Please, kind reader, keep in mind that I am a horrible writer and this is one of my first ever Metroid stories that I happened to continue one day. Comments are very much appreciated. :D And so…without further ado….

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Tear IX. Not an overly special world at all. On the very fringes of civilized space, it is a second home to many bounty hunters, mercenaries, assassins, and other shady beings on the run from law. Many parts of it are yet uninhabited, for many dangers prowl the surface of Tear IX, including several blue equine-creatures, which are quite obviously carnivores, and have not been documented on other planets, and have not been seen in environments outside of their native bogs on Tear IX.

And so, now I wonder why my ship decided to give out on me and crash-land on the surface of this mudball. Repairs, as I have heard from the native beings, might take over two of the rotations of Tear IX. Too long, but I have no alternatives. Repairs must be made, for without me, it seems the entire Galactic Federation will be overrun by Space Pirates. Ridiculous. I have become some kind of a baby sitter of the Federation. However, I guess I asked for it when I became a bounty hunter.

Sitting at the bar, I felt all of the beings in it keeping their eyes on me. I heaved a sigh, knowing that as soon as I removed my helmet, all the males would somehow gravitate towards this part of the bar. Well, I had had a rough day, and I deserved a good drink. Reaching up, I grasped my helmet and pulled it off, shaking my head so that my hair cascaded down my shoulders. I winced. I hated that effect; it just seemed to attract more males. Sure enough, the first idiot made his way towards me.

"Hello, miss. You sure are pretty. What's the likes of you doing on a planet like THIS?" He was a Yurni. I could tell by the green skin and reptilian eyes. Not replying, I gestured for the bartender.

"Whaddya want?" He growled, polishing a glass that nevertheless looked dirty.

"Whiskey, please." I grunted, not bothering to hide my disgust at the dirt that seemed to be attracted to the bar. The bartender threw the rag down on the counter and busied himself filling a glass.

"Hello? Miss? I asked you-" The Yurni persisted.

"I am aware that you asked me. I did not answer. So, tell me, if I was attracted to you in the least, would I be blankly staring ahead while you tried to make yourself known to me?" I growled, raising my arm cannon ever-so-slightly. The Yurni hightailed it back to his buddies.

"Samus? Samus Aran?" I heard a voice behind me, and whipped around, instinctively raising my arm cannon.

"Whoah! Easy, there!" The voice was definitely male, and I recognized it from somewhere. Eyeing the man up and down, I noticed that he was well-shaven, and also what I believe other females would call "handsome."

"Do I know you?" I said coldly.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I think you do, if you're Samus Aran. I could recognize that power suit anywhere! But…I might be mistaken. So tell me…Are you Samus?"

"Yes. I am. And who are you?" Thoughts were tumbling through my mind. How did he know my name? And why did he seem so familiar? I worked alone. I knew that. So…Where did I know him from?

"Ah-hah! I knew it! I'm Kerlan. Remember me? We both worked under the same Commanding Officer. Adam? Was that his name? And then when he was killed…" A look of sadness came over his face, "You left, and then returned to become a bounty huntress. And I never saw you again."

"Oh…Kerlan…I do remember you! You were the one who thought I was a guy, and tried to invite me to sleep with you and your roommates, so I, of course, thought you were suggesting something inappropriate, and I beat you up!" I began laughing softly, remembering the look on his face when he found out I was not male. Kerlan grinned.

"Ah, so you do remember. And how you beat me up! I can still feel it!" He was laughing now, as well. Then, quite suddenly, I stopped. He was startled, and he grew silent as well. I eyed him up and down, then gave a nonchalant shrug.

"How long have you been spying on me?" I growled softly. Kerlan's face blanched.

"How…how did you know?" He whispered, still startled at my knowledge.

"Call it bounty huntress instincts coupled with female intuition." I told him, throwing some money on the counter to pay for my unfinished drink, grabbing my helmet, and striding out the door. I still felt Kerlan's eyes, boring a hole into the back of my head.

.End of First Chapter.