I'm a little frustrated. As of 5-12-05 I haven't recieved any new reviews, please let me know how my writing is!

Other then that, read on...

Chapter 8: Warmth

Maelos sat in his hovercraft waiting for Samus outside of Eros's Ocean Resort. His heart was beating rapidly but honestly, he didn't feel very nervous. He had been looking forward to seeing Samus again, and now he was.

He woke up early every morning to file bills and files. This morning he had been in the station's main office when Samus's face lit up the wall-sized screen. She asked him to come and pick her up because she had to go get some things in Nebulon. When she had called her behavior was once again intimidating. Something about that beautiful face and voice was cold and businesslike. None-the-less he wanted to be out of the shop, away from Geros, and with her if possible.

Here she comes, he thought. Emerging from the great glass doors was Samus. She wore faded jeans over her black body suit, the suit acting as her shirt. Over this she had ademin jacket, faded like her jeans, that reached just below her waist. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail that revealed commanding eyes. Samus Aran was not a woman to mess with.

She walked briskly up to the craft, not bothering with the door she lifted herself over and into the seat with a single motion. Oh dear, thought Maelos.

"Let's go," she said with a small smile to lighten his frightened state of mind. Yes ma'am, he said mentally as he drove down the hill.

It was about 5 minutes later, when they were nearing Nebulon's downtown that Maelos asked where she wanted to go. Samus looked around at the current stores on each side. On her left she spied a café, it was small and looked decent, she hadn't had a good cappuccino in forever.

"That café on the left," she pointed, "I'll meet you there in 3 hours. After you drop me off at that traffic light." She gestured to the red light they were fast approaching.

"That one?" repeated Maelos as he looked at the cafe.

"Yes," said Samus as she got out. Before Maelos could look back at her she was just another figure in the city's busy streets.

As Samus walked down this busy street she was getting strange looks. Attracted stares from men and jealous ones from women, but they all were tinged with fear. Hey, I like my look. Just be thankful I don't have my bio-suit, then you would really be frightened. She allowed herself a miniscule smile.

There were shops for food, personal needs, books, the latest hi-tech toys, the street ran forever. But nowhere to buy bio-suit missiles or hack into a government database. Oh jeeze, just my luck! She thought.

Samus had been walking at a quick pace for a good 20 minutes. She was nearing the end of this street, Halimot Avenue, and getting closer to where she needed to be. The crowd was thinning, the stores were fewer and less in luster. She could see the edge of this business center, the land broke out into rundown buildings and the ocean could be heard.

She had never been to Nebulon, but she guessed it was just like most other major cities. There was your upscale neighborhood, then the ghetto, for lack of a better word. Supposedly all the people worth meeting were in the center, but Samus knew better. Her bounties had dragged her across the galaxy, and the black market was everywhere.

Oh, of course she could go to the Federation with her weaponry needs, they would be all too willing because of what she had done for them. Today though, they may be suspicious of her because her time on Tallon IV was not contracted. Plus at their speed she'd be there for cycles. She laughed at the image of her waiting in a line for some clerk to tell her she had to go to line 23 not line 12. Not happening.

Standing at the corner of Halimot and Remter she saw just the place she was looking for. Across the intersection and to her right was a small shady looking building, black and partially boarded up. Years of experience let Samus pick out 2 security cameras hidden above the doorway. Creepy looking and guarded, it's perfect.

Pulling her jacket tighter around herself she could feel the small-caliber beam gun pressing into her side. It was reassuring to have a weapon, this one so powerful, in both charge and memory. Checking for nonexistent traffic she strolled across the street.

Tymer Noir was used to dealing with unique individuals. Nebulon being the planet and city that it was, he got a lot of customers with many different needs, so he was used to dealing with people. Trying to manipulate the strong ones and taking out-right advantage of the weak. So when the beautiful blonde walked in, he thought this is my lucky day.

The inside of the narrow building was crowded on each side with gadgets and computers that streamed in varying information. At the very back of this mess was Tymer's glass counter. There were numerous objects inside it on display. A digital display module on top of it too, as well as a cash register.

"Hello miss," he called to her. "Take a look around and find what you need."

