Two Hundred Knives to the Head

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 4:42pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Lei "The Thunder King" Shen

Mission: Mission 42: A House Divided
Location: Deneva, Lei Shen's Home/School
Timeline: 1230Hrs - September 7th, 2391

Once Zara had recovered from her bruised ego and settled in, the Trill found she had a lot of rage in her. At first, going and seeing the various students do their thing seemed like a good idea to escape her feelings.

Gradually though, she began to resent them. They had skills she did not, nor did she believe she could ever have them. So she gently excuse herself and walked into the ranged weapon complex.

Zara ordered up a flat of knives and carried the tray to the nearest vacant booth. Throwing knives was the closest thing that made her felt powerful. So she began to pick up knives. One after another. And threw them at the head of the target.

It became a mindless reflex, after the tenth shot. All shots in the head region of the target. All tosses with an air of anger behind the throw.

Lei Shen regarded her with a soft smile as he handed her another wrap of a few dozen more throwing knives. "You have some skill with a blade."

"You have to, on the streets," Zara explained without looking at him. She took the knives and kept throwing. At this point, a few fell out of their planted holes while others broke as she hit the hilt of a knife in front of it.

Lei Shen regarded the target. "I think its dead." he smiled as he tapped the display, the first target moved as a fresh one moved into range. "So... where does this anger all come from.?" he inquired as he regarded her, a concerned look in his eye.

"How much has Tom told you?" Zara asked as she began to toss more daggers, one after another.

"Very little actually." Shen responded. "He told me you were taken against your will and that you had been hurt...But nothing else."

"That's just the ending of the story," Zara huffed before she went back to throwing. "I'm a bastard child of a Federation Ambassador. Left to a bastard father to take care of me - only he beat me to try and kill me, most times."

Her tosses became more violent after she told the latter part of that story. "Killed my dad in self-defense - Went to juvy - Ended up on tha streets until Starfleet picked me up for theft. Then I ended up in the fleet not long after."

Shen listened in silence as he regarded her. "I take it that you have no home and no family?" he inquired softly.

"Mom's still alive," Zara admitted with red eyes and a dry throat. She popped three more knives in the wooden dummy before she added, "She and I try to reconcile... but we don't always get along."

"Because you and her move in two different sphere's of influence." Shen responded.

Zara's nod was solemn. Quiet. Then she went about to tossing her knives with a little less anger. "She tries... Council sessions keep her busy from time to time though."

Shen regarded her as he listened in silence. "But you met my brother... That must count for something." he responded.

"Probably shouldn't of slept with him first," Zara half-smiled. The intensity of her tosses grew less harsh as her mood lightened. "I was a drug addict then... did anything to feel."

"It does not matter how it happened... it matters that it happened.." Shen responded with a soft smile. "He speaks highly of you at times that I had to wonder if you were a real person." he admitted.

"I adore him a lot too," Zara spoke, smiled for a moment, and then built up in intensity again. Anger in her. At herself, for something she could not quite put her finger on.

Shen noticed as he observed in silence. "Zara... are you in love with Tom Lasky?" he inquired softly. "Its never good to lie to oneself... Besides.. You see something in Lasky.."

"I am," Zara spoke with a single tear running down her cheek. "...I can't be a mother to his child though. I don't deserve it - not with being a recovering addict."

The Trill had stopped throwing her knives as she spoke, though her eyes did not leave the target.

"That's not true." Shen responded quietly. "Tom told me about the impending arrival of his child. He told me the full story behind it... the accidental impregnation of Commander Torilla Yamaguchi, the bravery and honor of her daughter as she took the unborn from her mother to deliver the child... Make sure you honor Elizabeth Yamaguchi for her sacrifice..." Shen explained. "Tom said he wanted you in his life... and to become the mother to his son."

"But he knows I'm an addict," Zara spoke with a massive knot in her throat. "How can he overlook that, when legal systems see that as a reason to take children away?"

"If all else fails... come here to Deneva and I will help you with your son." Shen responded. "Lasky overlooks it because he sees the person you have become... not the person you were Zara."

"You're strong, reliable, dependable, and loyal Zara." Lasky spoke for the first time. "You are too hard on yourself but... you are honest..." as he slowly walked over. "You okay?" as he gently took one of her hands in his.

"I just feel... weak- No..." Zara paused to find the right word. "I feel exposed, lately."

"That's natural and to be expected, considering... You've been through a lot over the last year Zara." Lasky explained from the shadows. "First the mess with Torilla, then Elizabeth mind-fucking you then the hooch incident then the virus incident that nearly killed all of us then the hanger fire and the peeves incident.." he explained.

Shen added. "In the end Zara... Only one thing matters.... Do you believe in yourself?" he inquired.

"I do... sometimes it's not enough though," Zara spoke quietly. "My peers rarely see the work I do, and instead judge me by mostly old habits."

"Don't try and change peoples opinions of you Zara." Lasky responded. "Just do what you do best... and the rest will attend to itself." he responded. "Besides... Haters gonna hate."

"Exactly." Shen responded.

"Fair enough," Zara agreed, and continued to throw. Less intense, but a little more accurate. The rhythm actually started to relax her now.

Lasky settled in to watch Zara at work, a smile gracing his lips.

Shen regarded Zara. "Would you consent to becoming one of my students?" he inquired. "You have the discipline, the control and while the focus is lacking... it can be worked on."

The shock of the question alone caused Zara to release early on her toss. And the dagger found it's hilt bounce of the ceiling and flip fast and fall hard to the ground.

"Umm... Past instructors tossed me out quickly, but sure," Zara finally answered with a bow to Shen.

Shen raised an eyebrow. "Starfleet Instructors?" he inquired. "I see you were taught by their most repellent failures."

"I wouldn't call a day in their class as actually teaching," Zara laughed easily. "I was filled with nothing but anger in those days. Felt like I had to prove I would capable."

"One day in their class, That's pitiful." Shen responded with a soft growl. "They are a disgrace."

Lasky raised an eyebrow, it was very seldom he ever saw Shen as anything other then overly cheery and happy. "Sensai?"

"I'm alright... Zara here has been through some failures that laughingly call themselves teachers. Whats the first rule of teaching?"

"Patience, the student will come partway to you, you go partway to them and you'll meet in the middle..."

"Whats the second rule.?" Shen inquired.

"Trust. The student-" he indicated Zara. "-must feel they can come to me and trust me to be able to help.."

"I want to learn," Zara spoke very sadly. "I don't like feeling angry and exposed. I want to be better than I am."

"Then... We will teach you." Shen smiled at Zara. "Lasky however will have no part of your training until later.. as I must train him.. for his next level of belt... his second black belt."

"I forgot about that." Lasky admitted.

"I wish you luck in that," Zara bowed to her boyfriend.

"Thank you." Lasky responded. "You look like your having fun..." he indicated the pincushioned target downrange. "Feeling better now?"

"I do, yes." Zara breathed in and exhaled easily to reinforce that.

Shen could not be more pleased. "Even so.. You will make a fine student." he regarded Zara. "I will be happy to teach you."

"Thank you," Zara bowed to Shen. She was excited to have the chance to learn.