This is an interesting chapter I think. So here you are.
Chapter 9: Reasons
5:06 p.m. was shown on the clock in digital red numbers. Awaking from her sleep, Samus momentarily forgot where she was, the smell of Juopaberry reminding her.
"Ahh," she sighed as she stretched her back and legs. What a nap, she thought and reached for the ceiling with her toned arms. The blood came rushing back to her limbs and a tingling feeling coursed through her body. Samus finished stretching and looked around her. Her room was one of the most expensive suites in the whole hotel and it showed. The floors were of marble and the wood workings of precious Orcois wood, and both gleamed in the sunlight from her window. She liked this room very much.
A sea gull called from outside, its cry was harsh and unexpected. Samus turned her head to the window, instantly defensive and alert. Dumb bird.
Relaxing a little, Samus thought about later tonight. Those missiles should be delivered, and I told Maelos so he will be ready. I should visit the ship tomorrow, Creto's probably driving them insane. Oh Creto, it seems like you were my only friend for so long, but now I know Maelos. And how strange it is, that I am already so open with him.
Sitting on her bed Samus once again heard the gull cry. There was no answer. It seemed that this bird was all alone. Once again I am alone too, agreed Samus.
After a minute or two of wondering what to do Samus decided to go outside to the pavilion. On her way out she grabbed a random magazine from the lobby. She quickly walked past the people already sitting out there, and sat at the same place where she had ate breakfast. The lone gull was there, perched on the cliffside as the low fence separated them. The gull peered at her with its sideways glance, cried again and then fell silent.
Samus turned her attention to the magazine she had grabbed, and then shook her head in disbelief at one of the cover stories.
"The True Story of Samus Aran: Part I""What in the galaxy…" she muttered to herself. Then, when you're like me, people hound you… echoed in her mind. She quickly flipped to page 91 and was greeted by a large, crystal clear shot of herself in the Chozo bio-suit. Ah, the wonders of technology, that they can catch me on film.
Samus quickly read through the article and was thoroughly disgusted when she finished it. They knew so little of her and wrote up fiction to paint a clearer idea, unfortunately they were mostly wrong in their assumptions.
"What a waste of my time," she commented. The gull stirred and admitted a brief squeak of agreement.
There had been one interesting thing in that article, "Aran, despite being a woman, is one the foremost bounty hunters in the galaxy, and one must wonder where she received her training…". The author had continued on with some idiotic explanation and Samus had fumed at the sexism, but the question remained. Wherewas I trained?
The answer came flooding into her head, the Chozo.
I am panting, so exhausted, my head is swimming while I try to rise. Jutaca is standing over me, his Orcois staff is poised to strike me. I am defeated but I refused to give in. I will never surrender, never submit.
It's so hard to stand up but I finally do. This sensation of exhaustion is all too familiar to me. This week has been incredibly difficult. Grand Warrior Hearuw, is driving us hard in preparation for the upcoming Test of Becoming. He runs us through drills all day and, we get no rest. Sometimes I am so tired that only the thought of my parents and failing them keeps me going, but no matter how tired I am I will not admit defeat.
It is hard being a human amongst these Chozo. They are stronger then me, and there is nothing that can change that. The other Neophyte, Warriors-in-training, are never as tired as I am. Sometimes I wish that I was born a Chozo, having all their blood in my veins instead of only a little of it. Then I think of my biologic parents and the thought leaves my mind.
I look at Jutaca and brace myself for the blow I know is coming. He draws his wooden rod back and I keep my face as still as possible. When he strikes I don't blink. I keep my face still when he stops his staff before my throat. He holds it there and I wait for Hearuw to end this.
"Stop!" shouts Hearuw.
Jutaca removes his staff and in a quick flourish he tucks it under his arm. I would do the same but I can't, it is all I can do just to remain standing. At this moment in time I envy Jutaca.
Hearuw looks at me and I know that look. It is a look of hidden disappointment, and I feel ashamed to be the recipient of it.
"Sit down Samus," he says. He says it calmly but I know better then to believe his tone. Regardless, I sit down, and I know he will ask me to stay after.
When the day of training is over and the sun is between its climax and setting, I am standing alone before Hearuw.
How I wish Gorbeta had never said such things about me! After I announced the Path I had chosen to the community, like everyone else did on the Feast of Planting, she said that I would be one of the greatest Chozo Warriors ever. She said it in front of everyone! I was so embarrassed, but even more unbelieving. How could I fulfill that statement when I wasn't even a full-blooded Chozo? And now here I was, 18 years of age, nearing the Feast of Becoming, and I can't even finish a simple sparing drill. Why couldn't Gorbeta just be quiet?
"Do you know why I asked you to stay after Samus?" asks Hearuw.
"Yes," I reply.
"Why are you here?"
