First to Fall

[onemorebounty]

*Samus slumped into the seat in her ship, letting slip a weary sigh before prodding the comm unit. She set the standard encryptions on the signal, then opened a comm line to the Olympus--and, just in case Ali was elsewhere at the moment, to her ship as well.*

This is Hunter Aran, reporting in. Rundas is dead, and I need a drink.

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

"--so shut it, Dane, before I shut things for you!" Ali may be first to the comm, but she's not done yelling at the Admiral. Not by a long shot. (They've been fighting since she found out about the tracking devices added to Samus' suit.)

"Samus? What happened?"

[onemorebounty]

*Dane bristles, finger poised to wag at Ali as he argues back with the vital importance of knowing where their last remaining Hunter is, and given her condition, how she's doing. But the question is one he wants answered, too.*

He was under Dark Samus' control. He avoided me, then attacked me. Hyper mode is great, by the way--everything else gets tougher and I bleed out. Excellent design.

*She pauses to sip at some of the nutrient gel carried in her suit.*

[vicioussweetie]

Ali shoots Dane a look that makes the consequences of wagging his finger at her clear: namely, she'll break it off and shove it up his ass.

"So I take it your BFF was there, too. How did hyper mode make things tougher? Maybe you should come back here to have the system looked at before continuing the mission."

[onemorebounty]

It pulls phazon from every other suit system--did I mention my suit runs on phazon now? Thank you, Admiral--including shields, life support, and my blood, to power the weapon.

*Dane interjects.*

Dark Samus was there, and you didn't engage? What happened?

*Samus' irritation is clear, even through her visor.*

Not in the flesh, no. It was more like... a ghost.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali falls into thought (and into a convenient chair). This would be an excellent chance for Dane to take a few shots at either or both of them.

[onemorebounty]

*He'll take them.*

Aran, if you think getting me to question your sanity will get you out of this, you've got another think coming. I want you back to Norion on the double for testing. And recover what you can of Rundas' body.

Already done, on the latter point. I was able to salvage some of the cooling systems from his life support, integrate them into my suit. His last testament is my cryo-missiles--Dark Samus absorbed the rest.

[vicioussweetie]

"Shut up, Dane. You don't know what you're talking about." Ali's voice, when she speaks again, is quiet but by no means to be questioned. It is a great deal more gentle when she turns her attention to Samus, however. "Dark Samus is made of phazon, right?"

[onemorebounty]

By now? More or less. Although I'm sorry to say it's inherited some of its parents' better traits.

*Dane splutters, and does not shut up. He directs his first words at Ali, then turns to read Samus a little more of the riot act.*

I'll deal with you in a minute. Aran, you weren't contracted to kill your teammates, and I won't have my mission falling prey to the "Samus factor" out of your carelessness. You will follow orders, damn it.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali ignores Dane's outburst, trying to keep her tone calm and even so Samus can arrive at the same horrible conclusions Ali's reached without freaking.

"And she shot you with phazon. What would you theorize was the source of that phazon?"

[onemorebounty]

*It doesn't take Samus long to reach the same conclusion. What does take some time is the string of profanity she voices, which starts out quiet, but is loud enough to drown out Dane by the end, and explicit enough to make every crewmember on the bridge blanch in shock. Even the marines stationed by the doors tilt their heads a little, like dogs trying to understand something just a little bit beyond them. Finally, her vitriol momentarily vented, she deflates with a sigh. When she does speak, she pointedly ignores the admiral.*

Ali. Do you remember that sword I showed you recently, with the blue stone in the pommel? The one I had Tida make for me?

[vicioussweetie]

Ali should be given an award for maintaining her calm and patient demeanor while Samus gets all that out of her system.

"I do, and can fetch it in a thrice. Is it at home, or with Beth?" There's no need to inform the Fleet that Samus has another ship stashed someplace.

[onemorebounty]

The latter. I want you to get it, and keep it on you at all times. If anyone there starts showing signs... you know.

*Admiral Dane has, by now, regained his composure.*

Will you be filling your commanding officer in on what this is supposed to mean?

[vicioussweetie]

"I know." Ali knows, and for a moment her eyes speak plainly of her hate for it, as well as her resignation that it must be her. Who else could?

"The others had a week. I want to insist you come back now, but you might be better off trying to find the cause while we work on a cure. But you'll have to come back before your week is up..."

[onemorebounty]

Thank you. And I'm sorry.

*Samus nods. She'd rather it didn't have to be Ali, but who else there can she trust? Inwardly, she vows to make it up to her someday.*

I'll give myself six days, report in regularly. If things get much worse before then, I'll come in. I'm going to need some heavier munitions for my ship before I can take out these generators, anyway.

[vicioussweetie]

Maybe this is how Ali's making up for other things. They can debate the topic later.

"I'll hold you to that. And we will be coming to get you if you don't report in regularly."

[onemorebounty]

*She nods.*

Come armed, and don't hesitate. Stay safe, Ali.

*Dane has moved off to one side, conferring quietly with the ship's Aurora Unit.*