What are little girls made from?

Posted on Fri Jan 5th, 2024 @ 1:26am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik
Edited on on Fri Jan 5th, 2024 @ 1:31am

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: Various
Timeline: Present
Tags:
2541 words - 5.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia had decided on talking to Alicia about little Lia, unsure about her abilities or when they might appear Lia was worried the present unpleasantness surrounding the family may impact upon her daughter.

"Where is we going mummy?" Little Lia asked her mother, although only young she seemed wise beyond her years.

Lia looked at her daughter, "We're going to see someone who can help us, I hope." Even though she herself wasn't psychic, she could sense unwillingness in the child's behaviour.

"Is we going to talk to the lady who speaks with her mouth closed?" The child had hit the nail on the head in one, something Lia had began to expect more and more.

Squatting down Lia held little Lia's hands, "I suppose you could put it that way, have you heard the lady talk with her mouth closed?"

"Yep mummy, she talked to you on the other day. But you didn't hearded her, so I hearded instead." Her innocence in responding took Lia by surprise, it made her more determined to ask Alicia what to do.

Alicia was already waiting in the outer office for Lia and Little Lia to arrive, she smiled as sensed little Lia’s presence well before the waiting room door slid open. Little Lia was most certainly a full blood Betazoid, but her gifts had obviously developed early.

The doors slid open and Lia saw Alicia standing waiting for them, "Ah, hi Alicia. I think we may have a slight problem." She pointed to little Lia and smiled, "Did you know you're the lady who speaks with her mouth closed?"

Alicia nodded. “I thought as much, I sensed you...” she knelt down in front of little Lia, “coming along the corridor. You have quite a strong presence Lia.” She smiled warmly. “How’s about we all go talk in my office? There’s some toys you can play with too.”

Lia let Alicia take little Lia's hand and lead her to her office, she followed behind slowly. She'd forgotten that Alicia was a Betazoid, just how much of her own thought had she read? Plus if little Lia had the skill, could she have realised just how low her mother was?

Alicia smiled as she showed Little Lia the toy corner. “There’s loads of toys here you can play with, plus there’s books to read, or colouring if you’d like? I need to talk to mummy to start with, then we’ll talk all about those very special abilities you have okay?”

"Mummy's sad cause nobody likes her, do you like my mummy?" Little Lia now sat on the floor and began to root through the toys.

Alicia glanced at Lia, before looking back at little Lia. “I like your mummy Lia, she just needs our help.” She smiled warmly. “Don’t worry.”

Little Lia nodded but didn't speak, I loves my mummy was her response.

Alicia motioned to Lia to take a seat. “How are you Lia? How’s motherhood suiting you?” She took a seat. “It can be pretty hard sometimes. Savar and I recently took on one of the children, a Vulcan boy so that’s three kids for us now.”

Glancing at little Lia then Alicia, Lia simply shook her head. "Being a mum isn't what I thought it would be, I mean I'm fine in myself and I'm fine with having a child. But I forget she's Betazoid, like I forget you’re Betazoid. So you can imagine what she's picking up, I need to know what Gary and myself have to do."

Alicia nodded. “I’d say Lia is coping very well with her abilities. To be able to articulate what her senses are picking up at her age is, quite frankly, amazing! Those children who are born, or develop, their abilities early normally never live a normal life. I suspect that Lia’s parents took it on themselves to train her.” She smiled as she looked towards Little Lia. If you’d like to talk to someone whose been in the same position as Lia I’d suggest Leilani Charles.”

"Leilani Charles? Don't think I've heard or come across her, what department is she attached to?" Looking towards her daughter, Lia felt a pain in her heart. "We won't be able to keep her will we Alicia? She'll need to be with her own kind to learn, to survive in this bloody universe won't she?" Lia looked back at Alicia, "That's what's best, isn't it."

