Chapter Two: Saria
"Still alive?" the other girl asked, grinning, but shrugging. Her voice was like hers, but higher and a little more cheerful. "I never died."
Sammy (Samus) looked the girl up and down, analyzing her.
Samus herself was wearing a blue tank top and a pair of jeans, her civilian clothing. She was wearing was wearing a pair of blue combat boots. Normally, she'd wear her Zero Suit, a skin tight blue uniform that was made of a durable material, but since she felt like relaxing, she'd picked looser clothing. Her blonde hair was tied in a ponytail behind her, going down her back. Her blue eyes shone with skill as well as a slight bit of anger at this point.
The other girl wore a green tank top and a pair of jeans, similar to her own. She also wore combat boots. Her hair was green, going down to just past her midriff, but it was flowing and free instead of tied in a ponytail. Her eyes were green as well. There was still a grin on her face, but the entire time it had been more playful than anything else.
"I saw you die." Samus said. "You reverted."
"Remember you also did that." The other girl pointed out.
"True." Samus said. "But, I absorbed you."
"Yeah.' The other girl said. "But, I went straight here since I had quite a bit of your DNA stored."
"You are like the opposite of an X." Samus said, confused at this point.
"Well" the other girl said. "Think of it this way: I absorbed your knowledge and DNA when I bonded with you. I was the one that bonded with you first, the original X you encountered. I became the original SA-X, later reproducing asexually. However, I had retained a bit of your personality as well, but more from your childhood. The single SA-X I'd reproduced into did not retain that. In fact, it retained very little of the power I'd gained from integrating with your suit in the first place, only being about ten percent of my full power. It, in turn, reproduced, making its own SA-X clone, but with even less memory and power. Essentially, I'm one of the few X that have deviated from our primary goal of feeding and growing in power. I started craving a challenge, that challenge being you."
"You did seem like you were having a good time battling." Samus said, thinking. "I'd been under the assumption I'd be facing a cold blooded killer as an opponent."
"Well" the other girl said. "For a bit, I was, until a short time after I reproduced. But, as I tapped into your memories to find a weak spot, I learned your memories and, well, I gained what they refer to as a soul. I gained the ability to desire what humans and other races actually desire. But, since I sort of molded into your childhood personality mixed with my own nature to feed and hunger for power and knowledge, I began to crave a challenge, like I said. I explored the ship, looking for you. I wanted us to have a fight, no holds barred, power versus power."
"Funny." Samus said. "Before my mission to SR-388, I believed the Metroid were purely killers driven by instinct as well. Then I found the hatchling and my entire viewpoint changed. I learned that they could have love and emotions as well."
A tear fell from Samus' eye at that point, memories of the baby, her "child" exploding right in front of her eyes.
"Don't cry." The other girl said, her expression turning sadder. "You always carry her with you.'
"What do you mean?" Samus asked.
"Well" the other girl said. "Your DNA was altered to make you part Metroid."
"That is true." Samus said. "But, back to the matter at hand: how did you not just get absorbed like the countless other X I absorbed?"
"I'm part you.' The other girl said. "Since I was so much like you even as a Core X, I integrated with you, your Metroid DNA not being able to distinguish me from you. So, essentially, you're part me as well."
"So" Samus said, sighing. "Since you clearly can't leave, what should I call you? Calling you SA-X really doesn't work."
"Well" the other girl said, thinking. "We could call me Saria."
"Like the girl from Legend of Zelda?" Samus asked.
"Yeah." The other girl, Saria, said. "Cause SA could be the first part of Saria. Plus, we both have green hair."
"True.' Samus said. "Whatever then. I guess that could work."
"Yes!" Saria said, pumping her fist.
"I'm gonna have to get used to this." Samus said, sighing.
"Probably.' Saria said, grinning. "But, it'll be fun."
"Yep.' Samus said. "Definitely gonna have to get used to this."
"Don't worry, Sammy.' Saria said, grinning. "It'll be a dual experience."
"Don't call me Sammy." Samus said, crossing her arms.
"Alright." Saria said, shrugging.
"Now" Samus said. "How do I get to having a good night's sleep?"
"You already are.' Saria said. "This is just a little place we can talk."
"Alright.' Samus said. "Well, I think I'm done talking for now. I guess I'm stuck with you, so we'll probably talk later."
"Yep.' Saria said, grinning.
"I'll be going now." Samus said, disappearing from the place.
Later—in the waking world
Samus blinked her eyes, sitting up.
"That was an experience." She said. "Either I was having one crazy as hell dream or that SA-X is still in my head."
"It's no dream." Came the voice from beside her. She turned to see Saria. But, she was more transparent than she was before.
"What the—" Samus began to ask.
"Well" Saria explained. "I took a little control of your brain…enough to alter your vision and hearing so that you can see me like this. It won't affect your normal skills or anything like that."
"So, it wasn't a dream." Samus said, surprised.
"Well" Saria said. "Technically, it was."
"Whatever." Samus said, rolling her eyes. "Let's just go on with the day. I've got a mission report to give.'
"Well" Saria said. "Let's go to where our next adventure is."
So, the SA-X has decided to call Samus' mind home. Well, I wonder how this'll go. Find out soon.