Sorry, I have been away all week and thus have been unable to write this chapter until now.

We are nearing the end, I am both relieved and sad to say. I really like this chapter.

A note- I am not crazy about reviews, I enjoy them as much as the nextgirl, but the number of hits to this story far exceeds the number of reviews. Please, if you read this, take a minute and tell me what you think- did it suck, was it good...?

Anyway, prepare for the end of this story...

Chapter 15: Healing the Pain

The Hunter woke up. The cold ripped through her feeble layers, and the night's waters crashed violently. It was now many hours into the night and Samus could feel the darkness growing heavier. I should get back to the resort, she thought. Looking up at the cliff she saw only a black expanse.

Quickly she stood and embarked on her walk. On the way back she mulled over her memory, savoring it and pondering. Her mind was now recalling things she had let slip away, and she had now deemed it good to have them back. Why did I repress these things? She asked herself, but she already knew the answer: she had wanted to escape her own pain, the pain of the Chozo's love. Funny, I forgot that pain to bring on the pain of killing…

Finally she reached Eros's Ocean Resort and went to her room. The halls were silent, people at sleep with no pain like hers.

She didn't bother with the light, but stared at the digital clock as she undressed. 1:28 changed to 1:29 as she climbed in bed.

Samus fell asleep as her head hit the pillow, which had been expertly fluffed earlier. Her subconscious took over and carried her into her dreams. In tonight's dream she was back on Creto with Uirlow and Leniox listening to Benach prove herself. Her dream-self cried at its beauty and it felt good to cry.

It was exactly 7:00 am Polarian time when Samus's eyes opened. She felt refreshed and ready to leave Nebulon. After taking a shower she dressed in her body suit, jeans, and red shirt. As she packed her things she turned on the TV.

"…our report on the Triya attacks will continue in just a minute. Now we turn to Remin with intergalactic weather…"

Samus was trying to fit all her things into her single duffle bag and it wasn't working. She just didn't have room for all her purchases. She'd have to carry them in their bags. Oh well.

"…on Nebulon the weather looks bleak. Rain is expected around late noon and will continue until sunset…"

The forecast is right too, thought Samus. Looking out the window she could see the rain cloud gathering on the horizon. It was much like her first day here but not quite so misty.

At 7:53 she left her room and carried her luggage down the stairs. Down in the lobby she gave the clerk her key and was checked out. Looking through the glass doors she could see Maelos pull up.

She left the clerk with a 'thank you' and started out. A voice made her slow and turn. Raven black sparkled with green was walking down the marble staircase she had just stepped off. With her family, the girl went to check out. Samus froze as the girl gave her an innocent smile.

Before Samus could move the girl with raven hair was standing in front of her.

"You are leaving this morning too?" she asked.

"Yes I am," replied Samus.

"I hope you think about poor Samus," said the youth. "Maybe you can see her as a friend too."

"I am so sorry…" said the girl's mother who had come to her daughter's side. "She is too curious. She didn't bother you did she?"

"No, she's fine," Samus told her.

"Come Minavara, let's leave this lady alone," said the mother.

After they left, Samus went outside to Maelos.

"Good morning Samus," he said. Samus noticed he wasn't wearing his normal pair of mechanics clothes. Like Samus, Maelos rarely wore normal street clothes, but today he had.

"I was hoping," Maelos said as they left Eros's Ocean Resort for the last time, "that I could interest you in some breakfast before you left."

"Sure," said Samus.

Twenty minutes later they found themselves inside a place called Colbas, plates of hot food before them. Maelos dug into his omelet with a will, but Samus looked at her plate of pancakes hesitantly.

"What's wrong Samus?" he asked with food in his mouth. Samus was reminded strongly of Leniox.

"It's been so long since I've actually had breakfast, especially pancakes." Without another word she began drown her cakes in syrup and started to eat.

When they both were finished eating and the bill was being paid Maelos told Samus, "I talked to my father yesterday."

"Really?"