Alicia gave Lia a surprised look. “Not at all, Little Lia is happy with you. No one is going to take her away from you. Any problems we can sort out together, there are plenty of Betazoid’s aboard this ship who’d be only too happy to help.” She offered a reassuring smile. “As for Leilani she’s Marine Medic & Counsellor, so she’s fully qualified to help as well.” Alicia paused. “Before I forget if either of you would like something to eat or drink, feel free to use the replicator, there are some delicious ice-cream choices available if either of you would like some.”

Before Lia could say anything a small voice was heard, "Chocolate ice cream for me please!"

Lia smiled and nodded, "Seems her ladyship has spoken, one chocolate ice cream please Alicia."

"I isn't ladyship, I is Lia. Little Lia when mummy is here, cause she a Lia too."

A broad smile attached its self to Lia's face, "Yeah, I'm a Lia too, just like you." She glanced at the child before returning her gaze to Alicia, "So what can we do to help or keep our thoughts to ourselves?"

“Well we need to teach Little Lia all about privacy.” Alicia walked over to the replicator, fetching Little Lia’s chocolate ice-cream she brought it back and handed it to her. “There you go sweetheart, enjoy!” Returning to Lia she sat back down. “I’ll give you some reading material for Lia, that’ll help her understand. As for you & Gary, I can teach you how to create a safe place in your minds to keep your private thoughts. I don’t want to block Lia from your minds as she needs that connection.”

Looking somewhat confused, Lia asked the question uppermost in her mind. "Why does she need that connection? And is it possible to teach a couple of Humans to do that mind safe place?" She tried hard to think how all this would come together, but her daughter had a gift and she had to be able to control that gift.

Alicia smiled understandingly, “Lia lost her parents, as did a lot of children onboard. Betazoid children form a strong bond with their parents, especially their mother’s, in a child Little Lia’s age it’s important to have that bond for security. I know you’re not a Betazoid, but it is possible to learn. Putting it in basic terms you need to learn to keep your private thoughts in the deeper recesses of your mind, to read your deepest thoughts would take a lot of effort, even for a full Betazoid. Reading your emotions is another thing.”

"Right now its my emotions that are the problem, the thoughts could become a problem later." Lia was being as honest as she could, her daughter meant more to her than most people realised. She still wanted a child of her own, but little Lia was a rock to which she would cling on to for all she was worth. The child was that important to Lia Taylor.

“That’s where you attending counselling comes into it” Alicia offered a warm smile. “I could suggest an inhibitor for Little Lia, but I think that would do more harm than good, her abilities need to develop as normally as they can.”

Lia now stood up, "NO! No inhibitor, not as long as I draw breath. Its barbaric, no child should ever go through that." She took a breath and sat down, "Sorry Alicia, but little Lia means way to much to me. I'd sooner give her to a full Betazoid, than punish her with such a device."

Suddenly the child appeared at Lia's side, "Mummy! Are you alright? I thoughted you felt scared, why did you felt scared?"

Hugging her daughter, Lia spoke quietly. "Thank you Lia, I'm alright now. I just had a shock, but its over now. Go play and finish your ice cream."

Little Lia wandered back to the toy's, but kept turning to watch her mother. Deep within the child a feeling grew, a feeling of love and warmth.

Alicia smiled. "I'm glad you feel that way Lia, because I don't like that idea either. Right lets start with this..." she handed Lia a padd. "All the reading material you'll ever need, along with ways to practice mental control over your private thoughts. If you're ever stuck, in need of advice, or anything else I'm just a call away." she smiled warmly. "Ohh and Lia...don't ever despair, I know that's easy to say but..." she paused showing Lia her scar marked wrists. "I tried to take my own life, I couldn't finish the job. I know now that it was a mistake, but back then it didn't seem so."

"How? Is it that obvious?" Lia moved in her chair, "I have no way back, to many people have injected a poison in regards to me." She looked over at little Lia, "That child is one of only two bright spots in my life right now, the Elysium has become one large prison for me." Turning back to Alicia, she hung her head. "I have nothing left here, my career is over and my reputation doesn't exist."

Alicia shook her head. "No. it wasn't that obvious Lia, but I do understand how you feel. You have a life here Lia, your career isn't at an end at all. If we can work together to help you, then we can get your career back on track as well. I'm not going to leave you hanging."

