Chapter 1:
Disclaimer: A disclaimer is a disclaimer. I'm disclaiming.
It's a job. It is just a job. I bet more than 70 of Americans hate their jobs. You don't have to like yours.
It is a job.
It is money.
Samus had screwed up with her last bounty. She had screwed up with her contacts. She screwed up.
That didn't stop Joseph Garden (also occasionally known as the Masterhand) from wanting her in his new tournament that would be shown on live T.V.
7 months
210 days
5,040 hours
302,400 minutes
18,144,000 seconds.
One season of super smash brothers.
140,000 dollars.
And Joseph told her he expected once the show got popular he would be paying her much much more.
I'm a sell out.
No. No I need this.
I need the money.
She needed a place to stay. He had ruined her life. She shouldn't have made a contract with him. She wasn't a bad person. And what he asked her to do… was.
The job was dishonest. It was wrong. Killing an innocent person was wrong.
That's what I get for compromising my standards. Samus thought to herself.
She couldn't do it. When she saw the two from a far… she couldn't do it.
They were in love. They were righteous people. Killing them would be disgusting. She wouldn't be able to live with herself.
I can't believe I even talked to him.
Greed.
Money makes us do strange things.
She didn't finish her side of the contract. After she saw those two she didn't even look into finding the other people. When he found out she didn't finish the job, he took away everything from her. Everything but her life and the suit off her back. It is frightening what powerful people could do. She was surprised he didn't just kill her.
Samus looked around her bathroom. She had to admit as much as she hated the idea of her new job… they took good care of her.
Knock.
She answered.
No one was there, but she looked down to find a basket of grapefruit and a small book next to it entitled- The Rules.
Oh how I hate grapefruits.
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After a short evening of reading The Rules, she decided to leave the grapefruit, and head to bed.
The Rules could be summed up into 3 important rules.
1. No fighting outside a melee match or training.
2. If someone gets knocked out in the arena you are not to proceed until a doctor sees them.
3. No romantic relationships between other participants.
If you broke these, you were kicked out.
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Samus awoke to the ringing of the phone next to her bed.
"Hello?" She said sleepily.
"There is a meeting for participants in Division A at 8:30 am and B at 9:00am in the conference room."
"I would be in the division that has to be at the earlier meeting." She groaned to herself and she hung up the phone.
Mr. Garden split the participants into two groups.
Division A and B.
Samus knew that on the floor where she lived was for A only. While B was one more floor up. She ate lunch, lived, trained and teamed up with Group A. She knew nothing more about Division B.
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8:30 am
"I trust you all read The Rules" said the Masterhand smiling at his smashers. "This is going to be a great experience for all of you. I have big plans for this."
The meeting went on, and people asked questions and the Masterhand explained in further detail what the competition was all about. And he explained that winners got bonus money. Lots of bonus money. "Don't make me kick you out. Heaven knows I don't want to. I really don't." He said after going over the rules again. "Now it is time you all got to really met each other. Meals will always be held in room 208, that is the large dining area. You are dismissed"
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She was shocked to see a few familiar faces in the dining hall. Too familiar….
Zelda: Bounty 148203
Link: Bounty 148317
She repeated to herself. That is when she remembered…. There was a few other bountys… a few other numbers.
148225
148404
148404
148404!!!
You were suppose to dispose of those numbers. Those people.
148404
No!
She turned away from Zelda and Link and walked in the other direction.
Kill them.
No.
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The food here equals good.
Samus thought as she swallowed the freshly made pasta. Samus recognized heroic (or sometimes infamous) adventurers. She looked over to Mario and his gang. Yoshi was doing a silly dance and juggling. They were laughing at him happily. Of course they were laughing because he was being stupid, but Samus still couldn't help but chuckle at how silly he looked. Horribly silly. She smiled and suddenly she felt a stab of loneliness. She usually never had anyone with her on missions. No one there with her in space.
No one is ever with me.
But she never felt lonely. Ever.
And yet, here she was surrounded by people who were mere feet away… and she had never felt so lonely in her life. More than anything she wanted family, friends, she wanted to be loved, wanted someone to sit by her.
This is not high school you know, you are a grown women.
"Can I sit here beautiful?" Asked a husky voice behind her.
She wanted someone to sit by her. Someone, not some PIG who was just trying to get some. Too many men in her life were pigs. Just trying to get something out of her she was not willing to give. One too many men had said that to her….. and they were all pigs. Just pigs.
She turned to find a man she guessed was 6 inches or so taller than her. Black hair, brown eyes, built well and
Utterly sexy.
He had a strong jaw line and very defined features.
Oh dear. I'm like a twitterpated school girl. STOP SMILING LIKE THAT! Stop it!
"I'm Miles Falcon" he held out his hand.
"I'm Samu-" He cut her off as they shook hands.
"I know who you are." He leaned forward whispering to her. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Oh really. Good things I hope." She was getting nervous by his closeness.
"Of course. You're amazing."
I'm a bounty hunter. I don't do this. Stop it. This is no sweat.
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They shared their most exciting adventures, their near death experiences, their hate for grapefruit, their love of video games and Natalie Portman. They talked about piloting and driving, cottage cheese (which they both agreed is yummy, contrary to popular belief) twister (and how it's just an excuse to touch) and the inconvenience of cars ("They make us fat" "Am I fat? Do I look fat? Because I like driving!")
"Grapefruit is bad news."
"Bad luck too!" Samus added in.
"Well Sam… it was wonderful meeting you. I'm on a tight schedule, I need to go train before tomorrow's match"
Samus looked around the dining hall. Room 208 was empty and they hadn't even noticed.
"So… you're the one opening up our season… who are you facing?"
"Link. Good guy… know him?"
And then she was reminded. Of how…
I'm a bad person
She shifted uncomfortable. "Kind of…. Well no not really. Just heard of him."
"Well I guess I'll see you later. I'm in room 204. Come by and see me sometime!" He turned to leave and spun back around. "Oh! And come see my match tomorrow."
"Absolutely." She grinned.
"You better be wearing you 'Marry me Captain Falcon' shirt." Miles winked.
"I didn't know I owned one, but I guess I do now."
As he walked away she couldn't help but think.
Oh how I hate grapefruit. Samus felt happy. She had made a really good friend today. A friend.A really good friend. She started to smile but was reminded…
Bounty 148404.
Frown.