"I am here because for the third time this week I could not complete the sparing drill," I answer. I wish that I could disappear, so deep is my grief. Maybe run to my hiding spot, the one only my friends and I know about. I could sit there and cry, wait for Benach to find me. Benach isn't here though, she's at the Peak, and I won't run away.
"You are right Samus," says Hearuw. "I treat you no differently then my other students, but still, you must realize the expectations on your shoulders. You will have to improve if you wish to even come close to what they expect of you."
His final words are cold, as are his eyes. I know he is right, but I don't know how to be any better.
"Talk to your father Samus. Kerune can help you," Hearuw said and that was it.
I walked home, pondering the words of my teacher. Yes, Kerune could help me, both he and Chonena have helped me so much already. They took me in and raised me as their own. They supported me withall the love and care in the galaxy, and I love them very much for it.
When I reach my home that overlooks the Qulox Mountains, I can hear singing. As I come closer I see Chonena and Kerune sitting under the tree. Chonena is singing a Chozo song and Kerune is following along. Oh my mother! Her voice is like the stars in the sky some say, bright and powerful, so mysterious and beautiful. My mother is the Grand Musician, the leader of all of Creto's music. I stand in awe, my mind in a bliss of sound.
When they stop I wish for more, that music could have kept me there for cycles, but instead I went to them.
"Hello Samus dear," says Chonena. She turns and then continues, "I will leave you two alone, there is much you need to talk about." She left us, myself and my father, beneath the tree.
"Come sit with me daughter," says Kerune, his gentle eyes calming my nerves. "You are troubled, so speak to me."
I sat next to him and say, "why am I so far behind father. I try my best but still I cannot please Grand Warrior Hearuw."
"Oh Samus, I see you when you train. You hold back, you are so much stronger then you think." He says.
"I am?" I question. This was not the response I expected, but then again I didn't know what to expect.
"Yes you are, but first you must remember why you want to become a Warrior."
"That's easy, I want to. And I want to because…" I trial off as I realize that I don't really have a reason other then that I want to.
"Think dearheart think," implores my father. So I think. Is it because I want to arm myself? I want to be able to protect myself, what happened on K-2L changed everything. Even as I think that though, I realize how little of it I know. Already in 13 years that memory has faded, I can remember only rage and death. No! I do not want revenge, do I?
"Samus," asks Kerune. "Are you alright?" I come back to find that I have grasped his hand and am squeezing it with all my might.
"Yes I… I don't know why," I say.
Kerune looks at me with understanding and says, "no, revenge is not why you seek to be a Warrior."
"But how-"
"Don't think about that but listen to me," Kerune says strictly. "You will become a Warrior for your people, the human race. A Warrior protects not only the Chozo, but the whole galaxy, remember that. You must fight for justice and freedom and balance in this time when darkness threatens to overpower."
I sit in silence. What words, and from my own father they mean much more. What can I say?
"Say nothing but remember. Use this as your cause, your flame to earn the honor of becoming a Chozo Warrior," finishes my father.
With that we say no more but sit and listen to the song coming from inside the house.
"Aaaaaark!"
The sea gull's harsh cry contrasted sharply with the song now ringing in Samus's ears. One look from Samus caused the bird to fall quiet. Stupid bird, you're gone and ruined my memory! But she knew that it had been time to leave that memory, you can only linger for so long.
The gull turned to her, then turned and looked towards the open doorway that led to the lobby. Samus took the hint and looked, more listened actually. From the lobby came the rippling sound of a piano, something Samus had never heard but knew.
Taking her magazine Samus followed the music. She entered the lobby and saw to her left a black Grand piano. Quietly Samus walked up to it. The song ended as Samus reached the black keyboard.
Sitting on the bench was a young girl, maybe 9 years old, with raven black hair and green eyes. She saw Samus and looked up, a look of curiosity, no fear.
"Hi," the girl simply said. She tilted her head and waited for Samus to say something.
"That was really good," started Samus. "What was it?"
"Oh, something that just popped in my head. I make up things all the time. I've been playing since I was 4."
Wow, I've been fighting since I was 5.
"Could you play it again?" asked Samus.
"No," said the young girl. "Once is enough. What's that?" she pointed to the magazine.
"Nothing really, just trash," replied Samus.
"That!" exclaimed the girl. She was pointing to the article deemed "The True Story of Samus Aran: Part 1". No, child, no! cried Samus's mind.
"Samus Aran, isn't she the one who stopped the Pirates?" the girl asked innocently.
"Yes I think so," replied Samus while holding back her feelings of irony.
"I like her. I'm glad she stopped those bad pirates," said the pure child. "What about you, do you like her?"
Samus held back her disbelief and said, "ah, I'm undecided."
"You should give her a chance," the girl said as her green eyes glistened.
Without another word Samus headed back to her room, leaving the magazine on the piano. The girl with raven black hair was unaffected by Samus's rude exit and started playing the ivory keys. To Samus they sounded all too much like Chonena's song.