Alright, in this chapter I will be making a point on Samus's cultural deficiency and will be setting up Chapter 7.
Chapter 6: Preparations
"Wake up!" said Samus as she shook Maelos awake.
Maelos sat up, rubbed the sleep from his dark eyes, and peered around the room with a distant look. He had fallen asleep on the couch but, somehow, had ended up sprawled on the floor in a bundle of blankets.
"Morning," he said sheepishly as he realized where he was. He grinned and a small snicker escaped Samus's lips.
"Get dressed," she told him in mock reprimand.
Samus then preceded to wake everyone else. Geros was in the parlor with Maelos and was easily woken. Sonilla was in the master bedroom, breathing gently. Samus almost found it difficult to wake her up because she looked so peaceful. Peace is something we will soon be without.
The sun was just turning the sky pink when she went into the second bedroom and couldn't find Torim. Momentary fear pricked her heart. She hadn't slept at all; she'd patrolled the suite soundlessly all night. Nothing could have slipped past her and taken him, so where could he be?
Then she saw him. He was outside on the balcony, dressed in a sleeping robe and holding a cup of hot coffee. She quickly opened the sliding glass door and went outside to him.
"Ah, Samus," he smiled. He took a sip and then pointed over the buildings to the horizon, "I love watching a sunrise. Wherever I am, I watch it because each sun is unique. Just look at the that!"
Samus followed his hand. Waves of magenta and gold flooded over the horizon and threatened to cascade over onto the waking city. The great luminous bulb that was the star Ecenta pierced the lingering night and overpowered it, casting away the blue and painting the entire sky a pale yellow. Ecenta was fully risen in the next 10 seconds.
"That has to be the quickest sunrise I have ever seen!" exclaimed Torim, "glad I was here, or I would have missed it."
"It was fast," admitted Samus, "but I must ask you to get dressed. We have work to do."
"Quite right," replied Torim. He took a final, very long, draught of his drink and then headed back inside.
Samus lingered out on the balcony for a moment more. The rapid sunrise engraved in her mind, like the sunset she had watched on Creto so many years ago...but I have things to do, despite my want to stay here and recall the past.
She took out the transmitter and spoke into it.
"Good morning Creto, time to move."
"Good morning to you My Lady, and where, may I ask, am I moving?" replied the computer.
"Up to the balcony," said Samus with a smirk.
"You can't be serious Samus, not this early in the morning!" exclaimed Creto.
"Ha, you're a computer, Creto," answered Samus, " you can't be tired. I just need you to be close enough for them to board."
"Why?"
"Because I have to run some errands, and I can't take them with me, so you have to baby-sit," Samus told it.
"Oh dear," sighed Creto, if a computer can sigh
Once everyone was dressed and ready, Samus led them out on the balcony.
"Is this entirely necessary?" asked Geros after Samus had explained the arraignments to them.
"Mr. Torim here hired me to do a job: protect you," said Samus, reminding them of her profession, "and right now, this is the safest place for you."
"I agree," said Torim, "but I must tell you that boarding an invisible spaceship sounds, uh, difficult."
"It won't be," said Samus.
Suddenly the hiss of lowering air pressure filled the air. They stared out at the city skyline, and it was abruptly broken up by the inside of a ship. Sonilla gasped as the ramp reached the balcony railing.
"All aboard," Samus said and began to help them up. She helped Torim up last and then lifted herself up, the hatch closing behind her.
"Welcome," said Creto in a cheery, tour-guide-like voice. "I am Creto, internal computer for this Chozo huntership (class Beorgana 6231) that was made specifically for Samus Aran. If you need anything, just ask!"
"Oh my stars," Samus said under her breath.
"Wow," exclaimed Sonilla, her father's face echoing her excitement.
"Hi, Creto!" Maelos called to the ceiling, "nice to see you in one piece."
"Oh yes," said Creto, "we try to make that a habit here."
Samus headed to the back, leaving the others in the space between the cockpit and sleeping quarters.
Geros looked around hesitantly and said, "Creto, I just want to say that I'm not angry at you anymore, and that I'm sorry for the way I treated you before."
"Apology accepted," replied Creto, somewhat smugly.
"Did he just apologize to a computer?" whispered Sonilla to her father.
"I think so," answered a bewildered Torim.
"Okay," stated Samus as she reentered the room. "Creto, we need more seats--"
"Right on it--" Creto said quickly.
Large panels formed on the two walls leading to the cockpit. The panels quickly slid under one another and a set of seats folded out of them, complete with a back, headrest, and harness. There were a total of 12 seats.
