Far away from the Marxist machinations of Colonel Morgan, Samus Aran is successfully resolving the end of her last mission. Not entirely sure if my chracterisation of Samus will be any good but it shall be an attempt to move away from her rather controversial portrayal in Other M. To this day it remains as hot a topic of discussion as whether it is ethically right or not to "Do a barrel roll!" But I digress and hope this story will not be tarnished by its standing in the potential shadow of Other M which it follows on from. (although I personally did think Other M was a good game but I can understand people who did not)
"Attention Hunter Class Gunship this is Stiletto Fighter Patrol, you are cleared for landing. We shall guide you to your landing pad and let me just say it is an honour to have the great Samus Aran visit the capital."
Samus didn't reply and instead eased her gunship downwards as she followed the two fighters through the gleaming, labyrinthine city of Athome, the capital city of the capital Federation world.
The planet of Daiban was seen as the centre of civilisation by the Federation as it was the world on which the Federation had been officially founded. The city of Athome was also seen as some sort of galactic utopia; a city of innovation and perfection which encapsulated the Federation's ideal of what civilisation should be like. It was in Athome that all key Galactic Federation institutions could be found and from this city the entire will of the Federation was dictated. Even Samus, who had seen many worlds and locations no one could ever begin to imagine, nevertheless found Athome breath-taking.
In the distance she could see the immaculate, white buildings of the Galactic Federation Supreme Justice Centre, her next destination. Essentially it was the centre of the police and the law courts.
The Justice Centre was located on its own specific island with a glittering stretch of pristine water separating it from the rest of the sprawling megalopolis. Virtually the entire sea and its vast amount of islands were colonised. The capital city's plan dictated that all major facilities have their own island to make it easier for citizens to find what they were looking for. Numerous forms of transport linked the islands together but it was the titanic, shining motorway bridges which spanned the sea that were the greatest feats of engineering. It was over one of these colossal roads, which snaked almost elegantly over the water, that Samus followed the two Federation fighters towards her destination.
"Your landing pad should be made clear to you Aran; I hope you are able to resolve whatever business brings you here successfully. The Federation owes you a great deal and remember we will always have your back."
As the two Stiletto Fighters climbed back into the sky Samus pondered over what the pilot had just said.
Always got my back huh? If the events on the Bottle Ship are anything to go by then sadly I doubt it.
What Samus had seen there had shaken her faith in the Federation. Some members of the Federation had been conducting research every bit as unethical and horrific as the Space Pirates and had even been prepared to send out an assassin to kill her. While she had every confidence the assassin had most likely died on the Bottle Ship, the fact she had been attacked by someone she had considered a squad mate meant she couldn't fully trust anyone in the Federation anymore. She had no idea how deep the conspiracy ran and knew the Deleter would have had to have been receiving his orders from somewhere.
She had to be careful about what information she told anyone and who she chose to trust. One of the only people she was sure she could trust began to stir in his seat behind her.
"At the capital already, Princess?" the sleepy voice of Anthony Higgs questioned. "You have no idea how much I needed that sleep!"
The second passenger Samus was carrying, Madeline Bergman, one of the scientists who had been involved in the Bottle Ship and Samus hoped would possess detailed knowledge about the conspiracy, also woke up. Samus took a glance at her face and saw that her sleep had been anything but peaceful. No doubt the memory of Melissa was still haunting her. In addition the fear of betraying the conspiracy would obviously be gnawing at her.
Samus looked out the window and saw a man guiding her gunship in to land on a circular platform. She brought the gunship to a graceful halt and descended onto the platform.
Having landed and turned the engines off, Samus turned to look at Madeline.
She looks terrified. Even here in the middle of the capital, just outside the largest police station in the galaxy she thinks the conspirators can get her. That or she is afraid of how the law courts will treat her. To them she is an illegal researcher of bioweapons and a potential traitor of the Federation.
"You need to do this Madeline," Samus spoke gently; "we must make sure there are no more victims. The conspirators must be stopped and you are the only lead I have."
Madeline took a deep breath, closed her eyes and after a few moments finally replied, "I will tell them everything", she virtually whispered.
Samus was the first out of the ship, no longer in the power suit, and was followed by Anthony and, the visibly unsteady, Madeline who was using the large man to support herself.
They hadn't even walked off the landing pad when a group of about eight Federation soldiers approached them in formation. Their pristine white armour and the golden emblem on their suits of a sword and a set of scales marked them out as Federation Justice Keepers. The Keepers were the guardians of the law courts and served as the Justice Minister's personal bodyguards. Sure enough they parted and a tall, lean man could be seen striding towards them.