"Yes, I told him what I felt and how I was planning to leave. He didn't take it well," Maelos paused. "But I am already enrolled at Triya University, they sent me my schedule yesterday too."

Samus's eyes widened. She didn't know a lot about colleges and things like that, seeing as how I never went to one, but she recognized Triya University, It was one of the most prestigious schools in the galaxy.

"That's impressive," she said. Maelos shrugged as though it was nothing. "How did you get in?"

"I was first in my class when I graduated from Nebulon's school system. I could have gone anywhere. But that was when my mom died. We needed money and father made me work, so I lost my chance. Before you arrived though, I had started to reapply my earned credits, now they're worth everything they were 3 years ago. Triya was happy to accept me."

"Good," said Samus who then frowned. "Triya, I heard on the news--"

"It's okay, I watched it too. I'm not scared."

"Well that's good."

"Samus, there's something I haven't told you yet, and I feel I should," said Maelos, "you should know what happened to my mother."

Then he started.

"My mom was a teacher, here in Nebulon. I remember she used to make the best seafood tortellini. She made it because it was my favorite. We were happy back then. Then she started to get sick."

Oh Maelos, Samus could see where this was headed.

"She had somehow contracted Milatina, this rare disease that destroys your respiratory system. We spent all our money trying to treat her sickness, but we didn't have enough to get the best treatment. She died unable to breath." Here he paused. "You hear about it, other people dying a horrible death, and you think 'too bad'. It's not real until it happens to you."

"I am sorry Maelos," Samus said genuinely. "I know what its like to lose someone."

At this time the waiter came back with Maelos's card. He saw the pretty woman reach across the table to comfort the lucky man. He gently placed it on the table and left.

"Ever since, father has made me work, and he became greedy. He tries to make as much money as possible, even stealing it, because inside he feels that if we had had more, then mom would have lived."

Samus felt pity for her friend and a new understanding of Geros, corrupted by his wife's death. She didn't know what to say, so she was silent until Maelos motioned to leave.

Geros's Repair Station was just as messy as it had been the day Samus arrived, and, like that first day, she was the only customer.

Geros was waiting for them in front of her ship, stained with grease and with a scowl on his face as Samus entered.

"What took you so long Maelos?" he demanded. He gave Samus an angry look and then again looked to his son. He no longer liked either of them.

"I treated Samus to breakfast," Maelos told him.

Geros growled and said, "why?"

"I wanted to," Maelos said, now heated.

"Stop, there is no reason to be angry with Maelos, or myself," interrupted Samus. "Your son will be leaving soon, why not be nice?"

"You are the one who has taken him from me!" shouted Geros. A vein pulsed in his neck and his eyes turned savage.

"No, I am leaving to make a life for myself," Maelos said strongly. "A life you denied to me 3 years ago."

Geros stared at his son, I denied? He thought. He had never been talked back to and he didn't like it.

"You don't need more money, nor do you need me, and I won't stay!" Maelos told Geros as he walked up to his father. For a second Samus thought Geros would strike his son, but the fear proved false.

"You need to let her go, mom would have cried if she could see how we treat each other. And you have to let me go too," Maelos said. "I am a man, and now I have to make a life for myself."

He embraced his father who stood in shock.

"Let mom go, let me go," Maelos told him.

The mention of his wife, for he had stopped talking about her years ago, did something to Geros. His face softened a little, and he returned his son's embrace. Samus stood far from them, a smile on her face. They need to heal, like me.

Suddenly the tears came and the gruff mechanic let them flow. He cried his apologies, mourning his dead wife, his horrible attitude to his only child, and just letting all the things he had held inside for so long out. Samus was proud of Maelos, he had stood up to his father and now his father was seeing his errors.

For a minute they just stood there, Geros crying into his son's shoulder. Then Maelos led his father into the main office and set him in the chair. He came back with a small device, which Samus recognized. She took out her card, swiped it, and then transferred the credits to the station.

Maelos smiled at her and she could see there were tears in his eyes.

