The Student Can Teach - U.S.S. Freedom

"Perhaps I am no longer meant to be God's hand." She tried to sound strong. She really did.

His hand lashed out, caught her chin. He stared at her, into her eyes.

"Never that tone from you again."

Because she didn't sound strong, he snapped at her. Teachers were meant to teach, as a matter of fact, and while he was a teacher, he was also very much an inhuman creature.

"Now. Have you an argument to make for the three that would change my judgment? Change God's judgment?"

She didn't even flinch. That defeated look filled her gaze as the words that had been beaten into her so long ago slipped out. "It is not my place to change His judgement." The self loathing she felt was nearly palpable. She could do nothing...and that was the worst thing of all.

The sparkle that normally filled her gaze faded. Her eyes were dull and listless. How easy it was to strip someone of hope.

"I do."

She held back the tears that threatened.

"But it is not my place." She clearly hated the words. Hated what was behind them.

From somewhere above them, there was the sound of something that should not be broken, break. Apparently, the Gangrel was listening in, and had not liked something.

She took several moments to compose herself. She was rattled. Worried. Unsure. She didn't try to hide it, not from the man who was there to teach her.

"They have all assisted me in keeping to this path." She said hesitantly. "They may not follow his teachings, but they also do not seek to pull me away from them."

She tried to look down despite the hand that still held her chin. "I don't know what answer you are looking for." It seemed like there was only one right answer and she didn't know what it was. She hated it, feeling she could do nothing. She seemed so fragile then. Her strength and her passion so faded.

"You once told me that many cultures have different names for God, perhaps the one who does not know the way has her own path to Him." She wished she could wipe the look from her face. "I do not know, and I do not like guessing when lives hang in the balance."

"Rai protects those who cannot protect themselves. I've seen the hurt she feels when she does not succeed.

"Victor..." There was nothing she could say.

"I don't know any of them that well." Even Rai was still a mystery to her many ways.

Up top, like some horribly deformed cheerleader - his bone structure certainly did not put him in the cheer squad category - the Gangrel was hoping she would retort. Would see. She was stronger than her doubt. He had seen her do amazing things. Par Toutatis, she put up with him - nothing could be as difficult.

"They can all be taught. It's what they choose to do with the teaching that maters.

He listened, his smile growing. It was a brief flash, to show her his approval. Then he answered again.

"Two must be taught of God. Of His grace, His love. His wonder. One believes in God and believes that they are more powerful than God."

He watched her.

"Speak to me, Renata. Tell me what is to be done. Were you I, knowing these things, what would be done?"

"You believe they will fail?" The lesson wasn't making sense to her.

"For me to become the Judge I must know about those I am judging." She looked at him, her stormy grey gaze full of the powerful emotions she was beginning to feel.

"I am not asking you to think for me...I answered your question, and then sought to understand your reaction to my answer, as saying they will fail seems contradictory to the idea that they can be taught."

He tilted his head.

"That depends upon the crime committed. You see, for two on my list of three, they simply refuse to acknowledge the existence of God. For that, they need to be punished. But punished in a way that shows them that God does exist, and that we are His hand. Redemption can be found, it is just a difficult path. Simply allowing you to continue with your beliefs is not enough. They do not assist you in your belief. They do not aid you in seeking a closer relationship with God. They think it is sweet, that it is cute, that you maintain such Faith.

"But they do not think it will gain you anything. They do not believe that God believes in you, as they do not see the ways of God. They see the ways of Nature. That, in itself, is partially noble. They simply forget that without God, there is no Nature. So they need to be shown that God does exist and it is only through His grace and love that the Nature they believe so strongly in, can exist."

"I already see...I did not defend him." How could she? Even if they did get along, she knew what he was.

She thought about the rest. "Yet the hunter that is here concerns them because of his Faith. Wouldn't that indicate that they believe in God and have seen what He grants to those who follow his ways? They may not ascribe to them, but...it would seem if they acknowledge his power through others that they acknowledge his existence."

She nodded almost imperceptibly. "How would you show them?"