Phase Eight: Recrimination

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's in the brig.

It's at her own insistence, as soon as she was awake enough to insist. Once the medics were okay with letting her out of their sight, she went in to a cell. She's staying there until as much has been done to confirm she doesn't have any more surprises buried in the back of her mind as was done for Cheng, and then some. And it's noticeable to anyone who's used to her appearance that her ever-present amplifier is not on her wrist.

If you want to talk to her, it might take a while. Aside from the exhaustion of the fight, she's spending some of her time awake curled up in tears or otherwise unresponsive. Still - if you're patient, or time your visit right, she'll be able to speak, if you have something to say.]

Comments

[emorangerpink]

...It's not the first time. I've... people have died, before, because they trusted me and I couldn't live up to it.

I'm afraid... I, it's my fault. I shouldn't accept that trust. I should know better.

[chozo_girl]

Trust is given, not accepted. Whether you desire it or not is not important to what trust is or to the fact it has been given.

The question now is how do you intend to prevent the same situation from happening again.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura stares at her hands, thinking.]

Before, I... I coasted. I was the youngest, I was the weakest. I let everyone else look after me. When we were vulnerable... I froze. I hadn't put in the work I should, and I couldn't even act with what I had, when it came to it. After that... the people left behind got desperate. Sacrificed themselves because I wasn't around to hope in any more.

This time... I fought. I have been working. I'm stronger now than I was then. I... I think I can fight... whatever he throws at us.

...But it'll be no good if he can just switch me off with a word again.

[chozo_girl]

[Nod]

A fair assessment. Thus, what you need is a way to ensure he cannot meddle in your mind again, correct?

[emorangerpink]

If he hasn't already. I don't know how to be sure...

[chozo_girl]

There are ways. Your people are not much versed in the ways of the mind. But shaman Liebely can almost certainly check you for any lingering commands.

[She does not offer a warrior mental purge, however. Because she promised Frank she would try to keep her safe, and coming into contact with Samus's mind is the very anathema of "safe".

She then takes a hand to a pocket]

However. You also worry if further intrusions could happen, which is a wise concern. So I asked Hua Cheng Kwan to give this back, so you may have it for a while. [Samus tosses Laura a small shiny thing. It's... a silver necklace with a blue teardrop crystal? It's obviously handmade, and somehow gives the impression of being ridiculously old]

[emorangerpink]

You gave this to Cheng? It's... it's Chozo?

[Seems a reasonable guess from how it seems to hold her focus.]

[chozo_girl]

[Nod]

This was given to me by my father when I was training.

[emorangerpink]

...It must mean a lot to you.

It can help me?

[chozo_girl]

[Nod]

Yes. You may think of it as training wheels for learning how to shield your mind.

[emorangerpink]

That's...

Thank you, Samus. That won't just help, but take a weight off my mind, too.

[chozo_girl]

Good. You have to face an important fight soon. You cannot afford to burden your mind.

[The pendant will basically give Laura a pretty potent mind shield as long as she stays calm. This may come in handy when fighting Dantoinne and his pet SEs, as well!]