Note: This is my own idea of what happened, hope you feel the same way.

Chapter 3: It is Black; It is Burning

"What's in this?" asked Samus as she turned over the granola bar she was eating.

"Pardon me, what did you ask?" asked Creto in surprise.

"I said," replied Samus, 'what is this made of."

After being released from the recharge chamber Samus had felt the urge to eat something. She wasn't hungry, not by any means. The chamber had fully "recharged" her. She though, had felt the need to physically eat something. It was the first solid food she had eaten in weeks. The nutrition her suit provided her was, well, nutritious, but not filling. So there Samus was. The famous bounty hunter sat in her cockpit seat. She was still dressed in her suit, the light blue liquid dripping from her hair, eating a granola bar. Creto thought it was quite a comical sight.

"Maybe you should, uh, clean up," suggested the computer.

"Yeah in a sec," said Samus. She turned the bar over, no nutrition contents table. Oh well, she was just curious. Finishing the granola bar, she flattened the wrapper. Staring out the cockpit window at Tallon IV she absentmindedly played with it.

"I was really worried about you Samus," said Creto, breaking the silence. Yeah, I know, thought Samus. As she had exited the chamber she had been bombarded with questions and concerns from the computer. She had ignored them all as she hunted for the granola bar. I guess I better say thanks.

"Thanks Creto. I'm glad you were worried. It's thanks to you that I'm still alive," said Samus. In all truth she was thankful, but her mind was occupied at the moment.

"Creto?" she asked.

"Yes lady?'

"Did you say that I started fighting in my sleep?"

"Yes my lady. You were dreaming, at least your brain waves said you were. Then you just started firing. Your beam shots are very powerful. They would have broken the chamber. I was very, very worried at this point, so I administered the correct amount of tranquilizer to stabilize your mind. Your adrenaline returned to normal and so did your other functions. From then on I watched you around the clock, not that I wasn't already."

"After that I didn't move did I?" questioned Samus.

"From that point on you were quiet, slept like a baby if you pardon the phrase," replied Creto. "If you don't mind the intrusion my lady, what did you dream of?'

"I dreamt of many things Creto. Many things that I need to sort out before we move on," said the Hunter.

Creto sensed its mistress's pensive attitude and finished with, "well, if you wish I will leave you be. I'll be monitoring the sector we are in for any approaching vehicles, as well as everything I already do." Then the computer focused on its chosen task, leaving Samus alone.

Samus remained looking out the window. Tallon IV loomed in the foreground. It was a place of both beauty and death, both a home and alien place. Where do I begin? She thought.

The Hunter continued twirling the wrapper, playing her dream over in her head. Every part of it was confusing, but none more then her questioning younger self and Chozo mother. Ah, Chonena. How I miss you. I miss all of you. Chonena had been her adopted mother, but had been more real then any mother could be. Samus could remember very little about her past, no matter how hard she tried. Funny how I can blow up planets but not remember my childhood. Ha, she thought. Samus furrowed her brow and focused hard. Her hands clenched, the wrapper was completely forgotten. Samus tried to recall, everything she could, anything she could.

It came back slowly. She could vaguely hear her real parents voices. They were talking to her, about what she couldn't discern. Next she heard noise. Her mind reentered a place much like her dream, K-2L.

My parents tell me to hide. Mom hides in a storage container for research equipment, located outside the main building. It's the only place they haven't been yet. It is small and crammed inside. They leave. I think they are leaving me forever. I hear beam shots; my parents are screaming… I start to cry. I can hear the buildings being destroyed. I know the space pirates are here. They will kill everything. Dad told me about them. They are evil, they destroy without reason he told me. If I am to see one, Dad said I must fight because there is no way to escape them. I must show no mercy because I won't receive any.

The noise directly outside has stopped. I try to get out. It's locked. Why would Mom lock me in here? Help me! I'm slamming on the door. I'm screaming as loud as I can. My 5 year old mind is trying to comprehend what is happening. I hear footsteps outside, and I shout "I'm in here!" I don't think whether it is a friend or a foe. I just want out.

I hear a strange language, and I don't understand it. Then I hear snarls and laughter. I understand now. It is a space pirate. The door is being opened, and I ready myself. My fists are clenched, and my breathing is heavy. The door opens and I jump on the pirate. I show it no mercy, just like my Dad said.

I hit its face and eyes. I try to strangle it but it hits me. The pirate is screaming, I'm afraid others will come. The pirate throws me to the ground, hard. I fall on the broken rocks and bodies. I can hear the pirate--he is charging his beam weapon. Looking on the ground I see a familiar object. It is my father's prize weapon, his wave beam gun. Without thinking, only reacting, I reach for it. Grabbing it, I turn and fire. The space pirate lets loose his charge, but he misses because I hit him in the face. I stand up and fire over and over again. I hit the space pirate, and he shakes, like he is being shocked. He falls, and I know he is dead, but I keep firing. I'm scared and unsure of what to do. When I do stop I am crying, I can't control the tears.

I drop my Dad's gun and look around. The sky is black, and everything is burning. The only sound is that of the flames and my crying. I can see bodies of people I knew and people I have never met. I see all this but I can't see my parents. I know they are dead, how could they not be? If I could have seen them at least I would have been able to say goodbye.

I fall to the ground, and I am still crying. All around is black, and it consumes me

Samus opened her eyes, tears gently rolling down her cheek. Unclenching her fists she released a deep breath. Maybe it is better for me to forget such things, she thought. Taking in another deep breath, she wiped her eyes. There must be happy moments in my life. There must be. There may have been, but for Samus right now there were only tears.

The bounty hunter stood and walked to the back of the ship; it was time to clean up. As she did Creto watched. It was again perplexed at this human nature. What could cause such sorrow?especially in a person like Samus Aran? Creto was about to wonder on this, but decided against it. Some things just aren't meant to be understood. With that Creto went back to monitoring the sector around the ship, as they orbited Tallon IV.