Chapter 9
Rock My World
Over six months have passed since Houston's unexpected arrival on planet Zebes. Samus and Houston have become very good friends often times training together in hand-to-hand combat. Houston had become extremely jealous of Samus' power suit and loves watching her train. Samus had become very efficient with the suit and often made little to no errors with it. Houston easily adapted to the Chozos way of life. Ridley and his band of space pirates had disappeared and no one knows what this means. With the current peace the Chozos have settled back into a normal daily routine.
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Samus opened the door allowing Houston to enter. Houston acknowledged Old Birds presence with a warm embrace. He had grown fond of the Chozo and there traditions. He spent most of his time with Samus but when he wasn't with her, he was off doing things with Scint.
"Ready for our jog Samus?" Houston asked turning back to Samus.
"I'm really not in the mood to run. I will walk though."
"Better then nothing I guess", Houston said with a smile. The two walked out waving bye to Old Bird.
Samus and Houston walked through the fog that rolled through the valley. The Chozo had condemned the wrecked ship and forbid anyone from going into it. The Chozo had buried the remains of the crew and statues were erected throughout the ship. Many of the young Chozo often snuck into the ship only to run out screaming. Stories were told that the restless souls of the unfortunate colonists haunted the ship. After the twos usual run, well walk in this case, they headed back into the tunnels of Zebes.
"You know Samus, ever since I laid my eyes on you I've had an attraction toward you. You have filled an empty void in my life and I want to thank you."
Samus stopped in her tracks. She had always known Houston liked her but never really expected him to admit to it. Over the last six months the bond between them seemed to grow bigger and bigger and Samus herself had began to fall for Houston. "Follow me, I want to show you something", Samus said heading down a tunnel. Houston was a little irritated that Samus didn't respond to his comment but followed her obediently. The two traveled deep into the depths of Brinstar. The scenery began to drastically change. Instead of the beautiful lush green scenery and vegetation the landscape changed to a clay red rock ground with a few dehydrated plants. A light breeze blew in from the surface slightly shifting the sand that covered the ground. A red glow emitted from the walls lighting their path. They soon came to a room with a creek running through it. Water dripped from the ceiling plopping into the creek and breaking the eerie silence that encompassed the room. Samus began to scale the wall and soon disappeared into the ceiling overhead.
"Come on Houston", Samus called down, waiting for the straggler. Houston climbed up and crawled through a small tunnel and re-emerged in a room just over the one they had just been in. Samus opened the green door before them and entered. The next room contained a Chozo statue sitting against the far wall holding a ball that seemed to be covered with some sort of slimy membrane. Samus walked up to the statue and pushed it aside to reveal another chamber. The small space was nothing more then a closet. Houston stepped up and further inspected the small closet space.
"So where are we?" Houston asked.
"We're not there yet. It's just on the other side of this wall."
"So how do we get there?"
Samus pointed at the water and Houston shook his head indicating he understood. Samus dove into the water and Houston followed. Houston could barely keep up with Samus and relied on the trail of bubbles she left to follow her. They soon emerged on the other side and climbed onto a rock ledge just above the water's surface. They sat with there feet in the water and Houston took in the scene before him for the first time.
"This is beautiful", Houston said wide-eyed. He found himself gazing at a huge underground lake. Light streamed through the cavern illuminating the depths of the crystal clear lake. Schools of fish swam at the far side while a few rippers grazed the top of the water. The cavern ceiling was covered in crystal as well as the walls and bottom of the lake. The reflection of light bouncing off the water created waves of light on the cavern walls.
"The light streams down from the surface and all of the crystals act as mirrors reflecting the light about the room. This is a spring I found about three years ago. I come here to think and be by myself. It's the only place I can really call my own. You are the only one I've ever brought because.", Samus lowered her eyes and began blushing. A smile formed on her face, ".because you are special to me."
Houston couldn't help but smile and the comment that he had so longed to hear.
"You and I have so much in common and we get along so well. And.well Houston.I think.I think I love you."
"Samus you already know I feel the same way. I've done some thinking and I want you to come with me back to Earth."
Samus' eyes darted to Houston's. Tears began to trail down her cheeks. Houston slipped his hand into Samus' who brought it up to her cheek. Houston had never seen this display of emotion from Samus before. He was more use to her rigid sarcasm or subtle sense of humor.
