Thank you for the reviews, specifically Control. I very much appreciate feedback, and I generally attempt to respond in some way. As for issues of formatting, I sincerely apologize; I had formerly believed that this site's new uploading policy had simplified my task, but it appears that such is not the case. This chapter I have uploaded numerous times, and I intend to experiment until I find a method of creating a pagebreak that is not immediately stripped (a series of dashes appears to work). Strangely enough, the word"Fanfiction . net"itself is removed when a single unit.
If I had to identify this story's largest flaw, it would most likely be overdone angst. At this point in its evolution, however, I think I will leave it the way it is. However, I am a great deal more cynical than you regarding the galaxy's open mindedness; we seem to have more than enough trouble dealing with each other. Ironic that you make this comment just before what I would term the most angst-ridden chapter, but this chapter should also make it clear that his problems are a bit broader than just being different.
The dress incident… will not be repeated.
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Chapter 12: Genesis
Cooly Tal's gaze flickered over the information on the screen before him. He had long ago learned the only proper method of speed reading, and he had been forced to use it many times. Samus would give him ten minutes, but that was all he had. In that time, he'd have to have determined which information was important and which was trash.
It had taken a few minutes to find a proper computer terminal. There were many, but he was sure most of them were well guarded. Eventually he'd discovered a computer with complete access, though he'd been forced to melt his way through a thick wall to get to it.
Streams of information moved past his eyes as he scrolled down the list calmly. Getting power running to this terminal hadn't been easy either, but fortunately the station still had a fair amount of power left. It would do for now; he could look over the files more carefully back at Samus' ship.
Abruptly Tal halted, his eyes tightening. This folder... he recognized the name of the project it referred to. Briefly images flashed through his mind, but he drove them away. There was no time for flashbacks, he had to get this information as soon as possible. Downloading it into the portable drive he had carried, Tal opened one of the files within the folder, curious as to what it would say.
As he watched, listened and read, Tal found himself growing slowly number and number. One of the most human parts of his mind screamed in denial, but it was ignored. After all this searching... at last he had the truth.
"I would have been happy being normal," he muttered to no one in particular, his cynicism finally bubbling over. "I just wish I could live an average life, get an average job, die at 84.27 years. Is being human too much to ask?"
Just as the frustration reached a peak, Tal slammed a fist into one of the nearby bulkheads angrily. There was nothing he could do now. All he could do was try to be human. Once he made whoever was responsible for this pay, he'd slip away to a small planet and forget any of this had ever happened. Whirling on a heel, Tal stormed from the room.
Behind him, the bulkhead he had struck was ripped apart.
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Jerking her arm up almost immediately, Samus fed the creature hot plasma. The blast seemed to do relatively little damage, but she had fully expected that and was already jumping back. Where the creature landed it destroyed much of the catwalk.
Catching herself on a wall, Samus quickly glanced over the creature that had attacked her. It was the standard large monster, probably with several dangerous powers. Nothing that she hadn't annihilated before dozens of times. Still, she couldn't afford to waste any time with it.
Turning off the magnetic function of her boots, Samus dropped down the side of the wall. She barely moved beneath a massive blast that destroyed the wall behind where she had been moments earlier. Ignoring such things, the bounty hunter immediately fired with both barrels up at the monster. Apparently angered by the blows from her energy cannon, the creature dove from the catwalk toward her, gigantic claws slicing.
Big mistake. Activating just a single burst from her jet packs, Samus remained in place while the creature, which had apparently calculated for her falling rate, crashed into the wall beneath her. Smashing a foot into the creature's neck, Samus attached a grappling hook from an arm to the catwalk above.
As the creature slashed at her again, apparently supporting itself on the wall by digging in its feet, Samus retracted her chain. Immediately the grappling hook pulled her out of the creature's range and across the chamber. In midair, Samus fired a missile.
The explosion that resulted from her direct hit caused the creature to fall toward the bottom of the chamber. It crashed against the floor heavily, quickly becoming immersed in the piles of waste below. Narrowing her eyes, Samus watched down closely. Charging up a shot in one hand, she waited; if Tal had survived a fall like that, this creature could too.
It struck from behind faster than she had expected. She hadn't even been expecting it to be smart enough to attack from behind. Then again, it was probably especially intelligent, given its origins. One massive claw slashed into her from the side, knocking her to the ground and dealing a fair amount of damage.