Torim, Geros, Maelos, and Sonilla took the seats nearest Samus's and buckled up. Samus strapped herself in and then slowly propelled the cloaked ship through Vastial's air space.
After about 5 minutes of flying they reached the outskirts of the city. Samus settled the ship down on a secluded hill and unbuckled herself.
"Okay," she said, " I'm leaving to get our things. I'll be back in approximately 2 hours. Nobody leaves this ship and no one comes aboard until I get back. Creto, you know what to do."
Then she left then alone in the ship.
Once Samus was gone, the others started talking about the plan and told Creto everything they knew.
"Well, Samus has always completed every mission she's ever taken. I trust she will do the same," the computer said confidently.
"She has, but we haven't. I'm worried about one of us getting hurt," said Sonilla.
She liked Creto. The computer amused her to no end with its very proper manner and scientific answers. Creto had started a slide show of Samus's missions with the control panel's hologram, and it impressed Sonilla greatly.
Currently, Creto had conjured up the image of a Luminoth and was replicating its ability to manipulate light.
"You know," said Maelos as he can and stood next to Sonilla, "after Samus gave her report about Aether to the House, I tried to find some sort of file or contact to the Luminoth species, and I found none. They have never contacted us in any way. Strange for an "enlightened" race. You'd think they'd want to help us...and we could use it."
"Well, look what happened to the Chozo," Sonilla countered, "we let them be destroyed. I think their "enlightenment" is confirmed by the fact that they avoid us. If they have it good, why risk us damaging it?"
"Good point," admitted Maelos.
They both paused and looked at the hologram. Creto was making the Luminoth create little moths that revolved around a ball of light it held in its hand. It was quite cute.
Maelos opened his mouth to say something when his cell phone rang.
Maelos pulled the phone out of his pocket, ignoring the stares, and held it in his hand, letting it ring. Then he answered it.
"Hello?"
Everyone wondered who was calling him.
"Oh, hi Devajor!" laughed Maelos.
The tension fell and Maelos started talking to his good friend. When the call was over he turned to them and said-
"He wanted to visit me in the hospital, but he got tied up on Aret. He's here right now, heading downtown to get fitted for a new suit, since I got blood on his old one."
Here he rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.
"Anyway, he figured I need a new get-up too and he wants to meet me at 2."
"What did you tell him?" asked his father.
"That I might, depends on whether I can get free."
"Said like a true politician," smiled Torim. Maelos grinned too.
"We'll see what Samus says," Geros said.
The rest of their time under Creto's watchful "eye" was spent watching the slide show hologram, which was quite amusing because, while Creto was narrating, it kept switching between different accents and impersonations.
Roughly two hours later Samus arrived. She looked a little out of breath and her shirt was damp with sweat. There was also a small cut on her forehead. But no one, not even Creto asked what she'd done to get the wave EMP. They didn't really want to know.
After she'd gotten something to drink and changed her clothes, Maelos told her about Devajor.
"Well," she said between gulps of her bottled mineral water, "if we're going to the Ball, we'll have to look the part. I don't have a dress, so I at least have to go and get one. So I guess yeah. The only problem is that this," she held up the EMP. It was round and about the size a grapefruit, " has to be installed into the ship so Creto can detonate it."
"I can do it," volunteered Geros the mechanic.
"You don't need anything?" asked Samus.
"Nope, I brought some things from home," said Geros.
"I have all I need too," said Torim, "so Geros and I can stay here with Creto."
"Alright," Samus gave in. "It's almost noon. Let's get back to the hotel and get ready."
After a brief difficulty in getting off the invisible ship and back on the balcony, Samus, Maelos, and Sonilla were leaving the hotel and waiting for a taxi to take them to the Vastial courtyard.
The courtyard in question was at the heart of Vastial, a one mile wide circle made of clean white stone. It echoed of renaissance, a peaceful sanctuary from the modern world. And it seemed everyone liked it that way because there were no vehicles of any kind, merely dozens of different species walking in the pursuit of relaxation or a good sale.
In the center of the courtyard, hidden by the swirling crowd, was an ancient fountain. Statues of human goddesses and alien lords were craved of the same white stone and shot gentle streams of water from their mouths. Hundreds of flying creatures were gathered by the water, looking for scraps of food. There were flying reptilians, daylight bats, and even Old Earth pigeons, which were speckled purple and brown.
Maelos saw Devajor sitting on the fountain's edge, his dark skin contrasting sharply with the white linen shirt he was wearing. The two friends met in an exchange of smiles and back patting. Devajor was so happy to see Maelos alive, he kept looking him up and down, as if trying to find the bullet hole.
Samus and Sonilla came over and Maelos introduced them as Sonilla Torim and Aideen Bridgid.
