Okay. First off, thanks so much for reading this, Lemurian-Girl, and commenting, as well! Well, I have played Metroid: Zero Mission and I do believe that they are suggesting that Samus doesn't quite wear her power suit out in public. However, the story here is that Samus's ship went down on a planet full of mercenaries, bounty hunters, assassins, etc. I'd want to have protection at all times, and a weapon as well…wouldn't you? So that's why she decided to wear her power suit. It's not a very good explanation, but it explains it well enough for my purposes. :)

Disclaimer: How sad is it that nowadays we have to put DISCLAIMERS on our stories to keep people from suing us? How sad has this world gotten? Oh, well. Anyway, Metroid doesn't belong to me. And if you didn't guess that…you are…umm…special.

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I walked dejectedly through the rather boggy atmosphere of Tear IX, pondering the matter at hand. So Kerlan had been spying on me. It had only been a wild guess on my part, but it had proven to be true. Why would the Galactic Federation send someone to spy on me? Me, of all people! I had no doubts that it was the G.F. who had arranged this. Suddenly, a thought sprang into my mind. I froze like those countless Metroids I had put into an icy tomb with my trusty arm cannon.

My ship. The sudden, inexplicable failure in the onboard computer was also, quite possibly, their doing. If so…Thoughts tumbled around in my head. Who would do this? Who in the Galactic Federation would want me…dead? Especially after I had saved them so many times? My mind cruised through various faces of those I knew, and then settled on one.

"Tykin." I mouthed his name. He wasn't quite a Galactic Federation member, per se, but he did have quite an influence on them. How? I wasn't sure myself. All I knew was that he had carried a grudge against me. Why? Again, my mind could not provide me with an answer.

"Samus…" The voice came from the general direction to my right, and I twirled toward it, instinctively placing one foot forward, the other back. I found myself staring into Kerlan's face. My face twisted from one expression to the next. I wanted to shoot him for foolishly following me after he knew that I knew he was spying on me, but I also had to admire him. "I just wanted to say," He continued, "That I am spying on you, but I am by no means working for the Galactic Federation."

I blinked. This was an unexpected twist.

"Then…who?" I found myself asking. Kerlan began to laugh. That startled me.

"Think, Samus. Who else would be interested in learning of your every move?"

This man was starting to really grate my nerves. He spoke to me as though I was a child.

"The Space Pirates?" I spat, taking two steps backward. My former fellow officer was still smiling, shaking his head.

"The Chozo." As he uttered those two words, I froze, the second time in a day.

"The…Chozo?" I whispered. Then, gathering my wits, I drew myself up to my full height. The power suit took care of the fact that I was shorter than the man was. "You must be lying."

"What? Of course I'm not lying!" The look on Kerlan's face was startled, as though it was outrageous that I had accused him of lying. I blinked. Something told me that he was telling the truth, but, as a bounty huntress, I had learned long ago to be mistrusting. I eyed him up and down.

"Will you talk with me, Samus Aran? Allow me to explain myself?" Upon his face was a perfectly sweet, innocent look. I found myself, against my will, thinking that it wouldn't be that bad to talk with him. My mind felt groggy, and I started to nod. Then, I realized what has happening, and his mind-affecting power ceased to work on me.

"You worm!" I hissed, readying myself to shoot the idiot, "First, you spy on me, then you lie to me, and then you try to trick me into following you into a trap!"

"Huh…what?" Kerlan said. The man was a genius.

"I said-"

"I know what you SAID. The thing is, I don't know what you're talking about."

Once again, I felt he was telling the truth. But how was I to know? "You…you tried to poison my mind." I said, a little less convinced. The look on his face swayed my judgment, and I decided it wouldn't be morally correct to shoot him if my Chozo father had sent him to me.

"Poison your mind, huh?" The look on his face was thoughtful. I found myself wondering what he was thinking. He glanced at me. "Will you allow me to prove myself? That I am working for the Chozo?" His eyes were pleading me to agree. I could not refuse. My curiosity was too great.

"Buy me a drink, and I'll think about it." I said, laughing. Kerlan nodded and walked back towards the bar. I followed.

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Sadly, this chapter didn't sound too much like Samus was talking. Oh, well. I still hope that people like it. And may I just say that reviews gladden my heart: Even – especially- constructive critique. Thanks so much for reading this! I'll give you a gold star if you review. Muahaha!