Weight of the World [Nexus, Ali, Kara]

[onemorebounty]

*The salle to which Samus brought Kara once before hasn't changed since the last time, except in the repair of the broken rack and practice-weapons. Samus lounges on one of the benches, stretching, an oilcan-sized canister made of ceramics and dense metals sitting next to her. Ali occupies another nearby bench, drawing.*

Comments

[supergirlrising]

Kara floats over to Samus, noting the repairs. "I can pay for that if you like." She lands and does a few stretches. "Hey Ali. What you drawing?"

[vicioussweetie]

Ali glances up when Kara arrives, smiling welcomingly. At her question, she turns the pad around to show a trio of goblin faces. "I was just doodling," she demures, although whether it's to mask her lack of talent or the subject matter is open for debate.

"Samus, would you like to explain while I... prepare?"

[onemorebounty]

*Samus nods to Ali, then turns her attention to Kara, rising and picking up the cylinder.*

Last time, we started to explore some of your psychological vulnerabilities. Today, though, we're going to discuss some of your physical weaknesses, and they are going to hurt. As ever, before we begin, you have the option of doing the sane thing and leaving before letting two of your friends cause you deliberate harm.

*She pauses for a moment, watching Kara's reaction.*

[supergirlrising]

"Harm will heal." she says. "I know neither of you would hurt me beyond my ability to recover." She states firmly. She does know she can trust them. She feels it.

"Better to suffer a little at the hands of those that care than to be destroyed by someone hellbent on my suffering and demise."

She rises a couple feet into the air and gives one last stretch.

((May have time for one or two more but will be retiring to bed shortly. Was up WAY too late last night))

[vicioussweetie]

"Very wise," Ali murmurs. "And I do apologize, in advance."

((Isn't it always the case that interesting things start right when one should be going to bed?))

[onemorebounty]

((Invariably.))

*Samus gives a tight nod, and once again there's a tiny hint of approval in her stern mask.*

So be it. We'll start with this:

*She holds the canister in front of her, balanced on one palm, the other pressed flat against its top. With a twist, the front opens to reveal its contents: a thumb-sized spike of green crystal that used to be part of a white planet near a red sun.*

It's called kryptonite--a piece of your shattered homeworld, irradiated and transformed in ways the stars alone know. It emits a form of radiation only mildly inimical to most species, but highly toxic to natives and descendants of Krypton.

*With another twist, she closes the canister again, placing its many layers of shielding between Kara and the rock once again.*

As you've just felt.

[supergirlrising]

The instant the kryptonite is exposed, Kara falls to the floor and her knees shudder and then start to buckle. She doesn't go down but she doubles over in discomfort. She clutches her stomach, feeling as though she might throw up. She notices the back of her hands, the veins seeming to bulge against the skin and in fact the veins in her face begin to stand out as well. She can't get a word out before she falls to her hands and knees and vomits on the floor as the canister closes. She pants, trying to catch her breath. She can't remember the last time she felt so sick.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali looks at Samus for a moment, wide-eyed, then hurries to Kara's side. Gentle hands take her shoulders, holding her up without pressing her into any uncomfortable position. "Oh gods, Kara, I'm so sorry. I didn't think it'd be that bad."

That never happened in the movies she's seen.

[onemorebounty]

*Samus sets the canister aside, joining Ali in supporting Kara while she recovers.*

Neither did I. I'm given to understand the effects of short-term exposure pass fairly quickly, but I didn't intend to hit you quite that hard yet.

[supergirlrising]

The effects did pass quickly, but that wasn't to say it wouldn't hit hard when exposed. It was her first exposure after all. Her face and hands went back to normal and aside from looking a little pale, Kara was fine. In the moment however, it had been horrible.

"Ugh...." She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "That was awful." She got to her feet, a little wobbly but recovered quickly. "I'll clean that up." she said sheepishly, embarrassed.

[vicioussweetie]

"You'll sit down and recover, you mean," Ali insists. Once she's certain Kara's okay (and that Samus can hold her up if she isn't), Ali goes to clean up. She's got kids; she's dealt with worse.

[onemorebounty]

And while you do, we'll discuss what just happened.

*Samus helps Kara to the nearest bench, and if "helps" means "frog-marches," that's okay too.*

That canister is designed to contain radioactive materials and their radiation. The dense metals--lead and such--absorb or deflect that radiation so none of it leaks out to endanger us out here. It should also prove opaque to your vision, which is worth remembering too, hm?

*Yes, even during recovery-time, Samus is trying to force her to think.*

[supergirlrising]

"You mean my x-ray vision?" She peers over at the canister, trying to see through it. Bits of it seem to become clear but any lead in it remains completely immune to her peeking. "Well that's certainly a good..." she dry heaves again and then clears her throat. "Ahem.. a good limitation to know about." After a minute or two, she feels completely fine. Strange. The sickness comes on quickly and passes before long as well. Powerful stuff.

"I can't believe that a piece of my own homeworld could make me so sick."

[vicioussweetie]

"Life's funny that way."

Ali finishes cleaning up, but keeps things nearby in case there's a repeat. Then, out of her bag of wonders, she pulls a bottle of water that she hands to Kara. "Who would have thought that different color stars could change your abilities so drastically? And yet they do."

[onemorebounty]

((A quick question: is Kara's X-ray vision blocked by all materials that would block X-rays and similar radiation, or is it only, specifically blocked by lead?))

It's often those things most familiar to us that hold the greatest risk.

*Samus gives Ali a grateful look--she hadn't thought to bring water. But then, she hadn't been expecting a reaction quite that bad.*

At least you know that when you can't see it, it can't hurt you, hm?

[supergirlrising]

((As far as I know, kryptonian X-ray vision is only blocked by lead.))

Kara takes the water gratefully and takes a sip. "Thank you." she says to Ali.

"That's true Samus. But it also means that I can't see it coming."

She shakes it off. "I feel better, we can continue."