This is a shorter, but very important chapter. It contains a lot of dialogue and emotion.
Chapter 3: Of Missions and Meetings
"The weapon was a handheld pistol," said Torim to Samus and Maelos, "an ancient firearm now completely out-dated. The Corneta Building has some of the highest security; it can detect any type of weapon---"
"Except this old pistol?" asked Samus with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. That's because it was made of an unclassified, not on the market kind of organic plastic. Probably the only thing in the galaxy the detectors wouldn't pick up. This means the person who wanted Maelos dead has connections with the newest technology and plenty of money to spare. This gun cost a fortune to make. All of the knowledge to make it is lost, and no one uses them because they are inaccurate---"
"That's a good thing," snorted Maelos.
"The point of the story is," continued Torim, "this person wants Maelos dead, and they will try until they succeed."
"Which won't happen," remarked Samus.
"Yes, but we must be ready for anything," said Torim.
The night was growing long as they continued talking, Samus in her bio-suit, Torim pacing the length of the room, and Maelos held up by pillows, his fatigue nearly causing him to fall asleep. They went over the details of the assassination attempt, and Samus was brought up to date on all of the political news.
"You look tired," Samus told Maelos after he yawned.
"Yeah, I am tired," he yawned again.
Just then a bell tone came from a control pad by the door. Torim had explained this earlier to Samus. St. Thomas Moore's hospital had a great entry system. Visitors checked into the main office and were given a identity check and an iris-scan. This was forwarded to the room they wanted to visit, and they had to complete the same process to enter the room.
The control panel lit up with a name and Torim rose to go and see whom it was. Upon seeing the name, he granted them access, and the door opened.
Standing in the doorway was Geros Tebral, the mechanic form Nebulon, Maelos's father.
When Geros saw his son, the relief was evident. His life, his hope for the future, was safe and alive. In silence he walked to Maelos. Then the embrace, both passionate and careful, an embrace Maelos returned with equal joy.
"I came as soon as I could!" said Geros through tears, his gruff voice choked.
"I know," replied Maelos softly.
"I was so worried…" said Geros as he released Maelos. Holding his son at arm's length, he looked at him as if making sure it was really Maelos and not a ghost.
A few moments later he realized there were other people in the room, Torim and Samus.
To Torim he offered his hand to shake and a respectful acknowledgement. To Samus, he didn't know what to do.
Her presence was startling, and yet he had knew that she would reappear in his life. Their last meeting had been anything but smooth, but Geros was ready to move past that though; he just didn't know how.
Since Maelos had confronted him with her support, on that faithful rainy day, he had forged a great relationship with his son. Could he have a friendship with her too? She was partially responsible for his conversion…
"Geros," Samus said in a neutral voice, "I haven't seen you in a long time."
"Have you meant before?" asked Torim.
"I was of service to Miss Aran once," answered Geros as he continued to look at Samus. His glance was timid and unsure.
"Miss Aran," he said slowly, "we had a bad start. I treated you badly, and I misused you, but I don't want to be that man anymore. I am not that man anymore! I've changed. Miss Aran, will you accept my apology and friendship?"
The question hung tensely in the air, waiting for Samus to take it. Part of her was resentful towards him, angry at his abuse. Another part pitied him because of the second chance he had taken. What would Maelos want? What would the Chozo do? Forgiveness was a powerful thing…
"Yes, I forgive you, and may our friendship grow," she said with a slight bow of her head. It was the way that the Chozo had always given mercy.
"Thank you," said Geros thankfully, "if I can ever be of service again, just let me know."
"Pardon me," interjected Mr. Joseph Torim, "Seeing as you two have already been introduced, I believe that father and son deserve some alone time. Miss Aran, will you come with me please?"
"I will see you later," said Samus. She replaced her helmet and exited the room with Torim.
Out in the hallway, there was little movement save that of the security cameras and a single nurse carrying a stack of fresh towels.
Torim looked around and placed am arm gently on Samus's armored back. He slowly led her down the hall, his head low and his voice quiet.