The beautiful blonde acknowledged him with a single glance and then continued looking for what she needed. She didn't look too serious, but Tymer could tell she was packing come sort of weapon. Maybe she is more dangerous then I thought. Tymer thought, his egotist nature though, was telling him otherwise. She's just a woman, probably doesn't know what she's doing. Maybe her man sent her here cause he's too lazy to go himself. This wouldn't have surprised Tymer, it had happened before. So Tymer let his ego take over from there. Bad idea.

"Take a look at this missy," he said as he walked around the counter to her. He was going to show her something but Samus stood in the isle, staring at him coldly. Missy? She thought, stupid man.

"No thank you," she said just as coldly, "I know what I want."

"You sure, I really think you'd like this…" Tymer trailed off under the glare. "Okay, what do you need?" taking a more businesslike air.

"I need 4 loads of type Y78 bio-suit missiles, delivered to this address," she handed him a piece of paper with Geros's station address on it. Tymer took it with a curious look and raised eyebrow.

"Type Y78? Those are some strong shots, standard type for bounty hunters, and you want over a thousand of them?" He said.

"Yes." Samus replied, "I also need access to the Federation's government database."

"Oh my dear, that one will cost you a pretty penny," Tymer said with excited eyes. Does the greed ever stop?

"I don't care how much, I can pay." Samus said with indifference.

"All right let's get started," Tymer said as he walked her over to the counter. He turned the digital screen around so it faced Samus who took out her card. She swiped it, entered her password and let Tymer charge the credits form her account. The price, 3,000 credits, was a little pricey but acceptable. Tymer flipped the screen back to him and sent in the order for her missiles.

"The station owner will be waiting for the load I expect?" asked Tymer and Samus nodded. "The missiles should be there at 11:30 pm. I'll have my best guy take it over, for you miss." He gave her a look that Samus found disgusting. I'd rather shot myself then have anything to do with you.

Tymer instructed her to go to screen 2 and there she could look up her info. Going to the mentioned screen Samus found Tymer had opened up the Galactic Federation's database for her.

Tallon IV, what had they found so far? Searching all relevant documents Samus concluded not much, good. They knew there had been pirate activity, a plan to exploit some substance on Tallon IV. Crap, Phazon. What if they find it? Reading further Samus's fears were relieved. The documents read- massive explosion at the planet's core collapsed most of the planet and no such substance was found. Good. Anything on me? Nop, nothing on Samus Aran anywhere in the report. What about the Metroids? No, thank goodness she'd destroyed the elevators to Phendrana's Drifts.

She found some other irrelevant but interesting details. Evidently they reached had entered Magmoor Caverns with their "heat suits". Those suits didn't work so well against Magmoors. Also they found and were translating the Space Pirate logs. Good luck.

Deciding she would have to worry about this later, she told Tymer she was done and started to leave.

Tymer called to her, "Hey missy where are you going? You still have to pay for using my computer!"

"What? I already paid you." Samus replied while she turned around.

"You paid me 3,000 credits for your missiles, but nothing for my data services." Tymer said.

"3,000 credits covers both, and you know that. I'm not paying you anything more. Plus I didn't find what I wanted anyway." Samus said. She had thought she would leave feeling alright, but now it looked like she'd be leaving quite ticked off. She rolled her eyes at Tymer and started out again. A gentle but familiar humming noise stopped her. Stupid man.

Tymer stood behind his counter, a beam-gun in his left hand, "I want my money."

Slowly Samus walked through the shop towards him, her heart beating steadily.Her commanding eyes werenarrowed,making her look ever so dangerous. She walked right up to him, until the gun touched her forehead.

"Are you going to shot me?" she calmly asked. Tymer felt a shiver down his spine. How could this woman have such ice water in her veins? He now longer liked his position, but again his ego was telling him that she was just a crazy blonde, nothing he couldn't handle. We'll see how long you can play me. I really won't mind killing you.

"I will if you don't pay me," he said just as calmly though his heart was racing.

"You know greed is a terrible thing," Samus told him.

"Yeah whatever. It suits me just fine," Tymer said smugly. He flexed his trigger finger, and said, "you have till the count of 3 to pay me or else I kill will you."

Tymer took a breath and started counting, "1….2….3,"

Before he had even finished the 3 count Samus sprung. With incredible speed she reached over the counter and stuck his arm. She knocked the gun away and behind the counter, then twisted his arm back until he screamed in pain. Letting go of his arm with practiced ease she landed a full powered kickto his chest that sent him flying into the wall. She quickly stepped up onto the glass counter to get a better view of his bruised body, sprawled on the ground.

