Origins: Samus

BEEP! BEEP!

Samus Aran jolted awake. At the controls of her starship, she had been in the midst of a quick nap. Other than quick planet side errands for food and supplies, there wasn't much else. After Samus had defeated Mother Brain on her second trip to Zebes, the planet had exploded. Unfortunately for Samus, the rumor mill had spiraled out of control in the seedy underbelly of Federation-controlled space. Now she, a mere human with some special armor was known as The Planet Killer. There was a lot of hatred in the galaxy, but no one hated anyone enough to evoke a bounty hunter that had killed a planet. She had tried to chalk it up to paranoid, but on a quick trip to a general store just last week, someone had whispered to their companion, "Y'see her? That's Samus the Planet Killer."

A cool name that does nothing for my bank account. Excellent Samus had thought with an eye roll

But that was then, this was now, and the alert for the encrypted e-mail she kept for bounties was beeping. The alert only said two things.

"Coordinates of K-2L Colony. ASAP"

Samus sighed deeply. This wasn't the first time that this had happened. It seemed that every time some asshole with too much information found out about her being the last survivor of K-2L, they decided to be cool and call her out there. Usually, it was resolved when Samus threatened to shoot them down from her ship, at which point the scoundrel would usually realize they'd bit off more than can chew, turn tail, and run. Still, Samus could never be too careful. IT could always be a money-making bounty or a threat that actually needed eliminating.

Samus punched some keys into the ship's terminal, and the ship jolted in the direction of the ruins of K-2L. Samus rose from her seat, walking into the closet that held her armor. The armor was splayed outward, with just enough space for Samus to walk into the middle. When she did, a wrist communicator came to life, as each piece of armor locked into position on her body. Using her non-cannon hand, she placed her helmet on her head. The dark interior of the helmet flared to a neon green life, showing important vitals, and also interlinking her with her ship's computer, which showed they weren't very far from K-2L, only a few minutes.

"Test, test" Samus spoke

Sure enough, the voice modulator on her armor was in working order. Samus found this bit of deception extremely helpful. Typically, both bounty hunters and the kinds of people who fell prey to them were gross and would fornicate with anything that moved, much less an attractive woman like herself. Not that Samus typically thought that about herself, but it was a fact of life that looks brought a layer of complication to the job she didn't need.

"Coordinates met"

Samus blinked, jogging up to the console of her ship. It wasn't like her to get lost in thought like that. Was she burnt out? Maybe she actually needed to settle on a Federation planet, get an apartment, a normal job, be normal for a while…

Samus shook her head, clearing the mental cobwebs before speaking.

"This is Samus Aran, please state your business."

It was here that Samus got a look at the ship, and it jarred her. It was dark, foreboding purple, seemingly strung together by crude shapes, like the alpha build of a small airplane. Certainly alien, reasoned Samus, and certainly operating on physics she didn't think was possible.

"I represent someone called Master Hand. He is interested in your services."

"What kind of service, and what price?"

"Think of it as combat sports, as a martial art, except with beings from multiple dimensions. 10 million credits for initial enrollment, five million for each win in three rounds."

"Well tell your master I take payments up…"

Suddenly, she got an alert. 10 million credits were deposited into her bank account.

"…Front. Also, I have a condition."

"Name it."

"I will not remove this armor in public at any point."

"You've got a deal ma'am. "

This took the breath out of Samus.

"H-how do you know?"

A posh laugh echoed through the speakers, "Oh, I know quite a bit about you. And I know what drives you, money, and self-isolation. It really hasn't been the same since Ridley killed Rodney and Virginia has it?

How could he possibly know my mom and dad's names? All public record of K-2L citizens was wiped when the colony was.

"Listen you son of a bitch" Samus snarled, before being interrupted.

"I mean no harm by it. Just know that you and your fellow participants are special interests of mine, that I've studied very thoroughly."

So, I'm not the only one he's creeping on. Good. I'll play along for now. Plus it's not the only client I've blown to smithereens since I started hunting.

"I accept," affirmed Samus.

"Great! Follow me through this portal please."

Sure enough, a portal opened up just in front of the two ships

Here goes nothing. Samus thought as she flew through the portal. Suddenly, the vitals on her suit readout began to change. Weather readouts, atmosphere composition, and other planetary statistics flashed before her

"New location has been labeled "Smashverse." Planetary statistics consistent with all Federation planets"

Samus breathed a sigh of relief

Breathable air, that's a nice change of pace. But what kind of a name is Smashverse? she thought as she eyed the instruments of her ship.

Samus touched down, along with her companion's ship. The bay door opened, allowing Samus to walk into the new world

"75 degrees, weather data consistent with Federation Planet "Spring" season. Seasons and weather are controlled artificially "

As the monitor readout faded away she saw it. An enormous, palace-looking mansion. She'd never seen a house that huge before. Even the richest Federation politicians typically lived in high-rise penthouses. These types of homes were reserved for fantasy or historical logs with old pictures.

For the first time in a while, Samus smiled.

This might be a con, but damn it, I'm gonna make the most of it she thought, as she followed the pilot of the polygonal ship, an equally polygonal man, to the front door of the mansion.