Commander Ava Munro - Celestial Conversation
Ava Munro
(( Hermitage, Northern Plains, Rylor ))
Jaran: I woke up this morning thinking about Callis. I wake up with it on my mind almost every day now. But today was the first time it wasn't all negative. I was thinking of our time under that rock, praying together. Have you thought at all about that since?
Ava took a pause of a few more seconds. There was a weight to the moment that she wanted to respect, and gather her thoughts. She kept her eyes fixed on those endless hills.
Munro: Something you might not know about me, is that I’m quite a private person. It’s part of my nature I think, I’m like my mother in that way. I really want to answer your question but to do so I need to tell you a bit of a story.
The doctor seemed to settle themselves, like all good listeners, they adopted a pose that was neither intrusive or dismissive. They were just there. Genuine and open.
Jaran: I'm all ears.
Munro: Like I said, I’m like my mother, we like to keep everything all locked up and kept close. My father was the opposite. He was so sure of himself and sometimes it was like he knew the secrets of the universe. I wanted to be just like him. Strong, confident, sure of myself :: breaths out :: Then he went to the war - Dominion. At the time we were learning about the gods of the Alpha Quadrant, and how religion shaped societies, even at times spreading across worlds and colonies. I prayed to all of them, every night he was gone I would say a prayer to as many as I could remember - even The Prophets - for my Dad to come back to us. I kept it a secret from my mother, she wouldn’t have understood. It was my private ritual for those years he was gone.
Jaran: And did the Prophets send him back to you?
Ava turned to Jira, her face sincere and somber.
Munro: Yes, he did come back to us :: sad :: Changed. Something inside of him had been torn out of him. That part of him that I loved the most. It was gone. Something had crept into its place, a dark ugly thing. It was like he had died :: takes a breath :: I didn’t pray again after that, until Callis. I thought that the gods had taken that part of him as payment - that I was the reason he was changed. Then I left to go to Earth. I ran away from him and my guilt. So, yes, to answer your question, I think about our prayer often.
Jaran: Response
Ava hadn't intended to share as much with Jira, and she felt the embarrassment warm her cheeks. Jira leaned backwards against the back of the bench. She followed suit, following their gaze out to the grass and the vista of beauty beyond. Those endless, smooth peaks and valleys.
Jaran: That was a big step for you. What made you join me, then?
Munro: :: sighs politely :: You want the cynical Starfleet answer? I thought it was important to offer my strength to you, to be beside you in a moment of need :: shrugs :: The real answer? Maybe I was that little girl again. Only this time I was praying for myself, you and the others. I was praying for Harper :: small, quiet laughter :: I would have given all the parts of myself to get back to her.
Jaran: There are a lot of cultures that do believe their gods exact a price for answers to prayer. Some stories actually point to that being why the Klingons supposedly killed theirs. There's even a story on Bajor about the But there are equally many who are truly benevolent, who ask nothing of their followers but worship. Why do you attribute this situation to divine cruelty before simply the horrors of war, wrought by flawed mortal beings?
Munro: I don't. Not anymore. I was a child, then. My Father was wounded by what he had seen and like so many others he didn't realise it. He was so focused on returning to us that he didn't factor in what he'd be when he did. I wish my answer was different. Then again, we did get off Callis but I like to think that has more to do with our tenacity than celestial intervention. But what do I know?
Jira sipped their coffee and braced themself. They set their cup down and turned to look at the commander.
Jaran: ::extending their hand toward her ear:: Would you mind, Commander?
Ava repositioned herself, and with caution nodded her head.
Munro: Yes.
As Jira touched her ear, she waited patiently.
Jaran: Response
Munro: My pagh sure does have a lot to say for itself :: smiles kindly :: Sorry, doctor, I tell dumb jokes when I'm nervous. And this conversation makes me nervous.
Jaran: Response
Munro: I believe in science. I think, after everything there is a scientific answer to everything, even if we can't always understand it.
Jaran: Response
Tags/TBC
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2