Laying on the ground, his mind a blur with pain, Tymer saw his weapon. He reached out for it but stopped when a wave beam shot nearly hit his hand. Feeling Samus's heated glare he slowly lifted his head to look into Samus's fierce eyes.

"You didn't bother to check who just paid you more money you deserve did you? She angrily shouted at him, "well check the screen Tymer!"

Tymer, who had been too busy watching her to check, arched his neck painfully to see the screen. There at the bottom he read, "transfer complete from account 57391-Samus Aran." Oh dear gods save me! He thought.

"Turns out 'missy' isn't so blonde now is she," Samus said with harsh disdain.

"I had no idea-" he was cut short as Samus aimed at his gun laying on the floor. One shot and it exploded, shooting shards of metal and energy into Tymer's face.

"I'm not paying you anymore, and those missiles had better be there at 11:30 or I'll find you," she said threateningly.

Without another word she was gone.

The remainder of Samus's three hours was spent gathering the rest of her needs. She bought food (no granola bars), shampoo and conditioner that smelled like some strange "Juopaberry", soap, and anything else she found to her liking. Shopping on close quarters was strange to Samus. So used to isolation, she actually stopped and stared at all the people around her when she first entered this store. At the cashier's a young man checked her items. He risked glances at Samus, which she ignored. When she gave him her card to pay he had just stared at her. Unlike Tymer this boy checked to see who paid him. Samus took her bags and her card back, then walked away, leaving the boy who was stone-still, struggling to say her name.

She was in quite a good mood as she rounded the corner to the café. With her many shopping bags she stepped into the café with 3 minutes to spare.

Samus chose a small, two seat table in the back corner. Despite it being in the back it was still well lit, the light making her stand out. A waitress came to her, somewhat hesitantly, and asked her what she wanted. Samus told her she was waiting for someone, and the waitress nodded knowingly.

As the waitress left Samus pondered on her day. She rarely had human contact, being a bounty hunter was lonely, and today was an all-time record. Not only had she met scum like Tymer, she had shopped besides other humans, and was now waiting for a person, a man, to meet her in a café. What is happening to me? She thought.

It wasn't necessarily human contact that amazed her, she realized, it was more of an anything contact. Anything that was alive and away from hunting bounties. To be out of her beloved suit, and outside her ship, on a planet with more life then pirates or hungry aliens; that was something Samus realized she wasbeginning to like, and probably needed. Her life had been so busy that this need had never surfaced, but now, with this spare week, it had come bursting to the top.

While Samus was pondering Maelos came in. He looked around and saw her in the back, a pensive look on her face. He casually made his way to her and sat down, she facing the front of the shop and him the back. When he sat down Samus looked at him and smiled. I love her smile, but there's something about it…thought Maelos.

"How was it?" he asked.

"Oh, not too bad I guess. Shopping was never my thing," replied Samus. "But I could get used to it."

"Bounty hunter gone compulsive shopper aye?" commented Maelos with a chuckle.

"No not me," said Samus with amusement.

It was amazing the way they acted, for both were so comfortable with each other. Samus, who was used to the suit and tie routine, found Maelos an escape into a real human heart. On the other hand, Maelos thought of Samus as onlyhuman isolated enough to understand him. One looking into human nature while the other was trying to escape it.

The waitress came back to find Samus's friend was there. Good catch, she commmented mentally about the man with dark eyes. A handsome couple they make, she thought as she took their orders. Indeed they did look good together, like the best of friends, or fondest of lovers.

Maelos ordered the lunch special with acoffee. Samus peered at the menu, then ordered the same but with a cappuccino. Then with the waitress gone they once again started talking.

"So how is my ship?" asked Samus.

"Oh it's coming along just fine. We rewired the scanner's wiring, and just started on the ventilation."

"Do you think it's really going to take a week?"

"Yeah, those parts from Aret will take forever to come in," Maelos replied. "Hey Samus? What attacked you anyway?" he asked with curiosity.

"Some creepy mutated parasites," Samus answered off-handily.

"Don't things like that scare you?" Maelos asked with genuine admiration.

"Maelos, I've seen so many things, things you couldn't even imagine. The big ones can still be frightening, but for the most part, no." Samus said honestly.