"What I'm about to tell you is very secret and extremely dangerous. I will tell the Tebrals later, but you must be told now."
As they reached a corner, he stopped her and peered around it. Once satisfied, he started down the new hall. What is he so worried about? Thought Samus, does he think someone in the hospital will try to attack us? Then a voice asked- is it that impossible? Samus stiffened and went on alert.
"Maelos was attacked because he was gaining support," stated Torim, "now, who would feel threatened by him so much that they would try to silence him?"
Samus thought and could think of most anyone: criminal lords, psychopaths, corrupt politicians…she had a feeling it was the last.
"If Maelos became his quadrant's Council Member, he would most likely have to join one of the parties in the House or the Council. The current Council is mostly held by members of the Zenain party. They oppose nearly everything Maelos would stand for. They like veiled tyranny, the survival of the fittest. They make the rich richer and the poor left for dead."
Here he stopped, "trust me. I have seen all of this first-hand, the Galactic Council is in bad shape. But the public doesn't know this. They are too trusting, and the Council covers its tracks too well."
"I think that I know who is responsible for this," he continued, "his name is Gavin Medici."
Samus paused in her step. Gavin Medici was the most prominent of the Council Members, its unofficial leader, and head of the Zenain Party. Known for his strong will and inability to compromise, he had swept the Council race in his quadrant.
"But this is more then just Maelos!" Torim sighed. He growled under his breath and nearly cursed. "I vetoed Medici every time, but he has too many followers, basically the entire House is in love with him. They think he is some sort of Messiah! And in the last month he has had more executive power granted to the Council then at any other time in history."
"You think he's planning something? Don't you?' asked Samus.
"Yes, and I'm very worried," replied Torim. His anxiety was obvious, and Samus felt a shiver down her back.
At this time they reached the elevator. Torim stepped in and Samus followed, wondering where they were going.
Once the elevator started to descend the 62 flights to the floor level, Torim reached into his coat pocket. Samus's instincts flared, and she pointed her cannon at his chest.
"Stop!" she ordered.
"Calm down Miss Aran," said Torim, "I am one of the few you can trust right now."
He finished pulling his arm out of his jacket and handed Samus a piece of paper.
"Crude, yes I know," he said, referring to the paper, "but it was the only thing I had at the moment."
Samus studied the paper. On it was a cryptic code of some type that included letters, numbers, and strange figures from a forgotten language.
"That is the code into the Galactic Council headquarters between the hours of 12-6 am Polarian time, on Tuesday the 13th of May."
"That's in 2 days," replied Samus. Then it hit her. "You want me to break into the Galactic Council's Headquarters?"
"Shhhh! Not so loud!" hissed Torim.
"But why?" countered Samus.
The elevator was on the 34th floor. It stopped, and the doors opened to reveal a doctor waiting for it. He saw Samus and dropped the many files he was carrying. Fuming, Samus pressed the 'close doors' button, leaving the doctor on the 34th.
"I can't do this!" she told Torim.
"Yes you can! You are the only one who can do this, and I'm counting on you," said Torim. "The files are too heavily guarded for me to get in, even with my entrance codes. I need you to break in and find out anything and everything you can on Medici-if he planned the assassination attempt, if and how he'll try again, and, most importantly, what he is planning because I know something is going to happen; I just don't know what."
Ding! The elevator shook as they reached ground-level. The doors opened and Samus followed Torim outside. In the lobby it still very active-patients, nurses, doctors, and relatives all in a mess of voices and bodies.
Samus quickly put the paper in her thigh compartment. Trying to look inconspicuous, like that'll work, she walked directly behind Torim.
He led her outdoors to the docking bay. Samus's ship was easily spotted with its orange finish. They both headed to it.
"Miss Aran," said Torim, "we, Maelos and all of us, need you to do this."
"How could a situation like this happen?' asked Samus, "aren't all Council Members elected by the people?"
"Yes, but like I said, they are good at covering their tracks," answered Torim.
