Chapter 8 Enter Houston Armstrong

"Thank you for saving me Samus."

"Come on Old Bird. You don't really think I would let that beast harm you I hope. Besides, after fighting Ridley I realize there are things I still need to learn", Samus said bringing the old Chozo a wet towel.

"I am truly glad that you understand your under developed abilities; however, in reality there is nothing more that I can teach you. My advice you will always have and by practicing and training in that suit, you will eventually master your abilities", Old Bird replied placing the cloth on his forehead. "I think I am going to lay here a bit my child."

"Okay, I think I am going to go for a walk. I'm still a little stressed from that fight."

"Please be careful Samus."

"Yes Old Bird." Samus put her hair up and headed back out the blue door. She then made her way to the surface. Outside it was still lightly raining. The rain was cold and Samus gave a slight shiver at the sudden pinch before her body got use to it. She walked toward the wrecked ship. The fire was out and Samus was able to view the extent of the wreck. Debris stretched in a radius of a mile or more. The main fuselage of the rocket stuck a good fifty feet into the air and Enode only knew how deep it had dug. The cold rain mixing with the recent heat began developing patchy fog that lazily drifted through the remnants of the ship. Samus jumped a few times at the popping of cooling metal thinking Ridley had come back to fight her.

~This is really creepy~ she thought to herself. She decided she would head to the other side of the ship and check out the debris on that side. Samus found the ship was actually leaning into a mountainside. The only way to get to it would be to go through the ship. Samus went back around and entered the ship. Everything was quiet inside with the exception of the rain pattering on the side of the ship. The flames had died down and the ships energy cells seemed to be dead. Samus felt uneasy going back through the ship without her suit. She climbed past the hanging body and into the next room. Instead of going up Samus went through a door on the side. The room was filled with water and Samus waded chest deep to the other side. Once through the water she entered another vertical room. She could see cargo boxes hanging from nets at the top of the room swaying back and forth. Up near the ceiling she could make out a door and so she made her way to it. Once through she found herself in a tunnel leading down into Zebes. Samus followed the path down noting the wreckage embedded in the earth. Samus came across a pod-like device. It was big enough for a large Chozo but the device was empty. She could tell that it belonged to the wreckage because of the English inscriptions and type of metal the pod was made out of. The door of the pod was slightly open. Upon further investigation Samus found human footprints pressed into the wet ground. She followed the tracks further on until she reached a small cavern. The room was like a maze full of ledges and walls. Samus dropped down to the lowest part of the room. The room was filled with a foot of water. Samus followed the footprints to a ledge where they disappeared into a very small crawl space. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Samus dropped to her belly and began snaking her way toward the other end.

"I'm glad I didn't wear my suit. I would have never made it through that", Samus said standing up and brushing herself off. She found a door in front of her and went to open it but stopped when she heard footsteps sloshing followed by a door opening and shutting. Samus hollered out, "Hello? Is there anyone in there?" She received no answer and opened the door. The puddles in the small room still rippled where the human had just stepped. She ran into the next tunnel and found herself in an elevator room. Samus cautiously looked around trying to find the being; the humming of the elevator returning interrupted her. She quickly jumped onto the disk of energy and began descending down. The elevator ran down a glass tube, the earth enclosing around the glass. Some portions of the tube passed through water filled tunnels. The elevator came to a halt as it entered the opposite end of its track. Samus jumped off the ledge down to the ground stumbling as the floor sunk in. The earth in this area was a sponge like substance. Samus walked over to a sign on the far side of the room adn read it aloud, "Sea of Maridia. I've never been here before." She looked around the room noticing a few thick bushes and a huge hole in the ground. She went and gazed down into th hole and found herself looking into the murky depths of Maridia. She was startled by teh rustling of the bushes behind her. Samus jolted around and slowly made her wya toward the bushes. Before Samus realized it a being quickly emerged from teh vegitation and punched her in the stomach. Samus doubled over gasping for breath. She fell to her knees and the being tried to attack her a second time. Samus brought her hands up and blocked her attackers kick, flipping him on his back. The two jumped to their feet and Samus dropped the human with a round house to teh face. The being fell to the ground in a heap. Samus picked up what she now recognized to be a human man and put him into an arm lock. The man struggled to free himself.

"Who the hell are you and why did you attack me?" She yelled at the man.

He replied, "I thought you were a pirate. Please don't hurt me. I was just protecting myself."

"You attacked me first!"

"I didn't want to give you the chance."

Samus simmering down pushed the man away from her causing him to stumble and fall into the water hole. Samus stood back rubbing her stomach as the man pulled himself from the water. He was wearing a simple t-shirt with jean shorts. He had short brown hair and he was younger then what Samus had thought originally. It was possible, she thought, that the man might be as young as she was. Even though she didn't trust him, she found him to be a bit cute. He backed against the far wall ringing out his shirt while coughing up water.

