I had a fun time playing "Keep Away" at the Federation Headquarters the first few days since I arrived, especially with the older recruits. They all saw how pleasing to the eye I was and quite too often, tried to take me out to lunch or dinner. I loved taunting and then beating them up during the training sessions. No one had seen such power and beauty in one person, but one did…
As Samus stood in one of the simulations and trained under the most difficult setting, a whole crowd of officers and recruits came to see the newcomer take on such a big challenge. One of the officials had a feeling of who she was and after taking a few good minutes of looking at her, went off to the computer labs and began to cross-reference certain articles and pictures.
"Hmm…" he thought as he went through the archives. "I know I saw that girl once before, but where… And why does she look so familiar?" He scrolled down but did not find anything. He began to go through the pictures archive and came to a stop when a family picture came up. He read the information under it.
"Col. Ramos and Virginia Aran with their children, Samantha and Samuel Aran. Last known whereabouts: Earth Colony K2-L. Status: Deceased, however, their children are unknown. See 'Destruction of K2-L' for more details."
Tal typed in the title and read the information printed there.
"Star date 2465.30.01. Earth Colony K2-L has been destroyed by the marauding Space Pirates. Specialists have counted a total of 34 bodies buried at the remains of the colony, but two remain missing. Specialists believe that 3-year-old Samantha and 8-year-old Samuel Aran are the missing ones. Officials have checked the surrounding bomb shelters, but have found nothing except for some untouched food rations and supplies. They have reported that they were probably abducted by the Pirates, but no evidence has been shown to prove this hypothesis…"
"So…" the officer whispered. "They think she's dead? Could it be that this Samus-San is also Samantha Aran? And Samuel… Is he still alive after all these years?"
He heard a bunch of cheering and peered out the 8th story window. There was Samus, coming out of the battle simulator and being congratulated by those watching her. He saved the files to a disk and left the room. As he reached the main deck, he saw her being led away by one of the medical crewmembers.
"Come, Samus," the medic said with a hint of sarcasm. "It is required that your bioprints are recorded."
Samus nodded and followed him into the medical ward, where she saw some of the recruits being treated for minor injuries from the simulation. The medic took her into a small white room, where a computer was humming lively and a doctor sat there working on it.
"Hello?" she whispered.
"Hello!" the doctor returned. "A new recruit to the GF?"
Samus nodded.
"Not to worry!" he replied as he took out several medical instruments. "I just need to take a blood sample, run a physical, and then record your bioprints."
She sat on the examination table nervously as the doctor began to check on her. He took the sample with ease, but as he recorded the bioprints, an error occurred.
"Hmm… Something is not right…" he replied.
"What's wrong?"
"Your bioprints and blood test results keep coming up under a name of a deceased person, Samantha Aran…" The doctor looked up at her then at the screen. "It can't be…"
He fell off his chair and made a mad dash for the security room.
"Help!" he shouted. "There's a ghost standing in my office!"
The other officials looked at him strangely and went after him, but the lone officer made his move and quickly went into the office. Samus looked up in slight confusion as he began to introduce himself.
"Hello there," he began. "The name's Officer Tal Harus."
"Hey!" she replied. "I remember you! You're that messy-haired officer who helped me get a seat 2 days ago at the meeting!"
"Eh… Yeah…"
There was an awkward silence as he sat down, hiding his blush.
"So, you're Samus?"
"If I'm not, then who should I be?" she replied with a smile.
"You know, you're pretty tough for a young girl," he commented as he sat at the empty computer. "Just how old are you?"
"Thank you, but I'm a whole lot tougher than Sheegoth skin." She gave a small smirk. "I'm 15, but I'm only staying here for 3 years. My Chozo Papa, Commander Ishuzu, wanted me to train here since I had learned everything he had taught me. After my training, I'm to go back to Tallon IV and find my destiny."
"'Destiny,' huh?" Tal was gazing at the screen. "Tell me, do you know anything of your past? You know, like your childhood."
Samus looked at Tal, but shook her head.
"I wish not to speak of it," she whispered.
"I'm ok with that, but I need to know something since the others will begin to pressure you if you don't. Now, tell me why your bioprints are coming out as 'Samantha Aran,' yet you say your name is 'Samus-San.'"
For a few minutes, Samus just sat there, not wanting to talk, but finally gave in as the silence bothered her.
"My Chozo Father called me 'Samus-San' for the sake that I have a name since I forgot it. After I turned 14, Commander Ishuzu told me everything and took me to a lab to be scanned; that's where I found my last name only: 'Aran.' No one else could help me, but I kept it in mind, hoping that it would help me find some information one day."
"Did he tell you about the pirate raid on K-2L?"
"Yes, he did…" Samus brought her knees close to her body and curled up, crying at the thought of her parents dying.
"I'm sorry…" Tal apologized. "If it helps, some of the officers here and I will aid you in whatever way we can."
She got up and dried her tears.
"If you can help me find these Space Pirates, I would be more than happy to take them out myself!"
"Whoa there, Samus! You're only 15, not old enough to become a recruit yet! I think High Command is insane to even let one of such youth to train for the Elite Forces! You say you go back to Tallon IV at 18, right?"
"That is correct."
"Well, that means we have 3 years to prepare you, but for now, since you just went through a rather tough emotional event, and since you are still rather new, I suggest you take the rest of the day off…"
"Ok, sir."
Tal smiled as he escorted her to the dorms on the 9th floor. He knew he had seen her somewhere before and that was because he remembered that Colonel Ramos had brought a baby to the station before, showing off his second born before moving to K-2L to command a squad patrolling in the Zebesian Solar System. He had been good friends with Samuel and never forgot the fun times they had together. That was when he was only 5-years-old at the time, same age as Samuel, and living on the Federation Station as a recruit's kid. He remembered the baby's face and never forgot it. When he had heard that K-2L had been attacked, he was so afraid that both would not live, yet only she survived and her brother remained missing. Tal smiled inside as he went down the elevator and into a classroom, where a group of first-years were waiting for their first course. Samus would not be joining them today, but he knew she would catch on quick. As for his friend, he wondered if he would ever see him again…