Damian Logan's piercing eyes; slicked back hair and beak like nose were recognisable to every Federation citizen who lived on Daiaban and indeed throughout the whole Federation. This was down to two reasons; one his physical appearance was very distinctive, himself resembling very much a bird of prey, and two, he had successfully cut crime on Federation worlds by as much as 90% on some planets. He had been ruthless in doing so and the number of people executed had gone up substantially. Nevertheless such draconian behaviour had won the respect of the people who had long grown tired of the rampant crime which pervaded all big cities.
Damian stopped in front of Samus and extended his hand. "Welcome, Samus."
No emotion.
"What is your business here?"
Straight to the point.
"I am a busy man after all."
Was that mild condescension perhaps?
Samus shook his hand or rather his five long, perfectly manicured talons. She glanced upwards into his eyes and felt them boring right through her.
I'd rather fight Kraid than face this guy in a court.
Damian tilted his head like he was sizing her up for dinner.
Hell I'd fight him three times.
"I am here Justice Minister because I wish to place a woman under your protection. This is Madeleine Bergman, one of the chief scientists on the Bottle Ship. I trust you are aware of the events that took place there?"
Damian returned the question with a nod. "Very well Samus you can leave the rest to us. Your input will no longer be required. This is a Federation matter and we shall deal with it accordingly. You may of course be called upon to give evidence. The same goes for you Mr Higgs."
Two Justice Keepers came forward and put their hands on Madeline to lead her away. Damian turned to leave and Samus Damian had effectively side-lined her by saying she was no longer needed. He had in essence told her like others before him that she was an outsider and didn't belong. She wouldn't usually care but the sheer coldness and indifference he had shown was something else.
I fight on a ship filled with the most unspeakable horrors, uncover a conspiracy threatening the Federation, lose a very dear friend, kill my arch-nemesis again and all to be told by a jumped up lawyer that I should keep my nose out of his business!
"I'd be interested to hear just how you plan to resolve the situation from the luxury of your ivory towers."
Samus was surprised to hear someone so openly question the Justice Minister and inwardly winced when she realised it had been her. Damian's feet came to a brisk and decisive halt. He slowly turned on the spot and paced back towards her.
The Justice Minister stood before her and, gazing straight into her eyes, gave his response. "I assure you that from the so called 'ivory towers' you refer to I command far more power and influence than some girl playing at being the hero. You forget your place Miss Aran. Your interference will not be tolerated."
Samus seethed at being talked to in such a patronising and contemptuous way but to avoid causing a scene decided to keep her mouth shut.
Damian Logan nodded curtly and strode away. The Justice Keepers followed taking Madeline with them.
"I'll visit in a couple of days." Samus called after the scientist who managed to smile faintly back before she and the rest of the retinue boarded a hover train.
There were a few moments of silence before Anthony spoke up. "That was a lot of tension back there Princess. You got something against lawyers or something?"
Samus barely heard him.
"Your interference will not be tolerated." That's unmistakably a threat. But why did he make it? He really doesn't want me to have anything more to do with this. I guess it must be mortifying for him to be the Justice Minister of a Federation so rife with corruption. Underneath that cold front he's probably sweating at the thought of losing his job if he doesn't sort this mess out himself.
Samus walked back to her ship. She almost felt a pang of sympathy for Damian and the responsibilities he had. Almost.
She suddenly realised just how drained and fatigued the last few days had left her.
Perhaps Damian's right, maybe I should stop my mission, just for a couple of days to rest. It couldn't hurt to take a short break. Besides, I highly doubt our "all knowing" Justice Minister will get anywhere in his investigations anytime soon. He'll spend weeks just filling out the paperwork!
At that moment there was a flash of lightning and rain began to pelt down ferociously. Water droplets wildly bounced away from the metallic surfaces they hit and streamed down the smooth sides of the buildings like waterfalls. Lightning lit up the now bleak and unwelcoming sky which had become thick with grey impenetrable clouds.
Samus' gunship took off and began to fly back towards one of Athome's residential areas.
Through the sudden darkness a figure walked purposefully onto the landing pad the ship had just left. "So it begins." It muttered.
The figure turned its masked face to watch as the gunship became ever more distant in the sky.
"A shame; had you not brought that woman here we might have let her live. Her blood will be yours to clean from your already stained hands."
Another flash of lightning and the landing pad was empty.