"My name is Houston Armstrong and I was traveling with this colony as an escort", the man said looking for some type of introduction from the female across from him.

"I am Samus Aran and I live here", she said keeping it short and simple. "You were an escort?" She asked her eyes reflecting curiosity and uncertainty.

"Actually I am a bounty hunter. I was hired by the Galactic Federation Police to escort the colony until they arrived at there destination. I assume by the way you fight that you are no ordinary human."

"You are correct in your assumption. I am the protector of my people the Chozo."

"The Chozo?"

"Yes. They are the race of beings that occupy this planet. They raised and trained me since I was a child."

"Are there any human colonies nearby?"

"No. The nearest human establishment is a few light years away. My colony was destroyed thirteen years ago by a space pirate raid. I assume you were attacked by Ridley."

"You know of Ridley", Houston cut in.

"He has plagued the Chozos for as long as I can remember. My people are pacifists and so Ridley uses us for his amusement."

"Where am I anyways?"

"You are on the planet Zebes."

"Were there any other survivors?"

Samus shook her head no. "I've have to be heading back but I can't just leave you here to fend for yourself. Follow me, I'll have to see what Old Bird says."

"Who is Old Bird?"

"He is my mentor and the one who raised me. Now stop asking questions and lets go."

The two headed back toward the ship. Once in the ship Houston hesitated momentarily when he saw the bodies, nodding his head in disgust. "It really is a shame. These were good people." Outside the sun had set and the moons of Zebes began to rise. The light dimly lit the ground and small fires had re-emerged around some of the wreckage creating dancing shadows on the boulders. Houston looked back at the wreckage.

"I should have been there for them, that was my job. Damn you Ridley! I will have your head", Houston yelled into the sky, his voice quivering.

Samus stunned by Houston's sudden outcry went to his side. "You know Houston, Old Bird once told me that dwelling in the past pushes one into a never ending hole of darkness and hate; however, by living in the present one can pursue paths to right the wrongs."

"That may be so but I can't just leave the bodies like they are", Houston said abruptly turning around and heading back toward the ship.

Samus stopped him, "Don't worry, the Chozo will take care of all of that by morning."

The two continued down into Zebes. Samus entered her home with Houston slowly following. A worried Old Bird greeted Samus.

"My goodness child where have you been? Do you know what time it is? You're soaked again!? Take those off and change..", Old Bird said before noticing Samus' guest.

"This is Houston Armstrong", Samus said turning red with embarrassment from Old Bird's ranting.

"Well come now boy, don't look so shocked. I'm pretty sure you have seen beings stranger then a Chozo", Old Bird said.

"I'm sorry sir", Houston stammered, "I remember your race. Your people's technology is very advanced compared to the humans and many other races for that matter."

"Please, I would rather not be told how great we are. We only do what we must in order to survive."

"I understand."

"I am guessing you are from that wrecked ship. Now we can't have people coming around looking for you. We certainly don't need any other unexpected visitors rampaging our planet looking for you. I'm sorry but you are going to have to leave immediately."

"Old Bird! May I have a word with you?" Samus asked pulling the Chozo to the side excusing themselves from Houston's presence. "Why must you make such hasty decisions? Do you think a search party will come way out here into Ridley's territory just to find a few people who are dead? Why can't he stay till he is ready to leave? After all the Chozos were kind enough to let me stay so what is so different about him?"

"To begin with Samus you were only a child at the time, this Houston guy is a man. We had time to raise you and teach you our ways and this fellow seems to know nothing about us! Besides, we know nothing about him or who he may be affiliated with."

"I'll take responsibility if I have to Old Bird. He's a bounty hunter who was hired by the Galactic Federation to escort that ship. Please Old Bird; I'd like a chance to talk with someone who has common interest. Please?" Samus pleaded trying to convince the old Chozo. Samus didn't know why but something about Houston had sparked her interest.

Old Bird stood in silence frowning for a few minutes. He finally decided to try and let him stay. He could see Samus had some interest in him and it wouldn't hurt for her to become a little more social.

"Very well, he can stay but not here! If the council will permit it and I do believe I can pull some strings, he can stay with Scint." Old Bird turned to Houston, "Houston if the council will allow, you are more than welcome to stay with the Chozos until you are ready to leave."

"Thank you sir, I am very much obliged", Houston replied a smile appearing on his face for the first time since his arrival.

Old Bird after pulling some strings was able to convince the council to allow Houston to stay. Scint gladly accepted the new arrival with open arms embracing the chance to learn even more about the human race then he did with Samus.