Elation or Madness?

[onemorebounty]

*The sound that heralded Samus' message was a laugh, high and a trifle manic, as her ship climbed into orbit.*

Put on your best armor! Strap on your best weapons! Get your phazon--hell, swim in a lake of the stuff! I'll still kill you!

*She laughed again, before remembering she had turned the comm on. Clearing her throat, her tone dropped closer

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's eyes widened at the signs of phazon spreading through Samus' body, but she quickly dropped her gaze to her handy datapad-turned-prop.

"Could be worse. Dane's very pleased with how the assault on the pirate world went. Rumor has it he was whistling." She prods the datapad, not to make it do anything so much as to have something to do. "Did you have a chance to find those Chozo artifacts on Skytown?"

[onemorebounty]

Some, yes, but I have a feeling there might be more. I'd like to do a last sweep while the fleet's recovering after the assault, and finish checking out the Valhalla, before the final push.

*Seeing Ali's discomfort, Samus sobers a little more, and makes an effort to reassure her.*

Ali, I'm doing well. I'm still my own woman, I hardly hear it sing at all, and I'm certainly not listening. It took the others seven days in the field to turn, and we've still got two. It'll be alright.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali's quiet for a moment before she forces herself to meet Samus' gaze. Even through the miles and stars and darkness, the focus is momentarily as intense as if they were separated only by heartbeats.

"You never mentioned the singing before," she whispers. Then she looks down again, actually putting the datapad to use this time. "You have one day left in the field. Then it's straight into treatment."

[onemorebounty]

Didn't I? It must have started recently, then. I'm not sure when I noticed it. But it's got no hold on me.

*She certainly sounds convincing, doesn't she?*

One day? Alright. I'll have to work fast.