Author's Note: This is the first fanfic I started, but it took a while to finish. I am completely done with the rough draft, so any delay in posting chapters is just from me finishing up the final draft. As you should all know, Metroid belongs to Nintendo, not me. PLEASE feel free to give me critique/comments. I love them because they help me grow as a writer. Hopefully someone will enjoy this, because I sure enjoyed writing it. :)

Sorry it took me a while to post this chapter. My great grandmother died, so I've had a lot to deal with. I'll try to get one more chapter up before November, but no guarantees. I am participating in nanowrimo next month, so I might not post much (if anything) then.

I felt a respirator mask on my face. My breaths were deep and slow, but steady. I tried to open my eyes, but the brightness surrounding me was blinding. Others were talking around me.

"She's coming around," someone said.

The respirator mask was taken off of me. Another minute or so passed before I tried opening my eyes again.

"Samus," a familiar voice said. "You must try to wake up."

The voice seemed old, but forceful. My heart skipped a beat at the thought of who it might belong to. I was able to pry my eyes open. Standing to the side of me was Old Bird. I found myself instantly sitting upright.

"Take it easy," he told me, chuckling. "It is good to see you finally come around. I was notified shortly after your incident. I came as soon as I could."

"What happened?" I asked him, then looked around at the others in the room. There was one woman and two men dressed in white lab coats.

"You received a blast in the back of your suit," the woman responded, presumably the head doctor. "The shot went through it and hit you only an inch away from your spinal cord. Thankfully, it did not go far. The suit seemed to do its job and protected you from most of it. Had things turned out only slightly differently, you might not be here now."

My last mission felt like a blurred memory. I could still feel the wound in my back. It felt somewhat like a knot.

"You have been out for fifteen days," she continued. "You have started to heal, but you are not ready for any missions in the near future. For now, we'll focus on rehabilitation here in quarantine."

My heart sank. I felt like had let my unit down. "Where is Commander Malkovich?" I asked them.

"He cannot come right now, but he wants to speak to you once you are released. We prefer to keep visiting to a minimum for the sake of the patient."

I turned back to Old Bird who looked at me with an almost pained smile. I wondered how he was notified about my injury or why he was even allowed to see me. "I'm sorry I acted irrationally," I whispered. I could only imagine the fear my wound had caused to those closest to me.

"Do you think you can walk, Samus?" the doctor asked.

I nodded. One of the men held out his hand for me to take. My first steps were a little uneasy, but I was able to make my way to the center of the room. They tested my basic movement abilities to make sure I was recovering properly. I was a bit sore in my arms and thighs, but the only thing that caused me pain was movement in my back or torso.

Thus began my time in rehabilitation. I did not see anyone outside of the doctors or Old Bird. My back was their main concern, but some of my muscles had also been injured and needed to heal. After a month, I was given permission to go back to my squad if Adam would permit. I would continue to go for checkups and was still barred from missions, but I could finally return to my own quarters. I was about to leave when Old Bird pulled me aside.

"Samus, now that you are well, I must let you know that I do not plan to stay much longer. You are starting to create a life of your own, and to do so, I must allow you to make your own decisions. But before I leave, there is something important that must be dealt with."

Old Bird brought me to another room. "Samus," he called. "You know you are a special girl. You not only carry the heart of a human, but the agility and strength of a Chozo."

I nodded, unsure of where his speech was going.

"I know you care about people, and I feel it is my duty to protect you so you can help them. You have so much potential. This is my main reason for coming here." He started to shuffle over towards a large counter. "When your Federation Police suit was destroyed, it was obvious that another would have to be built. While the Galactic Federation was planning to make one identical to your old one, I had a different idea. You are aware of the technology the Chozo Dryn created concerning armor and power suits. This technology is very powerful, but only works for those who carry Chozo blood."

"And I do?"

Old Bird nodded slyly. "I had plans of developing a suit for you when you expressed interest in joining the Galactic Federation, but after this incident, I felt compelled to finish it as soon as I could. It has just been finished. Come look."

I walked over to the counter. Lying out on it was not what I expected. It was a blue full body suit that did not seem to provide any protection at all.

"This suit has been specifically designed for your body. It will only respond to your will. Please, put it on and I will show you what it can do."

I took the suit and went to a bathroom to change. I looked at myself in the mirror. The suit hugged my body tightly, showing off my curves. It made me stand out, which made me a bit uncomfortable. The only details were pink designs on my hands and on my back. A center hexagon was placed exactly where I was shot. Other symbols radiated out of it.

"They activate the suit into your powered armor suit," Old Bird told me once I had rejoined him. "Your current suit does not provide you much in protection, but it is a sturdy material and allows for swift movement. It will also provide relief for your back, allowing you to be virtually uninhibited by your wound. You must learn to channel your energy to the spots on your back and your hands to activate it."

It would be a lie to say I got it on my first try, or even my second. On the third try, I saw a flash of yellow onto my arms before it dissipated. For most of the day, I worked at getting better at activating and deactivating the Power Suit. It took concentration, but Old Bird wanted it to be as automatic and natural as walking or speaking. The doctors were a bit uncomfortable with it at first, fearing I would hurt myself again, but Old Bird assured them I would be fine.

He only seemed concerned with activating the suit until I got it right, but I had to ask him about the obvious great weight on my right arm.

"A multipurpose cannon has been built into your arm to prevent having to carry multiple guns. It can fire beams, hold charges, and, when supplied, shoot missiles."

I gazed at awe at the piece of machinery. I found myself having to hold it with my other arm to keep it steady when I lifted it.

"You will eventually get used to the weight," he continued. "It should provide a much greater convenience. The suit itself is also many times stronger than your previous one. The helmet is also a nice piece of technology. If you wish, you can activate the screen on it, which provides a targeting monitor and your suit's weapons and damage stats. This is a fairly recent updated feature, but the kinks should be figured out."

I asked him to let me try it out, but he would not let me. "Be patient, Samus. You will learn in time. Be aware that you hold a great amount of power in this suit. Be sure not to abuse it."

I understood his concern and knew better than to pester him about it. By the end of the day, I was surprisingly exhausted.

"You have done well for your first day," Old Bird said with a gentle smile. "I will stay until you are done training, but I am sure there are others from your unit who are concerned about you. You should go back and let them know you are well."

I couldn't help but giving him a hug. "Thank you for all you have ever done for me," I told him, not helping but to give a large smile back.

"Samus," he told me. "I am so glad to know there is someone in this world like you."

Chapter 4 Summary

Samus is finally allowed to see her unit again. Adam requests to see her as soon as she is released, and Samus is unsure of how he will take her disobedience to his orders on Jigurad. As she continues her training with Old Bird, she wonders how long she can keep her new suit a secret.