"So nice to meet you!" said Devajor as he shook hands with the two women. Then, whispering just loud enough so they could hear him, he said, "Maelos, where did you find two such stunningly beautiful ladies? You need to rub off some of that luck on me!"
Sonilla giggled and Samus looked at the sky, shaking her head, as Devajor laughed at their reactions.
"You have a girlfriend, remember Dev?" Maelos jested.
"Oh," said Devajor, striking a face of surprise, "too bad for me."
Sonilla giggled some more and Samus studied the dark-skinned man.
He's certainly good humored, goodness knows I need some now. Charming, and strong, she thought as he noted his solid frame, I can see why Maelos likes him.
"Come on," Devajor said, "I know the perfect place to go."
They followed Devajor through the crowd to the outside of the courtyard where it was lined with high-end shops and boutiques. Samus walked behind them, making notes of the beings around them and exits.
They entered a medium-sized shop and were immediately welcomed into an open room that was full with linens and clothes. A counter was to their right and a wide staircase directly in front of them led up to another floor.
"Welcome, welcome," came a voice from the counter, and Maelos's eyes widened as a very tall creature approached them.
The sentinel that approached towered over them and was clothed in a thick, draping robe that had many tassels. It had a small head, shaped like a giraffe's, that sat upon a long flexible neck, and it had four arms, two of which were carrying a clipboard and tape measure. Slightly hunched over and with inverted knees, it walked over to them with a slow, deliberate pause at each step.
"I am Doxin, a Gieraf of the tailoring act," it said in the same slow manner as its walk. "It seems the honorable Mr. Misba has recommended my services, and...oh my!"
Doxin had noticed Sonilla, who looked very pleased.
"Lady Torim has come as well? This is very special indeed."
"You come here?" asked Devajor of Sonilla.
"Yes, all the time. Doxin does a wonderful job."
The Gieraf blushed.
They quickly told Doxin that they needed proper attire for the Unity Ball, which was tomorrow. The Gieraf then led the four humans over to selection of formal wear.
"Because of the time," Doxin said, "I won't be able to make four brand new outfits, but I can tailor ones that is already made to fit you."
So, they spilt up, Maelos and Devajor going to the suits and tuxes, as Sonilla went to a rack of flowing gowns. Samus stood, rooted to the spot. Me, select my own dress? I've never so much as owned a skirt!
"Do you require assistance, Miss Bridgid?" asked one of Doxin's assistants.
"Uh..." replied an unsure Samus.
"I'll help you," said Sonilla quietly as she came over.
Sonilla may not have known about beam weapons or metroids, but the pampered Chairman's daughter knew about fashion.
And in truth, Sonilla was still frightened of Samus, but being in her element gave her some confidence. Plus, her woman's sense of distress was kicking in. How could she just leave Samus there? It was obvious the Hunter knew nothing of these matters, and Sonilla was far too kind to abandon her. She'd sent the night in close quarters with Samus, and it was also obvious that the bounty hunter was not insane or overly aggressive, not to those that paid her anyway.
So, the next few hours were spent trying on clothes. The men and woman meeting at the shop's central stage/mirror to model for one another. Doxin and his assistants stood near-by, watching carefully and interjecting advice or critiques.
It took a while before Samus could say she wasn't bored out of her mind. There was more to clothing then she'd realized. But none of these is as nice as the robes Veruk made for me, she thought, in reference to the Chozo tailor.
And despite her seeming frailty, Sonilla was very helpful and kind. She steered Samus through the maze of dresses and helped her choose the right size and style, and Samus was very thankful because she didn't have the slightest clue what she was doing.
"You look very sharp," Devajor was telling Maelos as Doxin held them both, measuring and pinning their new tuxes.
They both looked up just in time to see Sonilla exit the changing room and step up on the low stage.
She wore a one-strapped gold dress that flew to her ankles. The swirling patterns of light green beads on the dress glimmered as she observed herself in the mirror. As she turned, they saw that the dress had a low back and the flowing skirt was made of thousands of wispy light layers that gave the illusion of something innocent and wholesome.
"Wow," said Maelos and Devajor in unison.
"That is a good dress for you, Lady," commented Doxin as he stopped pinning them to look. "Your mother would be so proud."
"Yes, I know." she said softly. Then, in a louder voice, she called, "well...come on Aideen! I came out first! It's your turn."
A frown formed on Maelos's face, but it was replaced with a grin as Samus entered the room.
Samus came out, shy at first, but then her natural confidence took over and she strolled over to mirror. Her dress was a classic black halter-top style that went to her knees. The bottom portion was made of a sheer black slip over a sparkling silver-blue skirt so that when she moved she looked like sparkling water.