"Only the strong can cry with dignity," she said without realizing it. That was something Tubela had once said to her.

"Thanks," he replied. "Give me a minute and then I'll release the locks on your ship and open the dock."

Samus nodded. She went over to her bright orange ship and began to inspect it. After 3 full times around it she was sure everything looked okay. She took a breath and looked around. She hadn't anticipated that her final conversation with Geros would yield such results, but she was glad it had.

There was a harsh buzzing and the dock's entrance opened, revealing a stormy sky.The circular lock that held her ship rotated until the ship's front faced the open air. For a second more the grinding continued then it stopped.

Maelos appeared at Samus's side, he was calm and subtly sad.

"It's time for you to leave," he stated.

"Yes," she said. "How will you and Geros be?"

"He'll be fine, it will take some time for him to fully come to grips with himself, but we'll be okay."

There was a long silence, neither knowing what to do. They had become good friends over this week, but now they had to part. Both humans had bad memories of saying good-bye, so how to say it now was beyond them.

"I-I'll miss you," said Maelos who turned to Samus.

"We'll see each other, don't worry about that."

"I'll keep up with the news," said Maelos, "incase you do something important."

"Same here," Samus told him.

Not knowing what to do next, Maelos hesitantly put out his hand, waiting for a handshake. Samus looked at his hand, a handshake won't do. Not even thinking, she ignored his hand and gave Maelos a hug.

She hadn't given a hug for many years, and it surprised her how much the simple action affected her. She held on to Maelos, and suddenly wished to never leave her friend. Why do I always leave my friends?

Slowly, reluctantly, she let go and looked at him.

"Good-bye Maelos," she said quickly. Turning on her heel, she picked up her belongings and left without giving him a chance to call her back.

Once in her ship she took off, ignoring Creto's greeting.

The man with dark eyes watched the Hunter fly away, and he wondered if they would ever meet again.

"Did my visionary sensors deceive me or did I see Geros cry?" asked Creto after they had left Nebulon's atmosphere.

"They don't lie Creto," answered Samus. "Yes he cried." She continued to tell Creto the whole story, how Maelos's mother died, the effects, and their conversation that sparked his return.

Afterwards Creto was silent, no doubt deciding whether to still dislike Geros or not. Samus chose to think Creto came to the same understanding, that Geros had been wrong and would now try to repair his wrongs.

"Set a course for the Lithiun Sector please," she told Creto who willingly obeyed.

The black of space, freckled with stars, made Samus feel somewhat at home. She was always traveling, and so she enjoyed it, sometimes.

Samus took her bags to her sleeping quarters and set them on her bed. The simple room contrasted sharply with the room she had become accustomed to, there was no marble or gold here.

Sighing, she emptied the bags and began to put them in their proper places. Food to her "kitchen", soap ect. to the shower, and so forth. When she was done she found herself outside of her bio-suit's storage room. She opened it and looked in.

There was her Chozo suit, she had silently missed it this whole time.

Hearuw is showing me and all the others our suits. She remembered, In the Training Hall we find them. The Chozo ones are shaped like a Chozo, when I get to mine I stop. It is so beautiful! Crafted just for me, human in shape, gleaming orange and red; I just stare. Other Warriors come out to show us the mechanics.Kerunecomes to me and shows me how to open it. I get inside, and am nervous. There is such power in this machine. It is a machine that will grow and breath and move with me. I command it to close and pain floods into me. It lasts only a second and I am glad at the exchange, pain for this privilege.

She had spent months training and Staxit was right, she exceeded many of her peers. It was an exciting time but also challenging.

Samus rememberedthe first time she saw her bio-suit with a certain joy. This thing before her was a marvel of the Chozo.

It is also a killer, said a voice in her mind.

It is not! I am not a killer! She shouted at it.

Then what are you--? Samus shook her head and the voice stopped before it could demand an answer. She closed the compartment and headed for the cockpit.

Ended a little bluntly, but that's where I wanted this chapter to end.