(Untitled)

[onemorebounty]

*The lift reached the control tower, and Samus and the other hunters piled out. She'd allow them this, that while there was a job to do they didn't waste time--even if Rundas had been preening over being able to "rescue" her earlier, not a word was wasted as they each took a control panel, priming Norion's orbital defenses. She was starting to

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[onemorebounty]

*When the sedatives wear off, Ali will find herself in a bed in the kind of quiet, sterile, entirely-too-white room that screams "hospital," with a nutrient feed taped to the back of her hand (there are no needles involved). Nearby, hushed voices speak with the kind of urgency that suggests an argument.*

...you lost your mind? You said she greenlit the procedure, now you tell me you just knocked her out and went ahead?

I had to. She was proposing taking my patient to Aether for treatment--that's a week away at our best speed, to say nothing of hers, and I didn't think my patient would last that long. I wasn't about to let her die to satisfy some retired officer, and you should know that!

Then I hope it was worth your career. Drugging her highness was bad enough, but you overwrote all Aran's scans with cat macros! How am--

I had reason to believe retaining those records would have been against the patient's wishes.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali looks around in confusion for the duration of the conversation. Even when she figures out what happened, she has a hard time believing it.

"Ceiling cat," she remarks, pulling off the nutrient feed as she sits up, "will not save you, you know." The medico might want to remain out of Ali's reach for the next, oh, rest of her life.

[onemorebounty]

*After glancing between the admiral and her highness, the medico decides she's safer behind him. For the moment, he's ignoring her.*

I'm glad you're awake. It seems we've both been given the runaround today.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali will introduce her fist to the medico's jaw another time.

"There's a bit of a difference, Admiral, between not having questions answered immediately and being drugged. Will you be calling the guards to arrest her, or will I?"

[onemorebounty]

*The admiral glances to where a pair of marines (the same two as before?) wait by the door. They snap to attention, and at a nod, move to escort the doctor to the brig. She goes without a word, glaring at nothing in particular the whole way.*

I can't apologize enough. I hope you're not feeling any aftereffects?

[vicioussweetie]

"No, you can't."

Ali lets that hang in the air between them while she stretches. "No, I'll be fine. What did she do to Samus? And how long until it can be reversed?"

[onemorebounty]

She installed a modified PED in Aran's armor. On the other three hunters, as well, if you care. According to her report, they were irradiated with phazon, and their bodies have started producing it. These modified PEDs leech the phazon out of their bodies and put it to more practical use. As for reversing the process...

*He glances to her, wary, knowing she won't like what she's about to hear.*

I'm not sure we can.

[vicioussweetie]

No, Ali doesn't like hearing that. But she doesn't blame the Admiral for this, so the biggest outlet her anger gets is a sigh.

"We'll have to wait for her to wake up, then. She'll need to be given leave, of course, to find proper care for her condition as soon as possible."

[onemorebounty]

With respect, I've lost too many personnel already, and I need all the hunters in the field yesterday. Reports have come in of asteroid collisions on Bryyo and Elysium, and pirate raids are on the rise in the sector in general. We're losing ground, fast.

*Bryyo is the sector's main source of fuel gel, and Elysium houses a planet-spanning observatory that the Fleet has been using for gathering intel; losing either is a damaging blow, but losing both would cripple the Federation in this sector.*

When the situation's under control, I'll be more than happy to grant her leave, but this is an emergency.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's eyes narrow, and it's clear to her what she'll be doing until Samus wakes up: arguing with Dane's superiors, to try and get her own way. Or possibly Dane's command. Maybe both.

"I need to see her."

[onemorebounty]

I expected as much.

*He turns, leaving her room for the short walk to another; Samus, her armor looking quite different, sits in a medical pod that with the addition of a few torches and a scheming advisor could almost look like some ominous throne. Perhaps the doctor filled that latter role. The admiral, though, seems surprised by the change in her armor.*

That's... different.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali takes in the scene for a long moment, then turns to Dane. "You'll want to make sure the medico is off the ship before Samus wakes up, for her own safety."

And then Ali finds a chair for herself, and begins her long vigil of watching Samus, arguing with Fleet command, and occasionally sleeping.