Empathy
"So... it's true." declares Jemma, unsure how to handle the reality of what she's done.
"What did Dora tell you?" Jove questions.
Jemma just stares at Uni in her hospital bed for a while, moving in to get a closer look.
"Jemma?"
It takes her a few more moments to finally turn to Jove, "She... she told me that, when I was possessed by a spirit, I infected her and her mother sacrificed herself to save her... and me."
Jove takes a deep breath.
"While she didn't lie, she didn't tell the whole truth." suggests Jove before continuing, "Pandora was warned about what might happen if she wasn't careful. She knew what the danger was, and she did it anyway. She's as much responsible for what happened to her mother as anyone else."
He stands up and faces her.
"But I'll tell you the same thing I told my daughter. My wife knew what she was doing. She, like Pandora, understood the risks of what she was doing. She did what's right because she believed in it. That's not your fault. It's not anybody's fault."
Jemma makes her way up next to Jove in the hospital bed.
"I'm sorry."
She touches Uni's shoulder then suddenly gets a shock, making her pull back. Before she can react though, the comatose Uni's eyes open and glow a yellow light. Slowly the yellow colour becomes more white then she closes her eyes again, returning to her coma.
"What happened?" a confused Jemma asks.
"You showed compassion. You cared about the impact you had on someone else, even if it wasn't your fault. The spirit you were possessed by wasn't interested in anything like that. It wanted you to focus on your impulses and not care about the consequences. By showing compassion, you've opened the door to her recovery." explains Jove, before saying "Thank you."
"I... I didn't do anything." insists Jemma.
"Compassion is something, and it's a lot more powerful than you think. You're going to need that compassion if you want to save Pandora."
It takes Jemma a second to answer, "What do you mean?"
Jove looks at his wife for a moment before turning back to his student.
"Pandora isn't like most people. She doesn't get possessed like everyone else. It has to be someone that's manifesting their own who infects her. And it's her compassion for those who are suffering which allows it to happen. The teacher you were talking to? He's been infected as well. Somehow he must have gotten to Pandora and been able to infect her." explains Jove.
"She didn't tell you?"
"I guess not, which is probably what the teacher was counting on. She felt guilty for allowing herself to be taken advantage of and now we're facing the consequences of that." adds Jove.
"Then how does compassion come into it?"
"Because the type of possession we're dealing with removes things like empathy and compassion from those it latches on to. It hollows them out until there's nothing else left but a malevolent, destructive force remaining. What you need to do is reconnect Pandora with that part of herself. Help her to jump start what she's missing. Only then can what's gotten into her be turned back." continues Jove.
"And how do I do that?"
"By showing her what she's forgotten. Offering her the thing she can't give to others anymore. That's how you can save her." suggests Jove.
"But... why me? That's something I still don't really understand. Shouldn't you be doing it?" wonders Jemma.
"Pandora sees me as a threat. Not only as her father, but because I have power over her with The Box. The fact that she's still reaching out to you means there's still a chance that you can connect with her." replies Jove.
Jemma doesn't respond right away, "You really think I can do it?"
"I have to..." begins Jove, turning to Uni in the hospital bed and taking a deep breath as he stares at her, "She's our daughter."
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