On her side, Samus smirked and aimed her cannon directly at the creature's face as she fired. The blast sent the creature flying, and it actually broke through one of the side walls onto another level. It got to its feet slowly, but appeared to be majorly wounded.
Rising as well, Samus considered the damage to her right arm. It was severe, though the suit hadn't actually torn completely. While the suit would reinforce itself, she could probably only get the arm back up to 87 capacity. Undoubtedly, her higher functions were offline. Gritting her teeth, Samus watched the monster carefully.
Abruptly its maw opened, and a burst of flame exploded from it. Leaping into the air, Samus narrowly avoided the burning projectile. Had her suit not protected her, her hair might have been singed. What all was this creature capable of?
Before she had any more time to think, Samus realized that the creature had vanished. It had to be circling the chamber that had housed the Power Core... probably looking for a way to attack. Quickly activating Darklight Mode on her visor, Samus scanned the area and found one hotly glowing spot around the wall. So that was where it was...
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Stupid woman hurt creature. Was not weak. Did not crunch as human should. Arms flash. Hurt creature. Woman must die.
Though the creature's thoughts were animal, they connected with a fierce intelligence. Hundreds of tiny thoughts rushed through its mind, together forming a dangerous whole. It was clear to it that this woman could deal a great deal of damage, but her senses were not very good. All he had to do was attack suddenly and she would go down.
Once he had moved randomly enough about the rim, the creature took a deep breath and prepared to attack. When it expelled the breath, a torrent of flame rushed from his mouth, erupting through the wall and flooding into the chamber. Everything on its level was almost instantly incinerated. Rushing forward through the hole it had created, the alien prepared to slice whatever remained of its opponent.
On the wall above the creature, Samus calmly jabbed the muzzles of both her cannons into the alien's back and fired. These shots tore through its body, sending the monster falling down below, finally dead. After ensuring that it wasn't going to come back, Samus flew herself back up to the highest level and glanced at the time again. Still two minutes. Tal had definitely underestimated her.
Now that the fight was over, Samus realized that she had never switched out of Darklight Mode. Just as she was about to, she saw something bright coming in her direction. Whatever it was seemed to be fluctuating wildly about the visible spectrum. Relatively often it would shift beyond visible light, temporarily appearing black before changing again.
Flipping out of Darklight Mode, Samus glanced in the direction of the anomaly in time to see Tal leaping through the air. His armor had been entirely retracted, but it gave him no semblance of normalcy. He shot up through the air, landing on a nearby catwalk and leaping to the point beside her
"I'm done," he said tersely. His eyes seemed especially hard, but Samus didn't question why. Not now. "Blow it up." His command was too late; Samus was already affixing the explosives to the top of the Power Core. A few minutes should be plenty for both of them to get far away from the station.
Without a word both of them turned and bolted from the room. As soon as they reached the corridors Tal brought out his armor again. They ran into nothing along the corridor, which was at this point fine with Samus. Mentally raising an eyebrow, she glanced over at Tal, who was completely focused on the path ahead.
Not only was he acting strangely, his Darklight reading had become quite strange. In the past it had always been quite stable... more so than even most objects. What would have caused such chaos? Had he found something important?
When they reached the edge of the area containing air, Tal skidded to a halt before the airlock. Slowing down as well, Samus glanced at him quizzically. This mysterious stuff was starting to get on her nerves.
"Thanks for helping me," Tal said darkly. "I have to go." Saying no more, he abruptly sprouted wings and ripped through the ceiling. Air was sucked from the room at a terrible rate, the vortex almost sweeping Samus away. She activated her magnetic boots and braced herself, but when the blast faded, she realized that Tal was gone.
No... not this time... she was tired of being left in the dark. Not this time.
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It took Samus a short amount of time to fly to her ship. Within moments its engines were humming. Less than a minute later her ship was streaking through space. So it was that she almost immediately overtook Tal.
Nothing seemed to be propelling him. He flew as before, his armor out and his wings folded, streaking through space at a high speed. Not high enough to avoid her tractor beam. Blue light shafted out, encompassing him and dragging him inexorably backward.
Less than two minutes later, Samus was calmly standing in the back of her ship, her arms folded. Tal sheepishly scratched the back of his head. There was silence for a moment, then Tal retracted all his armor and sighed heavily.
"Why'd you run off again?" Samus demanded. "What's going on?"