~I knew this day would come and now I'm torn between worlds. What should I do~ Samus thought to herself. She pulled Houston toward her, embracing the now shocked Houston.
"I can't Houston. I have an obligation to the Chozo. I couldn't leave them with no one to protect them."
"I figured you would say something along those lines. After scavenging the old wreck and with the help of Scint, I have built a small station on the nearby planet of Amidos. As you know Amidos is a chunk of Zebes separated after a meteor hit it over a thousand years ago. The planet is small but it's more then enough room for us. I've even talked Old Bird into sending a Chozo colony out there. With Ridley missing, now is our chance to send the Chozo where they can strive in an environment exactly like there own and build up their population. This is not the only planet that the Chozo live on either, with the station I can have each colony attached to our system, that way if something happens we will know about it and get there as fast as possible. The Counsel has provided each of us with a ship for transportation." Houston pushed Samus from him wiping the tears off of her cheek, "Samus I'm tired of beating around the bush waiting for my life to fly by me. I want to be with you Samus Aran"
Samus forced a trembling smile, "It looks like you've thought of everything haven't you? I will go then." Samus got to her feet ~God I hope I'm doing the right thing~
"Thank you Samus." Houston said smiling.
Samus and Houston got up and Samus began to recompose herself. "Very well, lets go break the news to Old Bird", Samus said before diving into the water with Houston close behind her.
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Houston and Samus walked in silence back toward Crateria. Samus was struggling on how to break the news to Old Bird. A sudden tremor brought the two to there knees covering themselves in an effort to protect themselves from falling rock.
"What the hell was that?" Houston hollered as the tremor subsided.
"I'd say it was an earthquake, but it felt more like an explosion. Come on I have a bad feeling about this", Samus yelled running through the corridor. Samus and Houston came to an elevator and took it to the mountain top training ground. The energy from the elevator engulfed the two as the elevator hummed to its destination. Once at the peak the two ran to the edge and looked into the valley to find craters and fires appearing over the landscape. A few space ships flew by overhead their engines whining down as they landed in the valley. The ship's hatches opened and battalions of Space Pirates flooded from them making there way across the valley toward the entrance of Crateria. Samus' eyes narrowed in hatred, "It's Ridley! The devil himself has re-emerged. We've got to help the Chozo!" Samus and Houston ran back to the elevator only to be cut off by the blasts of an incoming ship. "Damn it, this way Houston!" Samus began to run for the edge of the mountain when another ship appeared from the valley below firing its blasters at them.
"Samus Aran.surrender now", a voice from the ship called.
Samus looked at Houston who nodded and they charged the ship behind them strafing from side to side avoiding the ship's blaster. They passed the ship, which was too sluggish in its turn around giving the two a few extra seconds. At the edge of the cliff, Samus stopped and looked at Houston, "Just follow me!" Samus backed from the ledge; the pursuing ship began firing its blasters again. Samus ran and jumped off the cliff her arms flailing in the air. Houston followed suit praying for his life on the way down as the blasters bore down on either side of him. Samus watched the cliff side fly by her as she fell toward the water below them. She looked back to see Houston spiraling down in different dangerous positions. She yelled back to him, "TURN THAT FALL INTO A DIVE!" Houston, due to the tremendous wind distorting his hearing like a bad microphone on a windy day only understood "turn" and "dive" and immediately began to correct his drop path. Samus too immediately began to form a diving position before entering the water with an ear-splitting splash. The pain of pressure began building in her head as the inertia from the fall drove her deeper into the water before she slowly stopped and began rising. She could see Houston below her making his way toward the surface. The two broke the surface gasping for air and holding their heads.
"Are you okay?" Samus asked Houston.
"Yeah, that was some ride! We better go", Houston said pointing to the ship that was coming around the cliff in search for them.
"This way", Samus said swimming toward a small opening in the side of the cliff. The two made it and the ship flew by blasting at the cliff side. Samus moved a boulder to reveal a door and the two went through. "I found this door a while back, though I wasn't sure if the water in this alcove would be deep enough for our fall. Come on we have to get my power suit and find Old Bird." Back in the tunnels of Zebes, the Chozos were running for their lives, pushing themselves deeper into the interior of Zebes.
