A/N: OMG, I am SO sorry I've been neglecting you! Please forgive me, for I RETURNTH! 8D Yep, this is my next long chappie, with NO action and some emotion. Yay. 8D But hey, progress in a story is progress. Okay, in this chappie, there are some signs of Mario/Samus, as well as former Samus/Eliwood. Weird, I know, but bear with me. Here we go!

Three Renegades: Chapter 4: Deep Thoughts

Blue Heart Renegade Concealed Headquarters, Somewhere in the Midwest...

"...highly disappointed! I never believed you three to be so careless...!"

Within the confines of the briefing room, the three Renegades agents were currently being chastised by the Colonel herself. Colonel Aran was known as a very uptight leader, her uniform seemingly perfect with no creases and her sandy blonde hair pulled up in a tight bun. Her emerald eyes flashed with deep determination, and there was almost always a weapon on her belt. Today's weapon of choice was an antique military shotgun from the early 2000's, fully loaded and operational. She was in a foul mood today.

The three agents stood in front of her, stiff and unresponsive to her ranting. Roy sulked, hands in pockets, his brother Marth standing firm and taking the scolding while every so often glancing at Roy irratibly. Link, as usual, stood there without any apparent emotion.

Colonel Aran paused once she knew her usual methods of downsizing wouldn't work on these particular agents, glancing at Marth. "...I hope you have a viable explanation for blowing up an entire base and possibly alerting other Gulan operatives."

"Hey, they had a Death Bomb for...!"

"I was asking your brother," she snapped at Roy, who flinched and instantly halted his protests.

Marth sighed, the answered firmly, "The Gulan commanding officer of the base, Captain Falcon, had held the First Lieutenant at gunpoint. Given the circumstances, my brother had no choice but to terminate him. None of us had known he was the host of a Death Bomb until it was set off."

Mario sat apart from this, behind the long table where officials usually sat, decked in full uniform. He sighed to himself as he knew that Marth was only trying to help his brother get out of trouble, even if Roy deserved a little discipline now and then. Though Mario seemed calm, he sat and thought tensely, Come on, Roy, don't blow it...

"Yeah, and besides, none of them survived anyway, so what's the big deal?"

Aw... The Lieutenant Colonel held his forehead in dismay.

"The 'big deal' is that you always act on impulse!" she exclaimed, turning her fury fully on the redhead. "A Renegade doesn't come up with excuses for his screw-ups, but if you were half the agent your father was, you wouldn't need excuses in the first place!"

This hit a chord dead on, and the agitated look on Roy's face melted, and one could almost hear his heart plummet. Colonel Aran had broken through his demeanor once again.

Marth winced, her words stabbing at him as well as seeing Roy sink low. Normally Link would not respond to this, but even he cast his glance downwards so he couldn't look at Roy.

Mario cleared his throat quite loudly, gaining the attention of Colonel Aran. He gave her a disapproving look, then she rolled her eyes and sighed. "...But, then again... we were planning a full-fledged assault on that base in a few weeks' time... So I guess you saved us the trouble..." She restrained herself from adding in an exception, and finished off with, "You're dismissed."

The three silently exchanged glances, then turned around and hastily left the briefing room for their dorms. The Colonel rubbed her temple gingerly as Mario stood up, eyeing her patiently.

"You did it again, Samus."

If anyone else beside Mario had stated her first name, Colonel Aran would've "gone ballistic," as veteran agents would put it. Mario was a special person. "Yeah... so?"

"You can't do that to them, Samus. The other agents tell them that enough."

The Colonel found a sudden interest in organizing the scattered papers on the table. "Yeah, well, they need to learn how to suck it up and stop acting childish."

"It's not about sucking it up or being childish. You can't expect them to live up to Eliwood's standards right now. It's most likely they may even surpass him someday, but they're only children. You need to give them time."

"We don't have that time, Mario!" she snapped just for the sake of snapping. "You can't keep protecting them anymore! Hover over their shoulders anymore and they'll go soft!"

Mario only stood there, and his silence got her to pause briefly. "You don't even know what you're saying anymore."

Samus cringed and went back to her paper-shuffling.