"I..." Tal stopped, then sighed heavily again. He seemed confused and unfocused. Curious, Samus switched to Darklight Mode and discovered he was fluctuating even faster. Almost like he was going to explode or something... "Alright. I'll tell you the truth."
Raising an eyebrow, Samus waited.
"At the station, I finally found the files I've been looking for. They were the last chapters of the story I've been piecing together. More accurately, they were the first chapters, the ones that were important. I'd almost found them at Station Ruby, but the files were transferred here before I could get them.
"What I discovered... well, I found out the truth about my past. I didn't like it. Basically... I was shaken. I am shaken. Every mental barrier or practice I've usually had is gone, leaving me unfocused and, well, pretty stupid. I'm sorry if I'm rambling. I just wanted some time to get myself together, to resolve all of this..."
"What did you find?" Samus asked. Her voice was completely unsympathetic, though she actually was. He was definitely right about being unfocused.
"There were a number of files, but," Tal floundered for a moment, then reached into a pocket and pull out a square black object. "I'll just give them to you. They aren't of any use to me anymore." Taking the disc, Samus glanced it over, noted it was quite a high quality device and then glanced back at him again. "I... I really don't like being so idiotic. If I leave now will you promise not to just track me down again?"
"Alright." Samus nodded, fingering the black disc. "I promise."
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Sighing, Samus fell heavily into her chair and leaned it back a few degrees. Reaching beside her, she ripped the top from a cup of yogurt and glanced inside. Typical. Not much could survive in the type of refrigerators space ships carried. Not really caring, Samus tapped a few keys on the control panel on the arm of her chair and then picked up her spoon.
Images appeared as the screen hummed to life, replacing the image of blank space. Quickly accessing the disc Tal had given her, now inserted into the computer system, Samus immediately glanced through the files that had been placed on it. Everything was in order, as it had been before.
She'd looked through the data as soon as he had left. It was a collection like the one he had given her before - letters, reports, tables, video feeds - but all of them were focused on a single project. A project that she was relatively certain was him.
Looking through the most boring and scholarly of the files, Samus discovered little but hard facts. Enough to prove to her that all this was real. Other than that, it was mostly busywork and scientific jargon a bit past her. Thick stuff, she recognized, not necessarily incredibly deep. All the important files appeared to be in a single folder, but she'd resolved to look at those when she had more time.
Now was such a time. After finding a desolate and isolated planet, Samus had landed on one of the moons and put her ship into cloaked mode. That had been ten minutes ago; now she was out of her bio suit and ready to look over the important documents in detail.
The one that first stuck out to her was a video feed that was obviously an introduction of some sort. It would probably be good to start there. Opening the file, Samus absent mindedly swallowed a spoon of yogurt while she watched.
As soon as the video had loaded Tal came on screen. She had a difficult time placing when the video had been taped: the location was ambiguous, the file had no traces and Tal was wearing the outfit he always wore. It was probably designed to accommodate his exoskeleton and wings and had to have been made shortly after she'd left the planet, she thought slightly off topic.
"I can't imagine why you'd be watching this, Samus," the video Tal began, "but if you are the conditions are probably negative. If I'm dead... none of this really matters. I don't know why I'd give it to you, but I'd like to account for all possible outcomes."
Samus smiled slightly. Apparently the video hadn't been taken too recently; Tal was still confident. Whatever uncertainty had come upon him recently was nonexistent here. She was relatively certain that Tal would regain it if he had enough time alone.
"As you've probably discovered," Tal went on, "nothing outside of this folder is too important. There is one thing you might want to get from them... the name of the project I was involved in.
"The Darklight Project was a massive endeavor, involving hundreds of experiments. You've probably seen the name of the experiment I was involved in: TA1. As you might be able to guess, that's where I got my name from. A pretty uncreative pseudonym, I know. But before that, no one had ever given me a name.
"Because I don't know the circumstances, there's not a lot I can say. What is here at the time of this recording should give you a good picture of why I am what I am. If I've discovered more than that, new files will be at the bottom of this folder." Tal paused, closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "Insert whatever leaving phrase is appropriate here."
As the video winked out, Samus was already tapping into the next document. Perhaps now was the time she'd get some real answers, as she anticipated. Before the document loaded, she glanced down the list and realized it was fairly lengthy. This yogurt might not be enough.
Scanning over the file, Samus realized it was a status report almost instantly, and found the bulk of the message soon after. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the word "Metroid."
