Chapter 14

Back On Amidos

Lightning flashed high in the sky revealing the multiple layers of clouds lazily floating across the valley before disappearing over the top of the mountain range. The light smell of rain drifted across the valley basin as the water gently fell from the sky, creating a shimmering haze far on the horizon as the heat from the sun had earlier warmed the valley. Small puddles had formed in various locations from the quick downpour that passed by overhead and now only the slight patter of stray raindrops could be heard on the top of the tent. Lana knew that in a few short minutes that the valley would be engulfed in a humid heat and she wished the ceremony would come to an end.

"Even after her death, the embodiment of Samus spirit lived within the most unlikely host whose transformation from evil to good showed to us that no matter what you are, you don't have to live by the standards others place you at", Scint said talking to the small crowd of Chozo and a few Kossbass sitting beneath the tent. Scint, a Chozo and tribal leader on the planet of Amidos, Lana's home world, continued his eulogy. Tears had dried in Lana's eyes over the past few minutes, but as Scint continued talking the endless stream of salty water that ran from her eyes could not be stopped. Lana had to live the death of her mother of again and the pain was too much to bear as she sobbed helplessly into a tissue.

Scint finished talking about the late SA-X saying a prayer with everyone aloud, Lana mumbling the prayer from memory and not for the feeling; her mind was tracing back the events of the day before. Scint turned to the single coffin holding the remains of Houston Armstrong; the Kossbass had been kind enough to detain and destroy the remaining X-parasite within the corpse before transferring Houston's body to Amidos for a proper funeral. Lana flashed back to the battle between the SA-X and the HA-X.

"LANA!" Samus yelled toward the tree. "Shoot him! NOW!"

Lana, now leaning on the tree, brought her arm cannon up and tried steadying it with her free arm but her aim was shaky as her arm quivered. "I can't. I'll end up hitting you to."

"Just do it Lana."

"LET ME GO YOU WHORE!" Houston squirmed more viciously now and Samus' grip started to weaken on the more powerful HA-X.

"Damn it Lana, just do it!" Samus tried to tighten her grip back up and managed to successfully lock her arms again, "I don't know how much longer I can hold him."

"No, I can't do this. Do you realize what you're asking me to do?" Lana asked dropping her arm cannon.

"Lana", The SA-X said, all of Samus' emotion flowing vibrantly in her voice, "You told me to come to terms with myself. I can't change what I am, but I can change who I am. I'm your mother and I realize this is hard but for the sake of the galaxy, this must be done."

Lana gazed at the struggling pair in front of her, her mother and her father, together in the most ironic way possible. She sobbed helplessly now, fighting the voices in her head telling her what she needed to do and what she didn't want to do. She raised her head and looked at Samus and silently lipped, "I love you."

Though Lana couldn't see behind Samus' visor, she knew that the gesture had been returned. A glow appeared at the end of Lana's arm cannon and with all her will, Lana fired the weapon. The grass before Lana caught fire as the fully charged plasma beam ripped across the forest.


 The flashback played like a broken record in Lana's mind causing her to sob more heavily now. The flashback continued with the events right after that final blast.

The two X parasites screamed in unison as the plasma beam engulfed them in flames; the agonizing screams of pain and anguish echoed through the domed nature facility. Lana tried to cover her ears in an attempt to block out the tormented screams but the armored glove and arm cannon did little too nothing to help. Lana closed her eyes tightly to shut the scene out but still the brightness of the flames burned through her eyelids. In a matter of seconds, the screams died and the brightness calmed till it was nothing and when Lana opened her eyes, to find two X-Parasites floating where the bodies of the SA-X and the HA-X should have been. As she came closer to the free floating forms, Lana's suit came to life, glowing with a mysterious aura and as if entranced by the light, the two parasites floated toward Lana, circling the suit of armor. The aura suddenly grew brighter and engulfed the two forms and then disappeared taking the Xs with it.