Samus and Houston pushed against the wave of bird people making there way to Samus' home. Once there they found Samus' power suit. She quickly slipped into and activated and armed the suit ready to take on the pirates. Houston opened a closet door and pulled out two blasters. Scint ran into the room yelling for Old Bird. "I can't find Old Bird!" "We just got here! How bad is the situation on the surface?" Samus asked.
"It's bad. There is a whole army of Space Pirates and Kilhunters making there way here! We have to get the Chozo out of here before it is too late!"
"Our only chance is to get those that we can to Amidos. Scint gather those you can and meet us at the ships. Keep an eye out for Old Bird and bring him if you find him."
"Yes Samus", Scint said flying back out the door screaming at the Chozo.
"Houston, you said there are two ships right?"
"Yeah"
"We're gonna have to make multiple trips to get all the Chozo off. Lead the way!"
Houston ran out the room with Samus close behind yelling for the Chozo to follow them. They made there way through to the counsel chamber. Scint was already there in front of the statue of Enode. "Fellow Chozo, please stay calm! Behind this statue are two ships, which will take us to Amidos. All present will go, but it will take multiple trips. Women and children will be first. Please keep in order", Scint told the situation as Houston and Samus moved the statue. Behind the statue was a small docking station with two ships sitting on the metal architecture of the docking bays. The Chozos began filing toward the small ships.
"This is going to take forever", Samus said looking at the small ships. One was a blue colored ship with twin turbine nuclear engines. There were twin blasters on each side of the ship and what looked to be missile bays. "How many can we fit in these?"
"From the size of it I would say if we really cram we could fit twenty in each. It will be uncomfortable but necessary. That's forty. I'll take the blue one, you take that one, it was specifically built to work with your suit!"
Samus looked at the other ship. It had a yellow metallic armor with a green front view port. It was an exact replica of the blue ship.
"It's the same control as any other Chozo ship", Houston said.
Samus ran on board and sat in the pilot's seat. She looked at the controls trying to remember how to operate a ship. She had been taught a year ago but she had never had any need to fly anywhere. ~Damn why didn't I go into the shipping business!~
Once all the Chozo were in that would fit, Samus closed the door and looked for the lift control. Samus was able to bring up the schematics for the console in front of her and quickly found the control she needed. The ship lifted off with a jolt and headed up.
Over six months have passed since Houston's unexpected arrival on planet Zebes. Samus and Houston have become very good friends often times training together in hand-to-hand combat. Houston had become extremely jealous of Samus' power suit and loves watching her train. Samus had become very efficient with the suit and often made little to no errors with it. Houston easily adapted to the Chozos way of life. Ridley and his band of space pirates had disappeared and no one knows what this means. With the current peace the Chozos have settled back into a normal daily routine.
.|.
Samus opened the door allowing Houston to enter. Houston acknowledged Old Birds presence with a warm embrace. He had grown fond of the Chozo and there traditions. He spent most of his time with Samus but when he wasn't with her, he was off doing things with Scint.
"Ready for our jog Samus?" Houston asked turning back to Samus.
"I'm really not in the mood to run. I will walk though."
"Better then nothing I guess", Houston said with a smile. The two walked out waving bye to Old Bird.
Samus and Houston walked through the fog that rolled through the valley. The Chozo had condemned the wrecked ship and forbid anyone from going into it. The Chozo had buried the remains of the crew and statues were erected throughout the ship. Many of the young Chozo often snuck into the ship only to run out screaming. Stories were told that the restless souls of the unfortunate colonists haunted the ship. After the twos usual run, well walk in this case, they headed back into the tunnels of Zebes.
"You know Samus, ever since I laid my eyes on you I've had an attraction toward you. You have filled an empty void in my life and I want to thank you."
Samus stopped in her tracks. She had always known Houston liked her but never really expected him to admit to it. Over the last six months the bond between them seemed to grow bigger and bigger and Samus herself had began to fall for Houston. "Follow me, I want to show you something", Samus said heading down a tunnel. Houston was a little irritated that Samus didn't respond to his comment but followed her obediently. The two traveled deep into the depths of Brinstar. The scenery began to drastically change. Instead of the beautiful lush green scenery and vegetation the landscape changed to a clay red rock ground with a few dehydrated plants. A light breeze blew in from the surface slightly shifting the sand that covered the ground. A red glow emitted from the walls lighting their path. They soon came to a room with a creek running through it. Water dripped from the ceiling plopping into the creek and breaking the eerie silence that encompassed the room. Samus began to scale the wall and soon disappeared into the ceiling overhead.