Mario ignored this. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should let up. But you know what they've been through. You know it'll take them more time. And let me ask you this- what don't we have time for?"

Samus' hands moved about feverishly until Mario's hand firmly pressed down on her wrist and did not let go when she struggled. Surprised, she glanced up into his stern eyes of blue.

"Listen to me, Samus. The Blue Heart Renegade was just as strong before Eliwood's recruitment, and it still is now, even after his death. We don't need another stellar agent in order to stay strong. The way you badger Marth and Roy leads me to believe you're that insecure."

"Don't be stupid!" Samus forcefully drew her hand out from underneath his, turning away and massaging her sore wrist bitterly. "I... I just..."

She didn't have to say it. Mario already knew. He knew she was never this angry at the world before Eliwood's murder, and he knew why. He remembered the two to be quite the couple when not involved with Renegade business, and how drastically different Samus had been during that time. She was devastated by the news of his death, and Mario was there to comfort her, and they've had close relations ever since. But without the young, charismatic agent to brighten her usually stressful days, Samus would never be the same woman again.

Mario sighed, moving from behind the table and making his way towards the exit. He halted briefly beside her, but she made no movement herself. "His own children have learned to move on. You should take after them."

Of course, Samus did not answer that suggestion. Mario resumed his walk and left her alone in the briefing room. She slowly slipped off her glove and rolled up her sleeve to expose her metal Prosthetic arm, staring at it thoughtfully. She had nearly given in to despair when she had lost her real arm in one of her early missions, but Eliwood wouldn't let her. He had even paid for the surgery himself as he strived to comfort her at the same time.

"Samus, you must remain strong. I know it's difficult, I know the pain, but you cannot give in to it. You need to pick yourself up, leave your regrets behind, and keep walking. You need to keep going, for the Renegade... for me."

She clenched her fingers, setting together in a fist with a clank. These words, spoken so passionately, echoed in her head relentlessly, an effect the departed agent always seemed to have on her. If he knew how she was dealing with the pain after these years, he would've been highly disappointed.

Keep walking... That's what you would want me to do, right, Eliwood...? Maybe... Maybe it's time to move on...

----------

Link withdrew the damp, bloody cloth away from his face, examining his wound in the mirror. It was cleaner now, but the cut was long and deep. Normally, it would take a long time for an engraving like this to heal, and then it would leave a nice battle scar, but since one of Link's multiple injections targeted his body's healing process, this wound would probably heal in two days tops.

"Hey, Link." The blonde jumped and turned towards the doorway to see Marth enter. Link silently cursed himself for being caught off-guard so easily and being so jumpy.

"Mmm," he responded, turning back sharply to the mirror. He watched Marth approach on the clear surface, his blue eyes studying his friend's reflection.

"That's a pretty deep wound you've got there..."

"It's fine," Link cut him off, stuffed the cloth away, and left the mirror's side.

Marth blinked. "So, what, you're just gonna leave it like that?"

"Yeah, what's the problem?" The elfish being looked at his partner crossly.

"It'll heal twice as fast if you cover it. And you wouldn't want it to get infected."

"It won't get infected."

"Yes. It will," Marth stressed, beginning to lose his temper.

Link gave him in irritated glare, his voiced laced with impatience. "Marth, you know I've had worse than this. I'll be fine."

"Just, please, do something about it."

"Why does it matter?" Link's voice rose in anger. "Why do you care all of the sudden?"

"Because you're my friend!" Marth's voice was set at the same volume.

"Friend? Friend?" Link bellowed as if it was an insult. "I don't remember you! I'm not the normal boy you used to know! So why should you care?"

Marth gripped his shoulders tightly, his stern look and imposing form getting Link to stop short. "Because... Deep down, I know my friend is still in there underneath all the enhancers and memory loss, and... I can't miss the chances of him coming back."

At this, a dark scowl engulfed Link's features, his face unusually raw with emotion. "So what am I, then? An obstacle? Your friend's prison?"

"Link..."

"...Get out."

"Come on, you know I don't..."

"Get out!"