Lana flinched, as she was flooded with the memories and emotions that once filled her mother and her father. The entire lives of her two parents flashed before her eyes, going from each of their first memories, Houston's death, Lana's birth, Samus' Death, and on and on; as quickly as the memories came, they disappeared. Lana fell to the ground in exhaustion, trying to take in what had just happened when it came to her. The Xs had been taken in by the suit and now Lana would have to live with the memories both her parents had, a burden and pleasure to her at the same time.

Lana was nudged back from her flashback as Scint finished his eulogy, motioning for Lana to take the podium to say something. Lana walked up to the platform and looked momentarily at the statue waiting to be placed over the grave. They would lay Houston to rest beside his wife and the statue that once marked Samus' grave was destroyed and a new one erected. This statue showed both Samus and Houston posing heroically, Samus on one knee and Houston aiming his arm cannon at some invisible enemy. Though the rock faces hidden behind the mask wouldn't show any emotion, their stances yelled power, respect, and devotion; each one of the mourners present knew these qualities to be true.

Lana turned back to her fellow mourners and began her eulogy; the rest of the ceremony went on normally. The end of the ceremony was marked by the burial of the casket with Lana dropping the first handful of dirt onto the coffin, a hollow thud emanating from the hole as the dirt fell on it. Each mourner followed behind and did the same. Scint brought up the rear and again led everyone in prayer, asking their great god Enode safe passage of their souls into their new life.

Finally, Lana pulled a lever on a machine behind the statue and with a rusty roar, the statue was slowly pushed over both grave sites, majestically protecting the body of Houston Armstrong and the Protector of the Chozo, Samus Aran, legendary bounty hunter, for the rest of eternity. The inscription on the statue read in Chozodian, "From the ashes of destruction a savior was born, guided by friends and lover, protecting the galaxy with devotion and loyalty till her death. Now she sleeps in eternal peace alongside Houston Armstrong, the man she called husband. In Peace Samus Aran.

Lana stayed behind as she waited for the guests to begin leaving, holding conversations with a few of the mourners before they left. Langheart was the last Lana talked with, walking with him toward his ship, "Thanks for coming Langheart", Lana said.

"No. Thank you. You have finally brought us back into communication with our old friends the Chozo", as he said this, Scint walked over and shook Langheart's hand. "I am glad we can now communicate freely between us Scint", he continued turning to the Chozo.

"Please, we have much to discuss", Scint said leading the Kossbass toward one of the huts. Langheart turned back toward Lana one last time and offered a wave, which Lana gratefully returned.

Lana found herself sitting with Adam, swiveling around in her pilot chair, the bearings squeaking slightly as the chair spun around. Lana paid little attention to what was going on around her and began zoning out when Adam spoke up, "Lana."

"Hmm?" Lana responded absently.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the memorial", he said trying his hardest to process the emotion of depression but very unsuccessfully.

"That's okay Adam", Lana replied.

"Since you first swore to avenge your mother's death, I have observed your growth from an angry young girl, to a mature and respectful woman and I am proud of you. I know it doesn't hold the same meaning coming from an electronic circuit board but you remind me of your mother and I am glad that I can be a part of this team."

"Thank you Adam", I wouldn't have been able to do this without your help.

"My optic sensors are picking up sunlight outside. Would you like to see?"

"Not really", Lana replied staring blankly into the black screen.

Adam ignored her answer and brought the view screen to life. The mountains ran along both sides of the valley, an enormous canyon was visible to left, a canyon that had proved the SA-X trustworthiness not so long ago, it's depths hidden beneath the shadows of dusk. The humidity had begun to subside and the grassy field that stretched to where the mountain ranges came together sparkled with the setting sun. Shadows stretched across the valley from the west, reaching toward the eastern mountains. Lana found herself staring at her parents grave, the sun had just started dipping low enough to cast dark shadows along the statue. Slowly the sun moved below the horizon and the statue fell into complete darkness; the sky painted in a awesome array of color before turning to dark purple.

"And so the sun sets for another", Lana murmured to herself.

"And will rise tomorrow for others", Adam replied.