Chapter 18

Crash Landing: Is it the End?

            Adam and Officer Stellbak stood near the main window and I watched with them as the stars of space flew past he Terran Space Station.

            Adam turned his back to the window to face me. "What is going on? Where is Kyan?" He asked curiously.

            I took off my helm and lowered my head and replied sadly, "Kyan.. used the last of his energy to destroy the Monster Habitat and the X parasites." I held back my tears by continuously blinking my eyes. "Kyan also used his power to give the Terra Space Station a boost that we will find a planet to land on. We will have enough oxygen to make it to a planet."

            Adam placed his hand gently on my shoulder and whispered kindly, "I know that Kyan meant a lot to you and he was the first one that you cared about… It's hard to cope with death." He paused and looked away for a moment. He shortly returned his gazed and lowered his voice even more to a soft whisper, "I will help you through it if you allow me to, Samus."

            I closed my eyes as I felt Adam gently stroke my cheek with the back of his hand.

            I slowly opened my eyes to slits and saw Adam slowly draw closer to me. His eyes closed and his lips parted to kiss me.

            "Um.. I think we're in trouble." Shadow spoke as he came into the room.

            Adam quickly stepped away from me and reopened his eyes from the rude surprise.

            He turned to Shadow and asked, "What? What is it?"

            Shadow turned and pointed out the main window.

            Adam's eyes grew. "Oh, shit."

            I quickly wiped my eyes and looked out the window. My eyes grew wide and my heart suddenly raced uncontrollably. "We're going to crash into that planet!"

            The large dark blue glowing planet was coming upon us quickly!

            I worriedly looked at Stellbak, who stood motionless and calm, "Isn't there a way to slow down this space station?!"

            Stellbak looked at me and smiled calmly, "Do not worry. This space station is equipped with thrusters for such emergencies like this."

            "Oh." I blinked in surprise.

            Adam asked, "If there are thrusters equipped.. why aren't they working now?"

            I turned my head to look at him questionably.

            Adam's stare remained fixed on the planet and he was silent for a moment. "We're going too fast to even be able to slow down for an easy landing."

            Stellbak exclaimed in a half shocked voice, "What?!" He snatched a small black walky-talky form his uniform pocket and shouted in desperation, "Control room! What the hell is going on up there?!.. Control room?"

            I heard static from the walky-talky, then finally a reply, "Uh, sir, we have a problem… the wires to the thruster engines have been cut."

            Stellbak's eyes grew, "Then fix it!" He let his hand fall to his side. "Damn it! Who could have done it?" Stellbak turned head away to mumble.

            Shadow proclaimed, "Officer Stellbak, there is one alternative."

            Stellbak turned to the second-best bounty hunter made a hopeful expression, "And what is that?"

            Shadow gulped and answered, "We brace for impact."

*          *          *

            I was the one that ventured out of the space station and explored the surrounding landscape with a strange device Adam gave me. He told me that the device measure breathable oxygenized air for humans and other living life forms to breath.

            The indicator read normal oxygen levels capable for breathing.

            Federation soldiers came out first to look for any life forms that posed as a threat to attack, but fortunately there was none.. for the moment.

            I scouted ahead to look for life forms and any signs of food and water and a suitable place to set up a post to protect the space station from violent creatures and keep them from entering the perimeter.

            I turned my attention to the terrain and studied its characteristics.

            The ground was unusually dark blue. The landscape was composed of mostly small sharp ledges covered with sharp rocks.

            There were no signs of plant life anywhere, not even a single dot of a different color.

            I heard soft footsteps behind me and quickly spun around to aim my gun at whatever was coming up behind me.

            A figure wearing one of the Federation's power suits quickly raised its hands into the air.

            "Whoa! Relax! It's only me." Adam's voice come from the power suit.

            I lowered my cannon and spoke sheepishly, "Sorry, Adam. I didn't realize it was you." I placed my hand on my hip, "What are you doing out here? It could be dangerous, you know."

            Adam laughed, "Don't worry about me. Anyway, have you found anything?"

            I shook my head, "No, I haven't found anything that could pose as a threat… or anything at all, for that matter… There's not even a single life form around. It's all just dirt."

            I instantly spun around just as I heard a pebble hit the ground behind me.

            I raised up my gun and my eyes darted to the source of the sound. I saw a small dark green head quickly duck down behind a ledge just a few feet ahead of me.

            I slowly approached the rocky ledge and saw a thin black hand with three large round fingertips clinging to the rock.

            I slowly bent over the ledge and saw the top of the dark green head. The head turned upward and the creature showed me its round triangle-shaped face with its large round black eyes and a nose and mouth that resembled a bird's beak.

            The creature's mouth formed into a smile and it tilted its head to the side as if curious to see me.

            I noticed its long downward curved black ears come from behind it's head to the sides.

            The little alien chirped like a baby bird.

            I lowered my arm and slowly knelt down onto the rocky ledge. I reached out to the small creature with my left hand.

            The alien raised its head up to look at m hand.

            I watched as the small creature crawled up the rocky edge and climbed onto my arm.

            I looked at its thin dark green body. The alien had long arms that were colored black to the elbows. It's large round toes and the bottom of its feet were also black.

            The alien climbed up my arm and raised its head up to come face to face with my visor. Then it climbed onto my helmet and bent its head over to look into my visor from upside down

            I chuckled at the strange alien's curious behavior.

            I heard Adam's footsteps behind me as he approached.

            "Looks like a gremlin." He joked.

            I stood up as the small alien climbed off of me and back onto the rock ledge.

            I faced Adam and turned my head away, "Adam.. I.. I can't stop thinking about Kyan… I feel sadness."

            Adam placed his hand on the side of my helmet, "The only thing you can do now is move on… I will take care of you from now on, Samus." Adam wrapped his arms around me and came closer to me.

            I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes.