---
Kathryn sat
nervously in the chair. She was close to finishing her time in the Academy:
only one or two more classes, the exit exams, the dreaded Kobayashi Maru ...
and this counseling session. Kathryn had several sessions as a part of the
required officer training because, Officer Candidacy in the Academy can be very
stressful from physical and mental demands. Her classmates called this part of
the Academy curriculum "The Gauntlet" because the Counselor was not
Betazoid as one would expect, but a Vulcan. The session consisted of a
mind-meld designed to search for the true motivation of the cadet among
other personal facts of opportunities. To say that the session is invasive is a
misnomer; each cadet agrees to the process as a part of their training for the
sake of experience. Regardless, Kathryn has fears about what is going to
happen.
Counselor A'Mand could tell. "Remember, you are here to learn. You will learn why you are here. I am not here to judge. I am only a catalyst to knowledge. Fear is only in your mind, but fear can hurt you like a blade. It can kill you, but only if you let it overcome who you are. Do not be afraid. You. Are. Safe."
Safe.
The word penetrated Kathryn's thoughts. Her stress washed away and she lay back onto the couch. A'Mand kneeled at Kathryn's side and placed her hands onto the facial points necessary for a soft transition Mind Meld.
"My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your ... your fears are my ... start ... beginning ..."
... remember ...
I remember now. I remember how it started. I remember doing what they told me ...
A ship.
A cargo ship ... no transport ship.
Colony. Colonization. Hesperus.
A girl. A teenage girl.
Red hair. Ponytails. Me.
Parents. Mom. Dad.
Warning.
Attack. Fire. Explosion.
Capture.
Darkness.
Chains. Pain. Sadness.
Slave? Death? Fear of ...
Mom?!
Dad?!
Chains. Pain. Sadness.
Orions!
Tribe? Tatoo? Scar? Left Arm.
Sold. Slave.
Angry ...
I feel your pain. What happened next?
... iwasforcedtoworkintheminesiwasforcedtoworkormypare ntswoulddie ...
Are your parents alive?
No.
What happened?
Torture. Accident.
I did what they told me.
But they still died.
Not your fault.
I know.
Do you accept that?
No. Yes. Maybe.
Do you blame your captors?
Yes. No. Maybe.
Why did you join Starfleet?
Why? To make the galaxy safe.
From who?
Syndicate. Slavers. Evil.
Admirable. How will you achieve that goal?
Not revenge. Duty.
Not vendetta. Honor.
Interesting. Why are you really here?
Really? To live a new life.
Is that Starfleet's purpose?
Maybe. No. Yes.
What should Starfleet give to you?
Security. Freedom.
Do you not have freedom?
Freedom for future, but not freedom from past.
What can free you from your past?
To forget. To forgive.
How will you forgive?
Direct action.
---
Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
A'Mand - Lynn Collins
Counselor A'Mand could tell. "Remember, you are here to learn. You will learn why you are here. I am not here to judge. I am only a catalyst to knowledge. Fear is only in your mind, but fear can hurt you like a blade. It can kill you, but only if you let it overcome who you are. Do not be afraid. You. Are. Safe."
Safe.
The word penetrated Kathryn's thoughts. Her stress washed away and she lay back onto the couch. A'Mand kneeled at Kathryn's side and placed her hands onto the facial points necessary for a soft transition Mind Meld.
"My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your ... your fears are my ... start ... beginning ..."
... remember ...
I remember now. I remember how it started. I remember doing what they told me ...
A ship.
A cargo ship ... no transport ship.
Colony. Colonization. Hesperus.
A girl. A teenage girl.
Red hair. Ponytails. Me.
Parents. Mom. Dad.
Warning.
Attack. Fire. Explosion.
Capture.
Darkness.
Chains. Pain. Sadness.
Slave? Death? Fear of ...
Mom?!
Dad?!
Chains. Pain. Sadness.
Orions!
Tribe? Tatoo? Scar? Left Arm.
Sold. Slave.
Angry ...
I feel your pain. What happened next?
... iwasforcedtoworkintheminesiwasforcedtoworkormypare ntswoulddie ...
Are your parents alive?
No.
What happened?
Torture. Accident.
I did what they told me.
But they still died.
Not your fault.
I know.
Do you accept that?
No. Yes. Maybe.
Do you blame your captors?
Yes. No. Maybe.
Why did you join Starfleet?
Why? To make the galaxy safe.
From who?
Syndicate. Slavers. Evil.
Admirable. How will you achieve that goal?
Not revenge. Duty.
Not vendetta. Honor.
Interesting. Why are you really here?
Really? To live a new life.
Is that Starfleet's purpose?
Maybe. No. Yes.
What should Starfleet give to you?
Security. Freedom.
Do you not have freedom?
Freedom for future, but not freedom from past.
What can free you from your past?
To forget. To forgive.
How will you forgive?
Direct action.
---
Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
A'Mand - Lynn Collins
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