Chapter 5
Aetherian Nomenclature
"What was that, Adam?"
"I can't, Samus. I lack the capacity."
"What?"
"These tracer programs contain some of the most interesting and complex programming I've ever seen."
"And?"
"Samus, the security systems on this code were written by a genius. I can't even identify the location of the source, let alone actually break into the code."
"Dammit… We'll have to land somewhere and work it out… But where? Half the galaxy is trying to kill me."
"I can't think of anywhere… I mean, you've destroyed most of the planets you've come across… Wait."
"What?"
"We're relatively close to the Dasha system. We could land on Aether."
"Aether? … That works. Plot a course to Aether, Adam."
"Sure thing, Lady."
Forcystus, Sephiter, and Wraythe blankly stared out the forward viewport into the deep emptiness of D-Space. They'd be there for a very long time.
"Wraythe, Sephiter, I need you to assess the situation with the D-drive. Find out what's wrong with it, and fix the problem. We need to get back to Realspace."
"You're being awfully optimistic about this, General," Wraythe said, her voice carefully controlled. Forcystus could tell she was barely preventing the terror of her situation from filtering into her voice. "The statistics are drastically against us."
"And curling up and dying will do us no good," Forcystus replied, a hint of commanding force in his tone.
"That is true, General," Wraythe said, sounding somewhat chagrined. "This damage… it's going to involve external repairs. Someone will have to get in one of the vac suits and… go out into D-Space. I don't think that's been done before."
"I will do it."
Forcystus and Wraythe turned to Sephiter, surprised by his offer.
"General, if my piloting had been better, we wouldn't be here. Allow me to make up for my blunder. On top of that, I know the ship better then anyone, and we need Wraythe on the computer. We can't risk losing you in such a risky situation, sir."
The General sighed. "Very well, Sephiter. Good luck."
When the violet gunship phased back into existance above the planet of Aether, Samus didn't recognize the planet at first. Since her battle with the Ing, the Luminoth had made efforts to return the planet to the splendor of what it once was. It seemed their efforts had been successful.
The dark cloudy haze that once covered Aether was gone- the skies were clear, allowing Samus to see the beautiful planet below. The expanse that had once been the Agon Wastes was a vast, green plain. Emerald forests and shining teal oceans stretched across much of the planet. As the ship descended, Samus begun to make out the cluster of brilliant light that marked the Luminoth's major city, and at the center the luminescent and crystalline structure that was the Sanctuary Fortress, newly restored and refitted to serve the Luminoth once again.
It was here that Samus resolved to make her landing. Opening a comm channel, she spoke to the Luminoth space traffic controllers.
"This is Samus Aran, hailing the Luminoth. I am being followed, and I seek your shelter for a short time."
A Luminoth face appeared on the holoscreen. "Greetings, Honored A-ran." The Luminoth had called her that since shortly after she had restored their energy several years ago. She had never quite gotten used to it, but she accepted their hyphenated version of her name as the honoriffic that it was. They had, in a way, accepted her as part of their race. "I am Y-bre. You seek refuge? We welcome you to our fortress. Please make use of the landing platform to the rear of the fortress on the 15th level. We are transferring the entry instructions to your ship's computer now."
"Thanks for asking my permission. Jeez." Adam's voice was strangely gruff.
"Oh?" Y-bre seemed confused. "Your computer is… intelligent?"
Samus snorted. "No, not really.'"
"You're one to talk, birdbrain," Adam retorted, making an allusion to her Chozo blood.
Samus rolled her eyes. "This is my computer, Adam Malkovich. He's part of a new Federation program of uploading humans to computers, so yeah, he's sentient."
"Malkovich?" Y-bre smiled. "Any friend of A-ran deserves an honoriffic as well. How shall we hyphenate your name? M-vch?"
Adam seemed vexed for some reason. "Call me what you please. Quite frankly, I don't care a damn…"
"Ohh, you wish for us to hyphenate your first name. All right, A-Dam."
Samus broke out into a fit of laughter at the way Y-bre chose to pronounce Adam's name (A-Damn) as Adam's monitor turned bright green to represent vexation. "That's fine, Y-bre. Just leave A-Dam's name the way it is," Samus said in between bouts of laughing. Apparently, Adam now had a curse word for a Luminoth name.
Y-bre was even more confused then before. "Alright… Please, begin your approach. May the Light of Aether guide your landing."
The Luminoth's face dissapeared from Samus's holoscreen as Adam took over pilotiing based on the charts he had been sent. He guided the ship toward a small point in the peak of the fortress, coming to a rest inside on a large, well-lit landing pad. As Samus stepped out of the ship followed by one of Adam's comm drones, a cadre of Luminoth warriors strode out to greet them. Dressed in ceremonial battle attire, the group looked very impressive.
"Greetings, Honored A-ran," intoned the foremost Luminoth. His manner of carrying himself and the tone of his voice led Samus to believe he was the group leader. "I am Guardian V-Syl, leader of Luminoth Cadre Ten. These are my brave warriors." V-Syl gestured to the group behind him. "This is N-Kul, my trusted assistant." The Luminoth on the far right nodded at Samus. He looked very young for a Luminoth; he was somewhat smaller in stature then the other warriors.
"N-Kul?" Samus was curious. "Relation of A-Kul?"
"Yes." N-Kul's tone was somewhat sad. Samus wondered why.
"These are R-Bel and Q-Cas, expert warriors, and M-Osk, my technician." The three Luminoth bowed respectfully.
"Honored to meet you, A-Ran," the one called Q-Cas said. "Who is your mechanized companion?" He gestured to Adam's drone.
"This," Samus said, biting back a laugh, "is A-Dam."
"Don't call me that!" Adam snapped as the Luminoth proceeded to greet him by his hyphenated name, unaware of its human phonetical meaning. They payed no attention to his outburst, and seemed rather happy he had been given a Luminoth name as well.
V-Syl cleared his throat, putting a stop to the clamor of his subordinants. "Anyhow, Honored A-Ran… Controller Y-Bre tells us you need our protection. Being followed, are you?"
"Yeah. The Space Pirates." Samus hesitated. "Although I get the feeling they aren't your average Space Pirate group. They could've killed me. Instead, they planted the ship with a tracer program."
"And your computer…" V-Syl glanced in the direction of Adam's drone. "He could not eliminate such a program?"
"No," Adam muttered, "I can't. Whoever wrote the program is too good. I can't seem to isolate the source."
"So this group of Pirates has followed you?" V-Syl nodded. "You may, of course, stay here under our protection until you have eluded them. If the entire Pirate fleet attacks, however, we will not be able to defeat them."
"Don't worry about that," Adam said. "There were no other Space Pirate escort ships or frigates in the area. On top of that, this ship was traveling using an independent D-space drive instead of being loaded aboard a larger ship. This indicates that this group is a small commando force, operating independently from any major Space Pirate operations. However, the Mateus-class interceptor is a fairly rare ship; it's only supplied to the most elite of the Pirates, so we know that whoever's tailing us is good at what they do." Adam frowned. "We may have reason to worry about this, but not about force. They may strike at any time. We must be prepared for a stealthy, sudden attack."
The Luminoth stared incredulously. Obviously, they've never seen a military genius before, Samus mused. Only Adam could come to so many conclusions so quickly.
"Y-yes, Honored A-Dam…" V-Syl replied shakily. He seemed a bit intimidated. "We will station our best special operations forces in this area tonight. We will be prepared for the Pirate attack."
"Thank you, Guardian." Samus smiled.
"It is small compensation for your actions, A-Ran. I will show you to your room."