Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 43

It took effort to remove his uniform due to it’s non-functioning status. An orb took it to recycle the material. A new bracelet was given to him- the bracelet could grow a new suit in an instant. This new bracelet was shielded against EM-pulse, and could be used after an event to renew his tech- or create another uniform from scratch- and would likely repopulate its core function using the hardcopy of Loxy from the ring. He was assured the ring was not damaged, as it was simply a ring with a diamond with holographic imprint. He got a shower in the master bedroom. It was warm and wonderful. The bathroom and soap smelled like oranges. An orb brought him a warm, fluffy towel. Dried, he directed his bracelet to manifest clothes fit for sleeping. Boxers and t-shirt arrived on him. He sat on the bed. The flame on the tower was visible through the window. Goats were comfortably sleeping in the hay below, in a newly sectioned off portion of the court yard. TL entered.

“May I sit by you?”

Shen nodded. TL came and sat by him. She touched his face, wet with tears.

“I am tired of being angry,” Shen said.

“You have struggled with that for a long time,” TL said. He nodded. “Have you considered that your anger is elevated because you have never had the time or energy to deal with it?”

“It’s out of proportion due to past trauma? I am responding to a past event?” Shen asked. “How long do I have to keep repairing old trauma?”

“Forever, in ever decreasing increments,” TL said. “Another possibility is you’re angry because you’re not doing something you’re supposed to be doing.”

“Back to that vague implication that I know what I don’t know shit? So, my unconscious knows something, but I am not privy to knowing that something, and so subconscious is mad at me because I am not doing something because I don’t know what I am supposed to be doing?” Shen asked. He tried to sort it after saying. “Exactly! How the hell is that fair? And if subconscious is pushing anger to get me to do something, wouldn’t be easier just to tell me what I should be doing instead of being mad at me for not being as smart as he is at figuring out what that something is?”

“That’s sort of the clarity I was aiming at,” TL said.

“I don’t speak Hebrew. I don’t want God coming at me with lightening, burning bushes, or fucking cryptic ass message that is so vague it could make fortune cookies look meaningful,” Shen said.

TL laughed. “So, Jonah, you’re mad at God, too?”

“I thought I was Job. Still, Jonah is interesting archetype. How about you psychoanalyze me?” Shen asked.

“You want me to do Freudian therapy to see what’s going on in there?” TL asked.

“Why not?” Shen asked.

“One, that could take ten years or more to discover the root of it, and, two, it’s really expensive,” TL said.

“You’re going to charge me?” Shen asked.

“I should. Shamans, psychics, counselors, and doctors require compensation or they can’t do what they do,” TL said.

“Fuck me,” Shen said.

“I accept the terms of payment, but that changes the nature of the relationship, which could block therapeutic outcomes,” TL said.