Mission 5: Tensions

[Lane]

ON

-Counselor's Office-
-USS Lakota-

"Nonsense! You're not bothering me. Come on in." Shiri motioned for the Doctor to come in. From the looks of Romaine she could tell the woman was not having an easy time of it. Shiri hoped she would be able to help her. "Go ahead and take a seat on the couch. It's more comfortable than the chairs." She then moved around her desk, but not to sit down at the chair. Instead she moved to a small cabinet that was behind it. She quickly pressed a few keys on the key pad to unlock it. Inside were a couple of bottles of wine and a bottle of brandy along with a few glasses. Shiri wasn't on duty and from the looks of it neither was Mutara.

Shiri looked at the doctor. "I once heard something about people finding it easier to talk to their bar tenders, and I owe you a drink for saving my life. Can I get you anything?"

"Something strong but I don't think it'll help." She waited for Shiri to pour her a drink. She wasn't sure where to start, "I'm having trouble sleeping. Seems like my demons are still haunting me."

The Counselor pulled out two cups and filled them both about half way with brandy. She walked back and handed one to the doctor before sitting down on the couch herself. "We've all had to face some pretty scary demons lately. I think any sane person would have trouble sleeping. Why don't you tell me what seems to be bothering you the most."

"It's not just one thing but a whole lot of things. Before this whole Ravenger thing happened, I had just found out that one of my brothers was missing. He still is." Tears formed, "I'm so worried that they'll never find him. We are such a close knit family and it's hard that all of us can't help find him or at least be together in this time of need. But all of us are in Starfleet with the exception of my twin sister and we're all on current missions." She took a big gulp of her brandy and grimaced at the warmth as it went down. Brandy was made to sip slowly, not gulp down.

"And then there's Marah. I made a promise to her and we know how that went. When I think about what could have had happened to her, it makes me cringe. She could have been caught and tortured, even killed and it would have been my fault. I don't know how she can function.

I know that when I try to sleep, my mind just doesn't shut off. I keep thinking about everything that has happened. In fact, I keep having this reoccurring dream that I am walking down the dark corridors of the Lakota and those Ravengers come out of nowhere and they all jump on me and attack me to the point that I can't breathe. When I wake up, I can still feel them on me. I'm so tired of waking up. I can never get back to sleep. " Mutara was both physically and mentally exhausted.

While Mutara talked, Shiri took a small sip of her drink, all the while listening as the doctor unfolded what had been bothering her. The poor woman was going through a lot, no wonder she was having trouble sleeping. Well, talking about things usually helped so, hopefully her being here would do the Doctor some good. And she needed some reassurance.

"First off, there is always hope that your brother will be found, always." Shiri cringed inwardly at what she was saying, she wasn't sure she believed that herself. "And I know it's difficult to be away from your family. But everyone is doing what is in their power to make sure he comes back. Just make sure you keep in touch with the rest of your brothers and sisters and your parents. You may not be with physically but staying in contact will go a long way."

"As for Marah, that girl is sure resilient... isn't she? I've talked with her a few times and she's doing fine. I thought it would be hard for her to face me given what happened after the last time she ran into some mirror universe people. But surprisingly, she's not suffering any ill effects. And even if she was... it wouldn't have been your fault. There was no way for anyone to know that I had a mirror counter part. I was new, no one knew me or how I acted. And most of all Marah doesn't blame you. In fact... I think she's pretty grateful that you were able to find her."

"The Ravagers," this time Shiri's cringe was noticeable, "well, I have to admit. I still don't like to think about them much myself. But you you have to admit, you handled yourself pretty well when going up against them. But I can understand why you feel a little violated. They came into a place you thought would be safe and managed to kill and hurt a lot of people. But remember... they didn't win. And we have another thing on our side. We have more than just brutality driving us, we have our sanity. So don't go and let them steal that from you as well."

"I think it's too late. They already have. How can anyone be sane seeing the damage that they did to people? Even a child got killed in the mess. I have seen a lot in my time of being a doctor but this was something you'd see in a horror flick. You know, the ones where throats get slashed and things like that? This is all burned forever in my mind and I can't seem to get passed that either. So, I thought that maybe talking to you would make me feel better. I'd talk to Robert about it but he has so much ion his plate as it is. I'm sure he's finding it hard knowing that his mirror counterpart was responsible for all of these deaths.

I sometimes wonder if they really aren't our mirror counterparts. Maybe it is something that is really in us, something we are capable of doing but we choose not to. I never saw my counterpart but I once heard that she liked to use her medical skills to punish someone. If I hated someone to the point I'd want them to suffer, I could think of a million ways to do it. But would I really do it?" She was thinking too much again.

Shiri smiled kindly and shook her head. "Mutara, the very fact that you're even thinking this way, proves that you wouldn't. I'm not saying that people don't have a capacity to do real evil things, the course of human or any other race's, history proves it. But your history, your past makes you who you are. I'm a firm believer in nurture over nature. Your parents raised you with love and compassion, as did mine. We have friends and family that keep us in check. Our counterparts... obviously didn't have that. So don't drive yourself insane thinking about...'do I really have it in me to do something like that?' Because I'm telling you right now, you don't. I bet it killed you that you even had to take the lives of those Ravagers that you did. You even had the chance to do some serious harm to my counterpart, but you didn't. You probably wanted to... but you didn't. That's what matters the most."

"More than you know. But your right, I didn't." She sighed. She could feel a slight headache coming on, "I just hope that I don't live to regret it. They're still out there...somewhere. Next time, we may not be so lucky to escape them." She understood how Marah must have felt at the thought of them returning. "I'm sorry. I just don't know how much more I can handle."