As I mentioned earlier, these various capacities seem to conflict with each other. Indicated in Experiment TIV, this is a reaction similar to the antigens in the blood. It appears that different species of aliens have different methods of utilizing nega photons, and these methods are not necessarily compatible.
However, there may yet be hope for this phase of the project. Only yesterday we have obtained the Metroid specimen. It was assigned us to ship it to Station Ruby in a week's time, but I would formally request that this period be lengthened for an indeterminate amount of time. Preliminary tests have shown that the qualities of Metroid genes appear capable of wiping genes of antigens without destroying their other properties. Our estimation is that this is necessary for the creature's life draining abilities.
In addition, we have come into the next portion of the-
Metroid again. Narrowing her eyes, Samus rapped her spoon on the edge of her armrest as she thought about that one. Not only was someone going to get the book thrown at them for all these infringements, the Metroid issue made it personal. In some odd way, Samus felt responsible for anything done to the surviving specimen. Everything about this issue felt very, very wrong.
Closing that report and opening the next, Samus scanned until she found information relevant to the TA1 project again.
-and the Metroid specimen has been the missing key for our entire experiment. My assumptions before were basically correct, though Dr. Rutger was able to provide a very interesting application of the syndrome that helped the final model become complete. Regardless of the method, Metroid genes allow for the compilation of others.
Our results are as of yet unknown, though I may assure you we will eventually find success. Test specimens appear to be failing... it will take DNA of human complexity to properly incorporate the process. Fortunately, the unit we mentioned earlier will probably be ready within a few day's time.
The only problem remaining is the Metroid specimen itself. It has resisted our efforts to use stem cells to replicate it, and we fear the project may require vast numbers of cells. While the process could prove quite successful, it would mean the termination of the specimen. We will not make any attempts until we are absolutely certain of success.
I have been told by Dr.-
Seeing that the report devolved into internal politics, Samus closed it and moved to the next file. This was had the promising title "TA1: Final Preparation." She noticed the next file was another video feed, but resisted the urge to open it.
Everything has been made certain. Our subject is unaware of the process that it is about to undergo, and there will be no legal complications. Meanwhile, all other elements have fallen into place, and we are certain we will accomplish our goal. Unfortunately, the Metroid specimen will be lost, too much of it merged with the specimen to save the original subject. This loss is, as I have outlined previously, unavoidable.
The laboratory is currently being prepared for the experiment, and will be ready before 16:00 hours. We expect the operation to use under an hour, and the aftermath a few days at best. Any results we obtain can only be sent to you when the experiment is complete.
Raising an eyebrow, Samus scooped another spoon of yogurt and simultaneously opened the next file. Looking up at the screen, Samus waited, but discovered her wait was not long. While the graphic clip was relatively long, it was of poor quality. Her craft had the swiftest processor money could buy anyway.
A scientist stood on screen, looking directly at the camera and appearing very serious.
"April 11th, year 1092, 21:00 hours. This is the final experiment in the TA1 project."
Turning from the mounted recording device, the scientist quickly moved away from the visible area. Now that he was gone, the area behind him became visible. Most obvious was a sterile lab table, though behind it a short distance was a large tube with a blue liquid inside. There were scientists bustling about, altering or checking various control panels, but Samus ignored them.
Noticing a group coming from the side, Samus decided they were the important element that should be watched. Moments later her suspicions were confirmed as she saw that they were carrying Tal. He seemed to be unconscious, but looked almost dead. They quickly unloaded him onto the table.
The operation that followed would have made many grizzled fighters sick. Samus had seen worse, but not much worse. Because the video was taken from some distance away and the scientists made no effort to not obscure the view, some of it was not visible. In any case, Tal appeared to be being pretty nearly ripped apart.
She did wince when they killed the Metroid specimen. Her thoughts flew back to how it had followed her like a confused child, but soon she had no more time to mourn. A massive block box was rolled over the massacred body that lay on the table like a corpse. The scientists backed away from it, leaving the box to hum for a few minutes.
Growing bored, Samus quickly sped up the video to the part where they raised the box. Tal lay on the table, looking almost as he had before. His skin was all together once more, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, and the only signs of the operation were white lines covering his body where the wounds had been closed.
While they moved Tal into the tube of blue liquid, the scientist again appeared on screen. As a disinterested observer, Samus noted that her gut level reaction was to want to kill him. Indirectly, he was responsible for taking something away from Tal. Taking away his humanity.