It didn't seem like Link had the desire to reason at the moment, so Marth sighed, released him, and quietly left the room, almost looking hurt. Link glared at the door, then yanked open a drawer and pulled out a bandage disdainfully. And he proceeded to cover up his wound, complex thoughts streaming through his enhanced mind.

----------

Roy himself was in deep thought, sitting upon his bed as he oiled the joints in his legs silently with little concentration. It was easy, really; squirt some on the knees, a little on each toe... not much concentration was needed. All the task did beside tune up his hardware was keep his hands busy while he was in deep thought over what the Colonel had said.

It really shouldn't have bothered him that much. She tells him that nearly every day, not to mention all the pressure from the other agents. Besides, his dad was the greatest, and he was his own blood, for Christ's sake! They had every reason to downsize him...

But still... every single time, it hurt. It really did. Roy hated all the pressure, hated the high expectations he had been given. It was in no means fair to the red-headed youth, and Marth wasn't nearly as chastised for some reason. His companions told him to just suck it up, but it just wasn't that easy...

And that's when self-doubt began to creep into his mind. They were right. He needed to grow up, take action, be more like his father. Why couldn't he do such a simple thing? Why was he so incapable...?

Roy grimaced as a spot of black oil slipped and landed on the sheets, staining the white clothes through the three layers. Roy bit his lip in annoyance, hardly noticing the door opening.

"Hey, you. Getting a little clumsy, huh?"

The boy glanced up at the door to meet at least one friendly face. Major Luigi Mario was the Technical Consultant to the Blue Heart Renegade, not to mention one of the best mechanics around on the rebels' side. However, the superiors were skeptical of his professionalism, for he was quite young for his status and had less-than-sufficient respect for authority. But there was nothing anyone could do; after all, he was the Lieutenant Colonel's brother. So it didn't matter if his sepia locks were shaggy and untamed, only held back by a headband, or he was more content to wearing work-stained clothes instead of the uniform. He worked less on missions and more in the garage.

Between him and Roy was a strong friendship, ever since Luigi first designed his custom legs. During that time, the Major was in the same predicament of proving his worth to his superiors, and they realized these similarities as Roy grew older. So despite a good sixteen years between them, they treated each other like casual buddies.

"Hey," Roy grunted a greeting. "What's up?"

Luigi reached into his pocket and brought out a measuring tape. "Measuring time again."

"What, already?"

"Just to make sure." Luigi settled on the bed next to him, stretching the tape across one of Roy's legs. "So, Mario told me the Colonel really chewed you out."

Roy snorted. "Yeah."

Luigi chuckled. "Heh, what'd you do, blow something up?"

"Yeah. A whole base."

Luigi's eyes bulged, a wondrous look on his face that made him seem much younger. "Fuck, are you serious? How'd you do it?"

"General had a Death Bomb."

While measuring Roy's arm, Luigi paused and gave his pal a skeptical look. "A Death Bomb. For their own base?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, now, that's just stupid."

"My thoughts exactly..." Roy sighed, examining his fingernails out of boredom.

"...Well, if you think about it, they could've had that 'if the captain sinks, so does the ship' mentality."

"Yeah, well, the Colonel still got pissed at me for it."

"Mario said she's just frustrated, that's all, so don't take it so personally. Trust me, I've dealt with that crap before, and it was worse right after your dad died." He glanced at the measures he took. "Whoa, you got another two inches on you! I'm surprised you're able to stay balanced!"

"Ugh... that means I gotta go through the surgery again, huh?"

"Fraid so."

Roy groaned and lightly bopped his back against the headboard. "Augh, I just had it two months ago..."

"Welcome to puberty," Luigi muttered. "I'll make the next model a few extra inches to grow into, alright?"

"Uh-huh..."

"...Something else up?"

"Eh..." Roy sighed, knowing Luigi wouldn't leave him alone until he got this off his skin. "...I'm just thinking... What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Me. As a fighter," Roy answered offhandedly. "Do you think I'm... inferior?"

"Hell no!" The mechanic slightly startled him with a loud laugh. "I've seen you in action during the Prosthetic tests- you're one of the best I've seen!"

"What about the other two? I haven't beaten Link or Marth in a duel..."

"They're older, more experienced, that's all."

Roy wasn't convinced. "But..."