Devajor and Maelos just stared at her, and then at both of the them as Sonilla came and stood next to Samus.
"What do you think?" asked Sonilla shyly.
"You're gorgeous," answered Maelos.
Then the quartet gathered up on the stage and Doxin studied them closely. They were like seniors being dressed for prom.
"Yes, yes. You are a very handsome group. I will make the adjustments for the ladies, then, Sonilla, your father can come for them tomorrow like you said."
They left Doxin's shop a few minutes later. The sun was beginning its descent and bathed the courtyard in a faint orange glow.
For a reason Samus couldn't explain, she felt disheartened as they exited Doxin's shop. A sudden weight had fallen on her, a shadow. Maybe it was because they had the EMP and attire for the Ball; the fact that they were actually going to do this. Once again she was throwing herself into danger's path, but that's my life. Isn't it?
She looked around as Devajor led them outside of the courtyard and to his vehicle.
By the fountain was a man dressed in ragged, outdated clothes. The beggar was carrying a bag and plunging his hand into the fountain's water. As he pulled out a handful of coins, a smile spread across his face, but, suddenly, he was lost from Samus's view by the crowd..
They continued on, Samus thinking about the people they would save if they succeeded. The poor, the needy; the lonely and misused. Were they worth it? the Chozo would say so.
They were almost outside the courtyard. The last structure on its outer ring that they would pass was a giant cathedral. Dominating the nearby landscape, it had a single spiraling tower that reached towards the heavens. A long stretch of stairs led up to the wooden doors. They were open, and Samus looked in.
She could see the great open space where thousands of beings had gathered. Their heads were bent, and they muttered in a strange tongue. There was no light inside the cathedral, only a light blue smoke that flowed like a foul spirit around them.
Suddenly they started to chant, and the great doors were closed with a loud smash. An insignia was on them, one of a single flower with an eye peering from behind it. It would have been an ambiguous enough symbol if the flower hadn't been withered and the eye hadn't been narrowed in disapproval.
Samus didn't know much about the galaxy's different religions, but this one seemed very dark and ominous.
Then the cathedral bells started to ring. The flying creatures of the courtyard took flight at the sudden noise and created an uproar from the passers-by. The bells rang in strange intervals, creating an eerie and mystic song.
"Trust me," said Maelos, "you don't want to go in there."
He touched Samus's arm and she came back to reality to find she had stopped walking and was staring at the insignia.
"Right," she said, shaking herself awake, "let's go."
Midnight rolled around to find Maelos and Sonilla sitting together by the TV. They had been delighted to find that they both enjoyed a certain late-night comedy show and were watching it together.
Samus sat on a stool near the kitchen's bar at the other end of the hotel suite, studying the mysterious blueprint. Geros and Torim had both gone to sleep.
A commercial came on and Maelos asked Sonilla if she was frightened about tomorrow.
"No, not really," she replied, "I mean, ha, we have Samus. Right?"
They both peered over the couch to see if Samus had noticed, but she showed no hint of noticing.
"Yeah," said Maelos. He let the conversation slip into quiet; the ad in the background was about alien pet food.
"Sonilla?"
"Yes."
"In the shop today, uh, what Doxin said...I mean you don't have to answer, but what did he mean by 'your mother would be so proud'?" Maelos said it as carefully, as possible because it was a touchy question, and not one he would normally ask, but he had a growing suspicion.
"Oh," Sonilla said, surprised. "Well, there's no easy way to say it, but he meant what he said. I never met my mother. She died giving birth to me."
She spoke quietly, barely audible over the TV. Maelos leaned close to hear and then looked her in the eyes, his fears confirmed.
"I'm sorry. My mom is gone too. She passed away almost 11 years ago."
He sank back into the couch and picked up the remote control, "I just, well, I wanted to know because I've been there too. And, if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here."
He said it with genuine care, and she could tell he meant it. Her face formed into a gentle, tacit thank you.
The comedy came back on, and, although the host was making ridiculous gestures and making fun of someone important, neither of them laughed with genuine feeling.
Behind them, Samus twirled the pencil she was using to make notes on the printout laid before her. She'd heard every word.
Meanwhile...
"Are we ready?" snarled the Space Pirate impatiently. He downed his glass of flaming toxin and then crushed the empty glass in his spiny hand.
"My troops have been ready for a week now. Why is this taking so long?"
"Patience, my friend. We are ready," answered the addressed human calmly, "take your fleet and 20 GF divisions to Yurin. It begins tonight."
"Good," replied the pirate. He rose, his many scales and spikes raking the chair he had sat in. Without another word, he was gone.