Looking back at her child, Lia nodded slowly. "I hear the words Alicia, but you're one in a sea of hundreds. A certain persons antics have ensured my exclusion from returning, I just don't see any way back." Her gaze returned to Alicia, "I've told Gary more than once to head for the hills, I think even he is now wishing he had." Lia turned back to watch little Lia, "She's all that's keeping me going, I don't want to hurt her again by leaving her alone. But......" The words hung in the air, Lia swallowed hard and fell silent.

"There is no but Lia, if nothing else you've got the role of mother to keep you busy now." Alicia smiled warmly. "I'll see what I can do regards your career, you're a skilled officer, and right now we need all the skilled officers we can get."

"My husband and my daughter are my life, if I truly thought Lalor would let it go I would resign today." She looked at the PaDD Alicia had given her, "She's going to be looked after to the best I can manage, I'm gonna learn how to hide the private stuff. And Alicia, if you can help me do it then I'm gonna win at least one battle."

"I'll do everything I can to help Lia." Alicia smiled warmly. "To be honest Little Lia is handling her abilities very well all on her own, she's articulating the emotions she's sensing, she's not showing signs of stress, so it's all good so far. You're all welcome to visit with us anytime."

Taylor looked back at her child, "You think so? I was getting worried with all the problems surrounding me right now. I don't want her to suffer, she's been through enough." Lia smiled back at Alicia, "Thanks again, you might regret telling me that."

"Never" Alicia smiled before looking to Little Lia. "Lia, sweetheart would you mind if I asked you some questions? not many I promise."

The child looked at Alicia then to her mother, "Only if mummy say's I can, I is a good girl."

Lia smiled and dropped her head slightly to meet her daughters gaze, "You can talk to Alicia, she's like you and understands how you can hear what we think honey." Taylor turned to Alicia, "Ask your questions, but please don't upset her."

"Of course not" Alicia smiled warmly directing her gaze to little Lia. "Lia does hearing other people's thoughts, and sensing their feelings hurt you? give you any headaches? anything like that?"

Little Lia shook her head, "Not really, but sometimes I can't understand what they say." She looked back to Taylor, "Like when mummy wanted to go away, she used a word I don't know."

Alicia nodded. "Mummy is...finding things difficult right now Lia, but you and daddy are the ones making it better for her." she smiled warmly. "What I need you to do is let me know if you need my help, okay? the abilities we have are called telepathy...that's the voices you can hear in your mind, and Empathy...feeling what other people feel. It can be very difficult sometimes. Just tell mummy, or you can reach out for me with your mind, just focus really hard on my name and I should be able to pick up on you. Okay?"

"Tele-what-ey? I don't know that word, and how can I talk to you when you not here?" Little Lia stood looking confused, this lady was saying things she didn't know about.

Alicia smiled, "Let me show you" she closed her mouth but continued talking in her mind. This is what's called telepathy, talking using my mind.

I can do dat to, how we do this? Little Lia had a smile on her face, "But mummy can't hear me when I do that." Her smile vanished and a sadness appeared, "I don't think mummy can do it."

Alicia reverted to speaking aloud. "No, your mummy can't talk that way. Human's can't do it." she offered a gentle hug. "But you can teach mummy to hear your thoughts, it takes a lot of practice though."

"Humans? I not a Human?" The child now looked at her mother, "Mummy a Human, what is little Lia?" Now her small frame began to tremble, and a sadness filled her mind. Memories of a certain night returned with a horrible result, the child collapsed in a heap.

"LIA!!" Taylor was up and with her child in milliseconds, she turned to her friend. "Alicia! What the hell happened?"

"I don't know Lia, I really don't know. I had no idea she didn't know she wasn't Human." Alicia felt for a pulse. "Her pulse is strong, but we need to get Lia to Sickbay."

Picking up the limp form of her daughter, Lia held her tightly. She now headed for the door, "Why would her not being Human, cause this response? I mean does she think we'll desert her or something?" Taylor looked at Alicia, and made straight for sickbay.

OFF

 

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