"There will be no visible differences for some time," the scientist explained. "His genetic code has been fundamentally restructured, but it will take time for every cell in his body to be recreated according to the new design. Furthermore, we are unsure how long it will take his systems to fully mature. There have been no complications with the procedure. We hope to send you a feed of the subject in action once it has recovered. Station Ruby out."
As the image closed itself, Samus remained motionless. Though she was tough, she wasn't heartless enough to be able to eat yogurt through all of that. In a way, she was glad to see this, glad that she finally knew. No wonder Tal was upset with all of them, if he had seen what they had done to him...
The subject in action once it has recovered... such heartless, clinical words. They had said "it" as well, not "he." And whatever Tal was, Samus thought he at least merited a personal pronoun. Then again, they didn't really think of him as anything more than a weapon... which she had become convinced that he was designed to be. That was the only viable explanation for all of his combat oriented abilities. Plus, the supporting documents had alluded to such motives.
All the next file contained was a short bit of text. Curious, Samus opened it. It appeared to be a clip from a much longer report, with only the relevant parts remaining.
This has been the sixth day after the final experiment of the TA1 project. We show many positive signs, and we believe the sacrifice of the Metroid specimen will not have been in vain. The subject's vitality has returned and is above normal levels. Brain activity has also begun once more and appears to be in a coma-like state. Its genes appear to have fully changed, and we are unsure what is halting the final stage of development.
One expected but uncertain side effect has occurred. The subject appears to be in massive amounts of pain, and has been in such a state for this entire period of time. Any sound is muffled by the liquid and the containment area, but our mental readings indicate the pain is excruciating. For a period of time we worried that the subject's body was rejecting the new tissue and DNA implanted within it, but we have determined the pain is merely a part of the process of incorporating new elements. There are no outstanding concerns.
Ah. So that was why Tal had kept it. No outstanding concerns indeed. Shaking her head, Samus moved on through the files. There appeared to be a collection of them dated just prior to the experiment she had seen earlier. They described in gruesome detail every process that Tal was made to undergo.
All that truly surprised Samus was the number of experiments they did at once. She would have thought they'd treat their only Metroid specimen more highly, but instead they did a great number of what she considered to be risky procedures. Reaching the end of these files, Samus discovered a message dated just after the entry on the sixth day.
Received: Station Sapphire
From: Station Emerald
Port: 192-168-250-1
An unknown disaster has taken place. We have received information indicating that Station Ruby was completely and totally destroyed. Several factors lead us to believe that it was destroyed by detonation of the Power Core, but there may have been other elements.
From the few scattered packets of information we retained from the station's security systems, something assaulted the station from within. We believe this may be due to the escape of many of the hostile alien life forms being held on the station. The method of this is uncertain, and we have no hard evidence. However, many of the deaths appear to have been from claws such as those often found in aliens.
Security measures will be increased here, and we would advise you do the same. This event is unfortunate, as we have no information regarding the results of the TA1 experiment.
Unfortunate... Samus snorted. Heartless indeed. Things were coming together rather rapidly, and now she understood. Most likely the first station had been destroyed when Tal had awakened, and he had rendered it scrap. Then they had met on Station Sapphire, leaving only Station Emerald... which was now gone as well.
All the other files appeared to have been much more recently uploaded to the disc. Glancing through them, Samus found her eyes growing wider and wider. She maintained a professional attitude, certainly, but she could understand how all of this would have shaken Tal so greatly. These were the files explaining his origins... the only part of the tale left shrouded in mystery.
His life had been a lie. Project Darklight had been going on for a rather long time, Samus realized. Both of Tal's parents had been scientists, essentially bred for the sake of the experiment. Their child did not exist in the eyes of the law, so could not be traced to anyone on the station, nor would it be missed. Though Samus did not recognize his mother's name, she did recognize his father's: Dr. Walters.
That was what had stripped Tal of his composure. To learn that from the beginning his creation was solely for the sake of a cruel experiment, that his genes had been carefully meted and controlled by radiation from his childhood, that he never had any more of a name than a few numbers attached to a project. It was a solemn truth indeed.
And at last it made sense. Tal had every reason to be angry, and every reason to want to settle the score. No, it wasn't just that; had he wanted to get even he had already done so. Now, she guessed, the issue was more focused on making sure Project Darklight was shut down. Above all, this was about making sure nothing like this ever happened again.
As her eyes narrowed, Samus bent her spoon in one hand. Nothing like this would happen again... not if she had anything to do with it.