"I thought you hired me to protect Maelos?' asked Samus suddenly.
"While you're gone, I will have my own personal squad of GF soldiers watching him. The fact that neither the Council nor the House supplied him with troops supports my theory," smiled Torim. "Please, just do this quickly, and return quickly. We can discuss what happens later when you get back."
Slowly, Samus turned and entered her ship.
It was 3 am when Geros and Torim were at the main office checking Geros in as a permanent guest. Maelos shifted in his bed, waking up from a peaceful sleep. He had almost fallen back asleep when the entry pad lit up.
On the stand near his bed, was a remote for the control pad. Maelos sleepily took it and looked at the name-Sonilla Torim. A someone Torim? Then a thought came to him, maybe it was…
Maelos opened the door. The privacy curtain was drawn back so that he couldn't actually see the door. Through it though, he could see the outline of a woman.
"Father?" came her voice quietly.
"He's not here right now, but he will be in a few minutes," answered Maelos.
Sonilla froze at his voice, like a child who knows they have been caught in the act.
"I didn't realize you were awake. I'm sorry, I'll leave," she said hurriedly.
"No, you can wait for him," said Maelos.
"Alright," she said.
Maelos reached out and gently tugged the curtain back so he could see the rest of the room. Sonilla Torim stood in front of him, one hand grasping the elbow of the other arm in an expression of uncertainty and uneasiness. Gentle but definite features formed her face, and her curly red hair fell onto the shoulders of the pale green leather jacket she was wearing. She was Torim's daughter and the lady from the elevator.
"Would you like to sit down?" asked Maelos as he gestured to the sofa next to her and the chair at the foot of his bed.
"Yes," she replied and quickly sat on the sofa. Then, as if to justify her presence, she said, "I came to see my father because he wants me to go to the final Unity Ball convention with him. He said he was helping a friend who was sick, but I had no idea it was Maelos Tebral."
"Am I that famous now?" Maelos asked.
"In the last day there's been nothing else on the news. You're very lucky this hospital has a 'no news-crew' policy."
She glanced at him, and then smiled timidly at him. Déjà vu hit him hard.
And suddenly Maelos became self-conscious. I must look like a mess, my hair and clothes, jeeze! But just as he was going to ask her more about herself, Torim and Geros arrived.
They stepped in and so did a half a dozen GF troopers.
"These are my private escorts, led by Captain Rocero," Torim said, and the mentioned captain saluted, "they will be staying with you tonight. My daughter, it seems you two have just met, and I will be going to our hotel. It's just down the road, and I'll be back in the morning," the exhaustion was starting to show on Torim. He definitely needed some rest.
"Where is Sam--?" started Maelos.
"Good-night," Torim said as he left the room.
"Bye," said Sonilla as she followed him.
Four of the troopers followed them outside, and two stayed inside.
"Two of us will be stationed inside your room tonight Mr. Ambassador," started Rocero, "two more outside the doorway, and two patrolling the hallway."
"Thank you captain," said Maelos in a very formal tone. In the last 5 years he had dealt with GF soldiers plenty of times.
"Please, just relax and try to sleep," finished the captain as he walked back over to the doorway and his partner.
"This is interesting," Geros said, "but not as interesting as Joseph's daughter, she was very pretty," he commented.
"Yes, she was," Maelos admitted.
"But you need some sleep," said Geros more solemnly as he replaced the privacy curtain, "and so do I."
Geros made a bed for himself on the sofa. Stacking up the extra pillows and wrapping a blanket around himself, he collapsed on it. In seconds he was snoring.
The lights were turned off, but Maelos could see the lights from the troopers' helmets; they cast eerie shadows on the curtain. He stayed awake for hours in the presence of his guards, pondering on what had happened to him, whether he would see Torim and Sonilla tomorrow, and wondering where Samus was.
Sorry this one took a little longer to write and update. I wanted to make sureI got it right, and hopefully I did. Hey, MakoAnima, does this help your uneasiness?