"Come on Houston", Samus called down, waiting for the straggler. Houston climbed up and crawled through a small tunnel and re-emerged in a room just over the one they had just been in. Samus opened the green door before them and entered. The next room contained a Chozo statue sitting against the far wall holding a ball that seemed to be covered with some sort of slimy membrane. Samus walked up to the statue and pushed it aside to reveal another chamber. The small space was nothing more then a closet. Houston stepped up and further inspected the small closet space.
"So where are we?" Houston asked.
"We're not there yet. It's just on the other side of this wall."
"So how do we get there?"
Samus pointed at the water and Houston shook his head indicating he understood. Samus dove into the water and Houston followed. Houston could barely keep up with Samus and relied on the trail of bubbles she left to follow her. They soon emerged on the other side and climbed onto a rock ledge just above the water's surface. They sat with there feet in the water and Houston took in the scene before him for the first time.
"This is beautiful", Houston said wide-eyed. He found himself gazing at a huge underground lake. Light streamed through the cavern illuminating the depths of the crystal clear lake. Schools of fish swam at the far side while a few rippers grazed the top of the water. The cavern ceiling was covered in crystal as well as the walls and bottom of the lake. The reflection of light bouncing off the water created waves of light on the cavern walls.
"The light streams down from the surface and all of the crystals act as mirrors reflecting the light about the room. This is a spring I found about three years ago. I come here to think and be by myself. It's the only place I can really call my own. You are the only one I've ever brought because.", Samus lowered her eyes and began blushing. A smile formed on her face, ".because you are special to me."
Houston couldn't help but smile and the comment that he had so longed to hear.
"You and I have so much in common and we get along so well. And.well Houston.I think.I think I love you."
"Samus you already know I feel the same way. I've done some thinking and I want you to come with me back to Earth."
Samus' eyes darted to Houston's. Tears began to trail down her cheeks. Houston slipped his hand into Samus' who brought it up to her cheek. Houston had never seen this display of emotion from Samus before. He was more use to her rigid sarcasm or subtle sense of humor.
~I knew this day would come and now I'm torn between worlds. What should I do~ Samus thought to herself. She pulled Houston toward her, embracing the now shocked Houston.
"I can't Houston. I have an obligation to the Chozo. I couldn't leave them with no one to protect them."
"I figured you would say something along those lines. After scavenging the old wreck and with the help of Scint, I have built a small station on the nearby planet of Amidos. As you know Amidos is a chunk of Zebes separated after a meteor hit it over a thousand years ago. The planet is small but it's more then enough room for us. I've even talked Old Bird into sending a Chozo colony out there. With Ridley missing, now is our chance to send the Chozo where they can strive in an environment exactly like there own and build up their population. This is not the only planet that the Chozo live on either, with the station I can have each colony attached to our system, that way if something happens we will know about it and get there as fast as possible. The Counsel has provided each of us with a ship for transportation." Houston pushed Samus from him wiping the tears off of her cheek, "Samus I'm tired of beating around the bush waiting for my life to fly by me. I want to be with you Samus Aran"
Samus forced a trembling smile, "It looks like you've thought of everything haven't you? I will go then." Samus got to her feet ~God I hope I'm doing the right thing~
"Thank you Samus." Houston said smiling.
Samus and Houston got up and Samus began to recompose herself. "Very well, lets go break the news to Old Bird", Samus said before diving into the water with Houston close behind her.
.|.
Houston and Samus walked in silence back toward Crateria. Samus was struggling on how to break the news to Old Bird. A sudden tremor brought the two to there knees covering themselves in an effort to protect themselves from falling rock.
"What the hell was that?" Houston hollered as the tremor subsided.
"I'd say it was an earthquake, but it felt more like an explosion. Come on I have a bad feeling about this", Samus yelled running through the corridor. Samus and Houston came to an elevator and took it to the mountain top training ground. The energy from the elevator engulfed the two as the elevator hummed to its destination. Once at the peak the two ran to the edge and looked into the valley to find craters and fires appearing over the landscape. A few space ships flew by overhead their engines whining down as they landed in the valley. The ship's hatches opened and battalions of Space Pirates flooded from them making there way across the valley toward the entrance of Crateria. Samus' eyes narrowed in hatred, "It's Ridley! The devil himself has re-emerged. We've got to help the Chozo!" Samus and Houston ran back to the elevator only to be cut off by the blasts of an incoming ship. "Damn it, this way Houston!" Samus began to run for the edge of the mountain when another ship appeared from the valley below firing its blasters at them.
