilt to dominate your thoughts. I know it can be difficult, but you have to learn to move on, to accept that things happen beyond your control. Chaos theory exists for a reason. We have counselors aboard our ships for a reason. And don't say that as a Betazoid you can't get past it all, because Deanna was in the war and had to do all sorts of things she cannot speak about, and she manages to live her life just fine. You have a bit of a rivalry with her from what I can see. You wouldn't want to be viewed as the weaker one, would you?"

"I turned into a creature that made people suffer Ayana. And I hated it and myself. I hated every moment of it. I'm sorry." She noted.

"I don't require an apology" Ayana replied.

"You must forgive yourself. You simply became what was necessary to survive the war. If you made a mistake, it was thinking that you had to stay that person when the war ended" Morrigan answered.

"When I got Jas back, I was elated. Now, I have to let go... for my own sake. I don't understand you beings. You are so much higher on the evolutionary ladder. Yet your relations, and some of your kin's behavior, are a mystery to me. I can say, however you and Danu are alright in the end. Hela... She hurt Jas... Hurt one of my friends. She can go fuck herself."

Morrigan shook her head in dismay while also offering a slight chuckle. "You do not need to let go of Jas, but you do need to let go of the guilt you feel for things that have happened in your past." Her tone then got stern, "Never confuse me for Hela. Hela is an Asgardian; they are not as the Tuatha. Similar, yet different. And know that you will have to face her again. She does not forget those that bring her joy in torment."

"I have no intention of bringing her any more joy, and I want her... Gone. Do you understand?"

"You can want that, and I understand your feelings regarding her, but she is never really gone. At best all you can hope for is that you cease to interest her" Morrigan replied. "That requires you to deal with your past and accept things, letting go of the guilt."

She nodded. "Guess I'll have to deal with her for a while. Alright, Morrigan. I'll confront these things with the counselor and that damnable psychology, and if you ever heard of Sigmund Freud, the man was absolutely intolerable. Psychology... a Science... I beg to differ."

Ayana couldn't help but offer a chuckle.

"Pfft. At this rate, soothsaying is going to be a science one day."

"Is it really soothsaying when one can actually see the future?" questioned Morrigan. The warrior goddess offered a slight smile, "Don't leave the protection of this world until you deal with those demons Inara. If you do, Hela will torment you mercilessly." With that she vanished.

"I guess that means we can go" Ayana quipped.

 

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