Hazmat Protocols [Tida, Nexus]

[onemorebounty]

*Samus makes her way through the Nexus, wheeling a handcart on which rests a gleaming metal-and-ceramic cylinder. Roughly the size of a fifty-five gallon drum, it emits the quiet hum residents of Earth might associate with a high voltage power line. She glances often at a set of readouts and controls inset into the cylinder's top, her gaze

Comments

[therandomcleric]

Tida is tucked away into a corner - insofar as the Nexus has corners - this time, holding what appears to be a half-finished dress and humming quietly to herself as she meticulously hand-stitches the seams together. She hears Samus coming before she sees her, naturally, but barely glances up until she gets to a point where she can tie off the thread and pause.

"This is the sample?" she asks then, glancing at the cylinder. "Or rather, the sample is inside?"

[therandomcleric]

Tida hums thoughtfully, tries the drink; it's pleasant-tasting to her tongue, and she gives a grateful smile as she sips.

"You want to get rid of this...'phazon' so it can't destroy anything else, I assume."

[onemorebounty]

That's part of it, yes. That would be enough, but there's more. It's a potent mutagen, and a good source for high-energy weapons. More than one faction where I'm from is trying to research it, enhance themselves with it, and make weapons out of it. Imagine a war where soldiers race from world to world, carrying weapons and bloodstreams full of phazon.

[therandomcleric]

She imagines it, and winces sharply, paling. "That - that'd be awful."

[onemorebounty]

*The Hunter gives a grave nod.*

So, I need every way I can get to fight it, and the people who use it. And I'm not averse to expanding my arsenal proactively.

[therandomcleric]

"I'm grateful to be a part of your efforts." Tida smiles faintly now, taking another long sip from the pod. "Anything that can help entire worlds, even a little, makes me feel as though I really can make a difference."

[onemorebounty]

Anyone can make a difference.

*She punctuates her statement with another sip.*

Most just never realize that. There's a story my people tell their nestlings, of Omrishen and the Glacier.

[therandomcleric]

"Omrishen and the Glacier?" Tida blinks, looking curious. She'll listen if Samus wants to tell.

[onemorebounty]

Omrishen was born in a little village on the plains, which were bordered on one side by a great glacier. From sea to sea it stretched, and every year it crept a little closer. In time, it would grind over the village itself, though not until Omrishen was old. But when Omrishen learned that the glacier would someday destroy his home, he left his village, walking across the fields and right up to it. He placed his hands against the glacier, and he pushedFrom dawn to dusk, he pushed as hard as he could. When his friends called him to play, he told them, "I cannot leave, I must hold back the glacier." When his parents came to call him to bed, he said, "I cannot leave, I must hold back the glacier." The older children called him a fool, and even the leader of the town told him no one could hold back the glacier, but he would not be moved. He took his meals at the glacier, he slept standing up, pushing against it, and as the days passed, he was left alone with his madness

[therandomcleric]

"...That's amazing." Tida has a soft smile on her face by the time she's processed all of that. "That one person could do so much. I...want to be that kind of person."

[onemorebounty]

*Samus has a small smile of her own. It's not hard to guess what one of her favorite nest-time stories was as a child.*

Then do, and you will.

[therandomcleric]

"I will. I'll do my best."

[onemorebounty]

*Her smile grows a little.*

Good.

*She takes another long sip from her pod.*

Do you have any idea how long you might need?

[therandomcleric]

"Three days at the most. That's to channel the energy into the raw materials, to craft the materials into a weapon, and to bring it back to you for testing."

[onemorebounty]

That fast? Impressive.

[therandomcleric]

"It'd take longer if the sample hadn't been so strong. As much as that hurt, I do thank you for giving me so much to work with."