One.

The surface of this spongy planet could swallow me whole, thought Samus Aran as she picked up her boot and inspected the bilberry colored muck caked on the bottom of it. Dewlet drops of a methane-hydrogen compound hung loosely from the tips of vibrant purple leaves and covered the giant golden blossoms that hung over the surface of the bog that Samus stood in. She tried to scan the plants with her visor, but like the planet she had landed her Hunter-class starfighter in, there was no information compiled by humankind (or any species affiliated) that she could access about them.
This is it, Samus mused, I've travelled so far, not even the suit knows where I am. She wanted to take her helmet off, but the atmosphere, climate and pressure would kill her in seconds.
Not a glamourous death by any means.
But still, the seductive song of death rang bittersweet in her ears. She had lived a long life, long enough at least by her standards and an easy life it had certainly not been. She'd entertained the concept of retiring to a life of luxery once or twice, and with all the money she had saved away, she could do it. Samus worried though that her restless soul might not allow it. After all, what could ever part her from the thrill of her sport? Hunting was all she knew. She only spent money when she thought could be useful for her profession. For her safty.

And then there were the nightmares. The horrible, inescapable nightmares. Every moment of peaceful rest disturbed by the melted faces of her childhood. The horrifying dead stares of her mother and father haunted her still. Long ago had she come to terms with the helplessness felt over that fateful event where she was forced to watch her people die around her. Revenge and power helped ease the pain, but she never stopped missing them.

Samus sat down. Then she lied down. She began to sink, and she liked the way it felt. The blue mud softly took her ankles, and then her arms. Is this how I'm supposed to die?

The blue had almost finished darkening her visor, when a particular synapse in her brain fired. Her survival instinct took over and she activated her spin attack.
No, not this way.

She marked the planet on the galactic map and watched as the numbers in her bank account grew.
At least I have retirement to look forward to.

-

Ok, well this is the first chapter and its a short one that goes nowhere. If I get enough positive feedback, I'll upload more. Don't worry, a plot will emerge. If I get no positive feedback, well hell. I'm fine with having written a one-shot that at least I'm proud of.

Anywho, I love feedback, and criticism, constructive or otherwise. Let me know if you think that there's something incongruent with the characters, plot, canonocity etc. Oh and I don't own Metroid or Samus. Those are all Nintendo and their employees/affilliates.