Disclaimer: Samus Aran and the Metroid are properties of Nintendo @-2002,2003

The Three Bloods

Chapter 2:

"Sensors show Bounty Hunter Houston Armstrong at 500 meters and closing."

As Samus lowered her Hunter-craft to an easy landing on the 20th planet in the Gwar system, she checked the sensor sweep the computer just instigated. It was exactly as her computer said it: Houston Armstrong was on the planet surface. Here, on the same planet where she was supposed to meet a Chozo Master.

She couldn't fathom it being a coincidence. Houston was a halfway decent guy. He was tall, good looking, pretty rugged, and he was an excellent bounty hunter. He was also the only person in the galaxy with an imitation Chozo Power Suit…and he had a huge chip on his shoulder when it came to Samus.

They've competed many times in the past over bounties, and in the past they've actually done battle…though Samus never took it anything personal. However, in the twenty-nine different skirmishes…both big and small…Samus had been victorious in every one.

Samus just didn't feel like winning another battle this time. She exited her Hunter-craft, put it cloaked-running mode, and took a scan of the atmosphere. According to Adam it was a slightly toxic world that wouldn't sustain human life for too long. Even so, within her Power Suit she could survive in the most toxic condition.

Entering a few quick commands into her gun-arm, Samus watched as the missile-loader opened with a small sphere, and then fired it off into the distance.

"Decoy launched. Imitation of the life signs of Samus Aran complete. Initiating dampening field."

Samus felt a slight shift in gravity, and then looked at her radar again. With a smile, she watched as the little blip that represented Armstrong paused, and then started pacing back and forth in confusion.

"That's right Houston," Samus whispered to herself, "Chase the bouncing ball." Armstrong wouldn't be any concern now. He'd be chasing the fake signals of the decoy. This meant she had all the time she could take to meet with the Chozo Master, and then, if she thought jokingly, beat Armstrong up.

@

Eventually, Samus reached a hollowed-out cavern, several of kilometres below the surface. It was rather unremarkable, a few thin streams of lava wired up and down the walls, and steam leaked from cracks in the ground. Samus checked with her computer again.

"Destination co-ordinates within one hundred meters. Samus, you have reached your destination."

Samus huffed angrily. Yes, this was the destination…but where was the Chozo? "Adam, please scan for life-forms."

"Scanning. Two life forms confirmed: Bounty Hunter Houston Armstrong, second life form undetermined. Location unknown."

A horrible feeling suddenly came over her. Where was the Chozo? If he's the second life form, why couldn't Adam locate him? She looked down to the steaming ground and closed her eyes with gloom. Maybe she had been acting like an idiot. Maybe she wouldn't find anything here…any vision or divine meeting with her lost parents. She didn't understand why the Chozo would be teasing her like this.

"I say, how you been luv?"

Samus whirled on the voice and found herself face to face with a nearly identical version of the Power Suit. It was blue in color, and the chest and shoulders were slightly larger, but it was unmistakably fashioned after Varia technology. Samus knew who this was; and she started to seethe in rage.

"Computer, explain," she choked through grated teeth.

"Close-range scans of Houston Armstrong confirmed. His A.I. is using a dampening field similar to your own. Scanning. Confirmed. The Houston Armstrong you've been tracking has been a decoy."

"Shit," Samus cursed.

"Is your computer telling you how I made a fool out of you, sweet-cheeks?" Armstrong said with a gregarious laugh. "When your life sign suddenly became two, and then one again, I knew I was dealing with another one of your tricks, so I countered with one of my own." He waved a finger in the air tellingly. "I won't get nailed by the same move twice you know."

Samus shrugged and stepped by him without looking over. "Don't act like you've won anything, Armstrong, because you haven't."

Houston began to follow her, his arms waving for attention. "Oh come on! You won't make anything easy! I mean, bloody hell; I haven't seen you in months…and this is how you greet me? With a trick and a snub?" He sighed and slumped at the shoulders. "That hurts. You're a real nasty woman, you know."

"I'm glad you've learned something," Samus retorted, moving ahead towards her exact destination. "Now tell me what the hell you're up to."

Shrugging, Houston gestured towards the cavern walls. "I'm on a job. I'm ….um…supposed to retrieve a special object."

"Oh for God's…" Samus groaned and clenched her fist. "Beat it Armstrong. I'm on an important mission."

"Well so am I," Armstrong whined in that British inflection of his. "My boss is quite serious on this Samus. I believe you of all people should appreciate that."

"I don't think you get it, Armstrong," Samus grated.

"Oh I believe I do"

"Warning."

Samus turned to see Houston's arm-cannon aimed directly at her, and then she stayed perfectly still.

"Sorry luv," Houston said with a tilt of his head. Energy coalesced to a large sphere at the end of his gun-arm, and he finished by saying "Nothing personal."

Then, Houston fired.

Dither Bikky says:

I'm sorry, but I've been busy so I did this short chapter instead. It's really short…sorry. Anyway, for people who want to know how I get bold to work…I'm using Word 2000. Sometimes getting the font to work is a real hassle, and I'm currently looking for a better program to write my fan fictions in. For instance, I can't get centre to work AT ALL.

Also, I realize I've made several mistakes concerning Adam Malkovich and Adam Samus's computer. I'll keep going like I have, but I want you to know I realize my errors.

Anyhoo, thanks for reading.