Luigi thought carefully of how to word his next thoughts as he tossed the measuring device about in his hand. "Well... the way I see it... a warrior..." His sapphire eyes fell on Roy's legs, a smile stretching under his mustache. "...is like a Prosthetic. It's strong, durable..." He laughed as something passed his train of thought. "...and something it can get a little outta control."

"Har, har," Roy muttered, knowing what he meant. A couple years ago, a new set of legs he was given malfunctioned and sent him running all throughout the Headquarters. He remembered well that embarrassing incident.

"Wha?"

"What the hell?"

"WAAAAAH! SORRY!" Roy cried out to the mess he left behind in the room before darting away, his legs moving at a fast tempo. Sparks trailed behind him as they moved against his will.

"Hang on, Roy!" Mario called out from behind him. "Marth and Link will catch you!"

The youth looked ahead down the hallway as the two stepped out, Marth brandishing his staff and Link pulling out his swords. Roy began to panic, wondering what they would do to stop him, but there was nothing he could say of the matter.

As he approached as an alarming rate, the two stepped aside quickly, much to his surprise. Marth extended his staff across the floor, and Roy's out-of-control legs tripped over as planned. As Roy fell and both his legs flew behind him, Link took his swords and stabbed each one into each lower leg, creating a tiny firework show of sparks. There was a low hum, and as Roy hit the floor, his broken legs shut themselves down.

Catching his breath, the redhead rolled over and stared at his torn legs, sighing in relief. "...Thanks."

Link only nodded as Marth smiled. "Not a problem, Roy."

"Heh," Luigi chuckled, approaching the scene. "Good thing I used steel instead of titanium this time, huh?"

Luigi smirked. "You gotta admit, that was funny as hell."

"For you, maybe."

"Hehe, but anyway, back to what I was saying, a Prosthetic's gotta be tuned up before it can prove itself efficient. You gotta wind the gears tightly, oil the joints, secure each plating..."

"Yeah, and?"

"Oh, sorry. But yeah, basically, you just gotta fix up a few things about yourself."

"Like what?"

"I'm a mechanic, not a personal trainer. Go ask your bro or something. Then again, if you really want to get better, you'd know already what you need to fix. That make sense?"

Roy thought for a bit, then nodded. "Yeah..."

Luigi grinned. "Good. Cause I just pulled most of that out of my ass a couple seconds ago."

That got a good laugh out of Roy, and the boy glanced at his friend. "Thanks, Weeg."

"No problem." He brought out a screw-bit wrench. "Let me get this things off to make the adjustments..." With a simple click on each screw near the base, the legs came off Roy easily. Luigi swung them over his shoulder casually. "As usual, law low in here for a while. I'll get this done tonight, and we'll have the surgery in the morning."

Roy sighed and nodded, and was quiet as Luigi left him alone. He stared down at his metal stubs, running his thumb over the exposed wires that were implanted into his flesh and attached to his nerves. Too tired to form any thoughts, he yawned and threw a thin sheet over his body, laying down and preparing to fall asleep, when a soft tap knocked against his door. He moaned tiredly and irritably.

"It's open," he grumbled, burying his face in his pillow. He heard the door open and close, and soft footsteps approached the bed.

"Hey," Roy turned up at that voice, blinking tiredly at his older brother.

"Mmm," he muttered a greeting, turning over on his back. "What's up?"

"Ah, just wanted to let you know..." Marth paused casually, sighing tiredly. "The Colonel's debriefing us on our next mission tomorrow morning."

"WHAT?" Roy shot up. "Ah, no..."

"Oh, would you stop whining?" Marth scolded irritably.

"No, it...!" Instead of explaining, Roy threw off his sheets to reveal his exposed stubs, allowing his brother to figure it out for himself.

Marth gaped. "Aw, don't tell me you've got surgery in the morning!"

Roy nodded gloomily.

"Fuck!" the cobalt cursed, throwing his arms into the air in dismay. "Why now?"

"Luigi said so, that's why!"

Marth growled at the ceiling through his teeth to vent out his frustration, then sighed and glanced back at Roy, who withdrew slightly.

"Uh... s-sorry..."