"You know, it is acceptable to feel overwhelmed. You're going through a lot. Were you able to take any time off? Or did you work yourself ragged helping out?" Shiri looked at the Doctor pointedly. "You need to rest a little, spend some time on the holodeck, read a book, something to get your mind off things. Hopefully with this next mission being more on the diplomatic side, you'll be able to breath a little."

"I'm not sure that I CAN get my mind off this. If I could, I would be sleeping and not here talking to you." She raised her voice out of frustration then realized what she did, "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. I'm just extremely tired. I don't know. Maybe I outta take one of those sleeping pills that I always prescribe to my patients. I give them out as a last resort and I think I'm there."

Shire laughed a little, "seriously, I'm the last person you have to apologize too. It's my job to take the brunt of all emotional outbursts. And as for the pills, I understand your need for sleep, but don't make a habit of it. It'll open a whole new can of worms." She paused a moment, as something came to her mind. "If I recall from your file... you're pretty adept at martial arts right? Maybe you really should try to spend some of your free time on the holodeck. Find some program where you can beat up some bad guys to release some frustration. It might help a little."

"I used to teach it but that was 17 years ago. I'm so out of practice. But I'll try it. Hey, it can't hurt, right? In fact, how would you like to join me? I could teach you a few moves."

"I might take you up on that! I could use some lessons on how to defend myself... without the help of a phaser." Shiri nodded her head. "And I know I could let loose a little frustration too."

"Good. I'd love it if you would. I've always wondered who counsels the counselor. This might be good therapy for you as well. I'll tell you what. I'll go and get it set up and if you join me this time, great. If not, there is always tomorrow."

Shiri was about to respond when the communicator interrupted the conversation. It seemed that the Cardassian Chief Engineer had need of the Counselor's services. Shiri gave Mutara a small little smile. "It seems we'll have to try it out tomorrow!"

Mutara got up and seemed to be in better spirits, "Then tomorrow it is. Just give me a buzz when you're free." She went to the door, "Oh, and thanks for the drink...bartender." She grinned at Shiri and then exited out the door.

OFF

Joint Post by: Commander Mutara Romaine and Lt. Commander Shiri Rosemond

[Kelas Vann]

| Marine Country
| USS Lakota

Kelas made her way swiftly through the corridors, quite unconcerned about being the only red collar amongst a sea of green. She'd been a marine herself, for a short while, and there were things that you never forgot about the service.

It didn't take her long to reach the MCO's office area and she smiled at the Lance Corporal behind the desk, spotting her husband out of the corner of her eye at the same time. "Ahh excellent, you're already here... Corporal, we'll be in the MCO's office should anyone want us," she informed the NCO and turned to Kelen, "After you," she said, motioning towards the office door.

Kelen smiled at his wife and inclined his head. Here she was his superior, and regardless of outside activities, everything had to be above board. He walked into the office and turned to wait. She had him here for a reason, though what that was alluded him at the moment. She stepped in behind him and closed the door, meaning this was to be a private session. "Admiral Blakeney already informed me that the MCO was on a special mission," he said as the door sealed shut. "I'll do what I can to keep things in top shape until his replacement arrives.


Kelas smiled slightly. "That could be sooner than you think. It's highly irregular but I've already discussed the situation the the Admiral. I have the choice of who I assign to the MCO. Even if we weren't about to leave imminently, and i had other candidates, I still have only one clear choice. Captain Kelen Regas, if you have no objections, I'm appointing you to the role of Marine Commanding Officer with the Lakota." She grinned, "Now say yes so we can get the formal stuff over with and I can kiss you."

"Command Staff?" Kelen frowned. Of course he wanted to say yes but . . . "Is that going to cause trouble for us? I mean, you are my wife, and I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Oh I'm sure there will be some people who want to throw rules and regulations about," she smiled and shrugged. "But no, not official trouble. I already checked that with Blakeney."

Kelen nodded then. One hurdle at a time and one step closer to his goal, which oddly had nothing to do with being MCO. "Yes then," he said with a smile that lit up his face. "Too bad I'm not your XO though, I'd call an emergency planning meeting."

He laughed at that and moved over to wrap an arm around his bride. The smile on his face didn't waver one bit as he gazed into her eyes and thought about the challenges to come. "So you I heard some sort of order to kiss you?" he teased and his grin grew larger. "You'll have to show me the regulation that calls for that ceremony."

JP between

[tlar]

:::Holodeck Two:::
:::USS Lakota:::

Mutara decided to take Shiri up on her suggestion. She didn't have any programs of her own so she went into the files and found a few programs that she could access so she did.

The program allowed her to start out slow and to warm up. Then the tasks became harder as it upped the skill factor. She found that it was much like riding a bike, you never forget, you just get out of practice.

"Level 14" the computer announced. The program had changed to taking all of her skills and put them to the test. At first, it was easy, like child's play but as the levels increased, so did the number of assailants increased. One assailant was simple so was two and even three but four proved to be a challenge. Mutara started to believe that she could pass the level.

Mutara applied all of the techniques that she had learned. The safeties were on so she knew that she wouldn't get hurt. She did a jump kick but then heard an awful noise followed by a great deal of pain. She fell to the floor, "Computer" she yelled with obvious agony, "end program." She assessed her injury and foound that she wouldn't be walking to sickbay on her own.

By doing what she was going to do next, she knew that there would be some ribbing from her colleagues but she sucked it up, "Computer, medical emergency, one to beam directly to sickbay."

She appeared in sickbay and luckily, Dr. Lane was there to receive her. Before Dr. Lane could say anything, Mutara sternly looked at her, "Don't say a word, not one word." She laid down on the bed while she nursed her bruised ego. She would not live this one down for a long time.