"Samus Aran.surrender now", a voice from the ship called.
Samus looked at Houston who nodded and they charged the ship behind them strafing from side to side avoiding the ship's blaster. They passed the ship, which was too sluggish in its turn around giving the two a few extra seconds. At the edge of the cliff, Samus stopped and looked at Houston, "Just follow me!" Samus backed from the ledge; the pursuing ship began firing its blasters again. Samus ran and jumped off the cliff her arms flailing in the air. Houston followed suit praying for his life on the way down as the blasters bore down on either side of him. Samus watched the cliff side fly by her as she fell toward the water below them. She looked back to see Houston spiraling down in different dangerous positions. She yelled back to him, "TURN THAT FALL INTO A DIVE!" Houston, due to the tremendous wind distorting his hearing like a bad microphone on a windy day only understood "turn" and "dive" and immediately began to correct his drop path. Samus too immediately began to form a diving position before entering the water with an ear-splitting splash. The pain of pressure began building in her head as the inertia from the fall drove her deeper into the water before she slowly stopped and began rising. She could see Houston below her making his way toward the surface. The two broke the surface gasping for air and holding their heads.
"Are you okay?" Samus asked Houston.
"Yeah, that was some ride! We better go", Houston said pointing to the ship that was coming around the cliff in search for them.
"This way", Samus said swimming toward a small opening in the side of the cliff. The two made it and the ship flew by blasting at the cliff side. Samus moved a boulder to reveal a door and the two went through. "I found this door a while back, though I wasn't sure if the water in this alcove would be deep enough for our fall. Come on we have to get my power suit and find Old Bird." Back in the tunnels of Zebes, the Chozos were running for their lives, pushing themselves deeper into the interior of Zebes.
Samus and Houston pushed against the wave of bird people making there way to Samus' home. Once there they found Samus' power suit. She quickly slipped into and activated and armed the suit ready to take on the pirates. Houston opened a closet door and pulled out two blasters. Scint ran into the room yelling for Old Bird. "I can't find Old Bird!" "We just got here! How bad is the situation on the surface?" Samus asked.
"It's bad. There is a whole army of Space Pirates and Kilhunters making there way here! We have to get the Chozo out of here before it is too late!"
"Our only chance is to get those that we can to Amidos. Scint gather those you can and meet us at the ships. Keep an eye out for Old Bird and bring him if you find him."
"Yes Samus", Scint said flying back out the door screaming at the Chozo.
"Houston, you said there are two ships right?"
"Yeah"
"We're gonna have to make multiple trips to get all the Chozo off. Lead the way!"
Houston ran out the room with Samus close behind yelling for the Chozo to follow them. They made there way through to the counsel chamber. Scint was already there in front of the statue of Enode. "Fellow Chozo, please stay calm! Behind this statue are two ships, which will take us to Amidos. All present will go, but it will take multiple trips. Women and children will be first. Please keep in order", Scint told the situation as Houston and Samus moved the statue. Behind the statue was a small docking station with two ships sitting on the metal architecture of the docking bays. The Chozos began filing toward the small ships.
"This is going to take forever", Samus said looking at the small ships. One was a blue colored ship with twin turbine nuclear engines. There were twin blasters on each side of the ship and what looked to be missile bays. "How many can we fit in these?"
"From the size of it I would say if we really cram we could fit twenty in each. It will be uncomfortable but necessary. That's forty. I'll take the blue one, you take that one, it was specifically built to work with your suit!"
Samus looked at the other ship. It had a yellow metallic armor with a green front view port. It was an exact replica of the blue ship.
"It's the same control as any other Chozo ship", Houston said.
Samus ran on board and sat in the pilot's seat. She looked at the controls trying to remember how to operate a ship. She had been taught a year ago but she had never had any need to fly anywhere. ~Damn why didn't I go into the shipping business!~
Once all the Chozo were in that would fit, Samus closed the door and looked for the lift control. Samus was able to bring up the schematics for the console in front of her and quickly found the control she needed. The ship lifted off with a jolt and headed up.