"Ah, we'll figure something out," Marth mumbled, dropping onto the bed beside him. "The Colonel can't put us in a mission if you don't have any legs."

"Mmm." The redhead glared bitterly at his stubs. "...I hate these things. I wish I didn't have to deal with these..."

"...So you'd rather be dead?"

This caught Roy's attention, and he glanced up at his brother questioningly.

Marth's face was deadpan as he continued. "You can't change what that bastard did to you. Nothing you could do then, nothing you can do now. You should be thankful you still have your life."

Roy sighed gruffly. He had heard this lecture a bazillion times, mouthing the words as they came out of Marth's mouth. He didn't care if his brother snapped at him for his attitude. Nothing he could've said would improve his rotten mood.

And then Marth said something he did not expect.

"What, do you think you're useless?"

The question made Roy flinch, but he did not look up at his sibling.

"Come on, don't be stupid!" Marth scolded somewhat fiercely. "You're not useless! Just because you're handicapped doesn't mean you get in the way! How can you think that?"

Roy churned in his seat, but didn't respond.

"Roy..." Marth sighed, realizing yelling would do him no good. "Come on, bro, what would Dad say with that attitude of yours?"

"..." His scowl loosened, giving his face a look of depression and regret.

Marth noted this change, and then he understood. "...Oh... That been bothering you...?"

Roy sighed, a definite 'yes.'

The cobalt paused, choosing his next words carefully. "...Roy, I... I know you hate all the pressure, but... I don't care what those rookies say. Besides, the higher-ups know you're a good agent."

Roy huffed gruffly. "Sha right..."

"No, I'm serious. Even the Colonel knows. She's just stressed out, lots of work to do, and when you make a mistake like that, you open yourself up for her to vent out her frustrations."

"..." Roy's gaze slowly lifted from the ground.

"Even so, that doesn't make you a bad agent." He smiled lightly. "'Cause you're the best one I know."

The boy sulked at his brother. "You're just saying that..."

"Yeah, only cause it's true," Marth smirked. "Sure, your temper gets a little outta control, but you know how to take charge of a situation, for better or worse, and you never second-guess. If I was the one with the gun when Falcon pulled off that stunt, I don't think First Lieutenant Peach would've survived. No one else I know would have the nerve or skill to take that risk."

After a bit of thinking, a tiny smile came to Roy's face. "...Except maybe Link."

"...Yeah, maybe..." Marth's face fell at that.

"...He acting up again?"

"Mmm." He sighed, glancing at his idle fingers. "...I... just can't figure out what's eating at him..."

"What's not eating at him?" Roy stated bluntly.

"I keep trying to help him, but he's more stubborn than you." It was a lame attempt at a brotherly insult and was disregarded. "...It's so goddamn frustrating..."

The room grew quiet at that as the two were left to their own thoughts. A few minutes passed until Roy gave out a long, heavy yawn, smacking his lips tiredly.

Marth grinned softly, reaching up and ruffling his little brother's wild hair. "Get some sleep, squirt. You'll need it for the surgery tomorrow."

Roy chuckled. "You won't be calling me squirt for long after tomorrow. Weeg says I'm growing a lot more, so he's adding on a few inches to my legs. I might even be as tall as you!"

"Yeah, but you'll still be a squirt anyways." At this, Roy scowled as he weakly punched Marth in the shoulder. The older brother smirked in a most amused fashion as he retaliated by pushing him back onto the bed, which didn't seem to have its desired effect as Roy only snorted in contained laughter.

Marth shook his head and stood, grasping the thin blanket at the foot of the bed and tossing it at his sibling's chest. "Seriously, though, go to sleep."

"Yeah, yeah..." Roy spread the blanket out and curled up, falling asleep before Marth could have a chance to leave. He lingered at the doorway, glancing over his younger brother's form almost sadly before stepping out to let him rest.

A/N: GOD, freaking FINALLY! Sorry about that. Blame school. I do. :) Anyways, I got good news! Y'know how I was stuck and I needed your help? Well, no more! I talked it out with my friend Cesar, and he gave me an AWESOME idea, so that smote my writer's block and got me on the ball again. Everybody give a shout out to Cesar in your review! 8D