The waitress came back with their drinks, the caffeine smell overpowering. Both stopped talking and tended to their refreshments. Samus took her first sip, feeling the hot liquid slide down her throat. A warm tingling feeling followed, reminding her of past times. She felt so open with Maelos, a rarity with her. Already she could feel a friendship forming. Something I haven't had in a long time, she thought. She could remember though, when she had given her friendship before, it had beensomething she would have died for.

Staring into her cappuccino, she remembered her friends so well.

Uirlow,had been one of the best troublemakers, besides herself. He could smooth talk his way out of any punishment, even from Tubela herself. Benach, had been her closest Chozo friend. She was always there for Samus, no matter what. Finally Leniox, the quiet one of her close group, the always observant and thoughtful one. Samus remembered how he had become an Astronomer, that was the path he had chosen. Benach, one of the most beautiful Chozo, became a musician like their mothers Chonena and Fyre. Uirlow, she couldn't believe, had become a Chozo of Language, teaching the young ones. Oh her friends she most certainly would have done anything for them.

Samus looked up at Maelos and smiled, he noticed it and smiled back. Yes, Maelos could have her friendship, he already had it.

"Here you go," said the waitress as she brought them their meals. Being especially nice to Maelos, she asked them if later they might like desert, they had a great special for couples….

Maelos and Samus both looked at each other, the possibility out there. For a whole second they looked at one another, an understanding arising between them.

"No thank you, we're not a couple, just friends," said Maelos. Samus gave him a look of "thanks", and returned to her drink. Thank goodness he realizes we're just friends. Being friends with a human, what more a man, was something she would have to adjust to.

Breaking the silence left in the waitress's wake Maelos said, "hey I understand Samus. And all I want to be is friends too, that's more then enough." He started to unwrap the silverware, "even though I've never had a friend that was so beautiful."

Her fork half way to her mouth, Samus blushed and shook her head at the good humor. What a guy.

As they ate they talked about all the things old friends would talk about, except for them, this was the first time. They talked politics (which neither really liked), sports (which Samus didn't know very well), arts (which both liked), and then of their own lives up to this point.

"So you really were raised by the Chozo like the rumors say?" said Maelos.

"Yeah, I was," Samus said. She felt comfortable with Maelos but this was a subject that was foggy in her own mind. She couldn't remember hardly anything, except the memories that had come recently. Oh I hope there are more memories for me, some happy ones. Like it was on cue a memory came to her mind, like a warm cup of cappuccino down her throat.

She could see it in her mind, the home she had had with Chonena and Kerune. The beautiful Chozo structure, exotic stone withChozo script etched in every stone.She was warm and fuzzy inside, happy to the fingers wrapped around her warm drink. So happy…

The sun was setting and she and her parents were outside watching it. Underneath the gnarled tree that had stood for centuries, they sat next to one another, human between the Chozo.It was so tranquil, so silent. The silence itself, she remembered, was musical though. Like far off chimes, sounds of thegold and red huesthat arched over the sky. The whole thing was otherworldly, because back on Creto, everything was better, fuller in feeling and spirit. The beauty of this memory was nearly overwhelming, and Samus wished she could hold on to it longer, at least one more minute.

"Samus? Are you okay?' asked Maelos.

Samus came back to reality to find Maelos's caring face, "yeah I'm okay. Just zoned out for a minute I guess," Maelos shrugged and then kept eating.

When they were done they light-heartedly argued over who would pay, in the end they paid separately. Maelos though, was set on helpingSamus with her purchases, so she let him carry one of the two bags. When they were back on the busy streets of Nebulon Maelos led the way to his hovercraft, and soon they were headed back "home".

As Maelos drove, Samus looked around. She could see, giant buildings and so many people. Outside all this were mounds of sand and sand grass. Seaside trees and seagulls, swayed in the occasional breeze. All this was pretty, but could start to compare with her sunset memory.

It was 2:31p.m. when Samus was back in her room. Gently dropping her bags on the white marble floor she collapsed on her bed. The bed rebounded against her weight and then settled back with soft bounces. Samus could smell the fabric softener, it was like, well, Juopaberry. Samus breathed it in and exhaled with a sigh. Fully relaxed, suddenly feeling very sleepy, Samus closed her eyes.