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Chapter One: Recuperation

"Samus, are you ready to go?"

The deep, warm voice resonated throughout the room and roused Samus from her sleep. She slowly sat up, yawning and stretching, to see the familiar face of Anthony Higgs coming into her room.

"Wait, ready for what?" she groaned.

Anthony just laughed, shaking his head. "Remember? You promised to give a guest demonstration on self-defense today".

Samus slowly sat up, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes. "Oh, right. Just give me a minute."

Anthony started to leave. "Fine," he said. He started to leave, and then called back over his shoulder, "Oh, and Adam? Wake her up if she's not up by 0800."

"Affirmative, Lieutenant Higgs," came to slow, mechanical voice of the computer.

About 6 minutes (and one annoyingly loud alarm), Samus emerged in her Zero Suit.

"OK, let's go," Anthony said, "We're needed in 7-J".

"Go on ahead, I'll catch up," Samus replied.

"Alright, just don't be late."

As she headed towards her first class of the day, Samus paused to stare out of the large window on the Main Deck. She could see out into the vast reaches of space, and as she would always do, located the star around which the Bottle Ship had revolved. Out in the blackness, broken only by the twinkling of a billion other stars, the single light should hold no special meaning, lost in the vast reaches of the universe. However, it was there that the Galactic Federation had become so close to meeting its demise at the hands of MB. It was also the place where her closest confidante and only friend, Adam Malkovich, had met his end to protect the universe from the horrors within Sector Zero. The man had been as a father to Samus, and she didn't know how she could continue to handle his loss. She had taken the job protecting the Biologic research team on SR388 in an effort to reclaim some sense of stability in her life, performing simple duties and easy combat missions to take her mind off of her grief. However, those plans had been severely interrupted by the corruption of her body and Power Suit by the parasitic X virus and subsequent battles with the terrible SA-X. After she had been forced to destroy the B.S.L. station, and take out SR388, she still couldn't confront her emotions over the death of Adam. She had expected that the fact that her ship's computer had his personality to help, but it wasn't human. There could be no replicating his warm smile as he consoled her, nor the cold anger he displayed at those who would otherwise have made her life a living hell. As a computer, there was only the dry, emotionless, calculating mind. Seeking solace more than ever, she had taken a teaching post on the G.F.S. Malkovich in the hopes that it would make her feel closer to her mentor. It had yet to help.

"At its core, self-defense is all about energy. Any energy can be stolen and turned against your attacker," Samus told the class, "Lieutenant Higgs and I shall demonstrate."

Anthony punched at her, as fast and hard as he could. With the full power of the 6"11, 250 pound soldier behind it, it was a punch that could very well do some serious damage. However, both of them knew that nothing he could do could touch a warrior trained by the Chozo. Samus grabbed his wrist and pulled, using his momentum to throw him through the air and onto his back. The class around her clapped at the demonstration of her skill. Now that she was retired, there were few enough chances to practice.

"Now split into pairs and practice," ordered Anthony as he and Samus walked to the side to observe the new recruits.

"Haha, wow," laughed Anthony, "they're really coming along," as he watched a private miss the wrist of his partner and take a fist straight to the jaw and went sprawling.

He glanced at the young woman next to him, hoping to elicit some response from her. He was worried about how closed off she had become to the world since the Bottle Ship incident. He knew it was hard for her to lose the man who had been her only guidance for so many years, but he was beginning to wonder if his death had permanently damaged her in some way. But today, she seemed even more reserved than usual.

"Come on Samus, talk to me. You're more quiet than usual."

"A year," came the quiet response.

"What?"

"It's been a year."

"Oh…" Anthony realized what it was. It had been a year ago, this day, that Adam had sacrificed himself.

"I've failed him. Right before he went into the Sector, he forbid me from coming after him. He called me a galactic savior. And what have I done? I destroyed the most important scientific ship in the Federation, and managed to destroy yet another planet! He told me he was merely human. But I'm worse! I've become a monster, decreeing what lives and dies."

"No, Samus. You're not a monster. You did what had to be done. You saved us all again. Few others would have the strength for that. If Adam were here, he'd be more proud than ever." Anthony knew that his words would be a futile effort, but he had to try.
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not! I'm only trying to help."
"Well, stop trying!"
Anthony stood there, speechless. Samus had never been prone to such outbursts. "OK, tell me what's wrong.

Samus looked back into space. "Can you take the next class? I need some time alone."

Anthony had no choice but to agree. He watched sadly as she left the room, wishing he could somehow help.

Samus walked back along the Main Deck, alone with her thoughts. She couldn't understand what was wrong with her. Anthony was only trying to help, but she had treated him like shit. But it felt like he was trying to take Adam's place. "And no one can take his place," Samus thought, the anger rising up in her again. But couldn't he? She thought back on their brief conversation. The more she thought, the more ashamed she felt. She decided to turn around and apologize, just as an explosion rocked the ship.