This chapter was going to include the actual Unity Ball, but it just got way too long. So, I've split this part of the story into two chapters. This way I can include all the detail I want, and make sure everything is given the proper attention. Plus it's easier to write, read, and review.

Here you go...

Chapter 7: Fear and Revelation

Samus and Torim stood out on the balcony watching the sunrise. Like the previous morning it cascaded over onto the city before them and washed them in light, but today, nothing was to be light-like.

Samus stepped back into the hotel and was greeted by the harsh sounds of reporters and turbulence from the TV.

Everyone was gathered around it, watching the female reporter look out the window of a GF transport unit at the destruction below.

"...as you can see, everything has been destroyed. Where the Province of Greater Yitrun once stood, there is now only rubble and radiation...the death toll is staggering, and rising. As of now it is..."

Samus tuned it out. She wouldn't hear the statistics again. She didn't want to hear that nearly the entire population of a billion people had been wiped out in a single night. She didn't want to face the reality of all that death. It was too real to her; it was too much.

And she was used to death. She was familiar with the threat of it and of dealing it out. But before it had been metroids and pirates, evils that prowled in the dark and had nameless faces. They had been losses she could take without second-guessing herself, but now the numbers were humans and other civil sentinels; they were innocents; they were dead...

"...somehow a Federation outpost camera survived the blasts and we have recovered this footage."

On the screen, the woman disappeared, and suddenly they were miles above the ground watching the Space Pirates attack.

Waves of transports flew overhead and dropped hundreds of bombs that ruptured the ground. Vague and muffled explosions and screams could be heard. Suddenly, the dark of the night was made darker as the largest of the transports passed by and released a single, small item. It fell, the camera moving to chart its course.

When it hit the ground, a flash of white light blocked out everything. The visuals returned, and they could see the impact site caving in, sucking in near-by buildings.

Then the actual explosion.

A wave of fast moving blue radiation came racing towards then. It incinerated everything it touched. Moving faster, it met the building where the camera was perched. The camera stood a second longer, and then flew, the screen of vision diving down. The ground, covered in shining blue, stopped the camera.

And then static.

"That's enough," said Torim, who had just stepped inside. He picked up the remote and turned the TV off. "We can't watch this anymore."

Samus looked at them and knew he was right. Geros sat on the couch, staring off into space as Maelos clenched his teeth and fists in anger. Sonilla was in the greatest distress as she was near tears.

"Get dressed and we'll go get some breakfast," he commanded firmly.

They obediently rose and went to get ready.

As they left, Samus thought about Yitrun. It was the perfect place to attack.

Yitrun was one of the most densely populated planets in the galaxy, and the Province of Greater Yitrun was its most populated. Greater Yitrun could easily have been called the galaxy's largest slum. Lying in the shadows of empty buildings, the homeless covered the streets of the abandoned industrial capital.

Samus, with her killer's eye, could easily see why Medici would attack it first.

He was creating fear. Frightened by the threat of death, the Federation would turn to the Council and give it more power. The people would put more of their precious trust into the least trustworthy. He's smart.

She cursed him quietly under her breath and then led everyone downstairs.

Breakfast was quiet and moody. Aggressively stabbing every morsel on his plate, Maelos displayed his rage. Geros tried to start a conversation with him about the newest Mx7000 intake valve, but a glare from his son silenced him. Sonilla barely ate anything, just played with her food and stared at the near-by tables.

"I'll be in the room," said Torim when he'd finished. He stood, placed his napkin on his plate, and walked away.

"I'm coming with you," said Sonilla with a sigh, as she too stood and left.

"Please talk to him," Geros quietly said to Samus as he went with them.

And then, Samus found herself alone with Maelos, who showed no sign of caring that everyone was gone and continued to stab his food.

She watched him for a minute or so, giving him time to say something, but he said nothing. She had never seen him so upset; in fact, hadn't thought him capable of such cold rage.

I must have been like this, she thought, the remembrance of her past rages and rants filling her mind. But, when she had been like this, who had comforted her? Had anyone been there for her? No one had.

But Maelos had opened up her cold heart many years ago. He had been there for her, without even knowing it. Now she had to return that grace, but how?

"Samus?" Maelos asked before she could start.

"Yes?" she looked at him, glad he'd said the first word.

"Do we even stand a chance?" asked the Ambassador. He spoke in a sad, defeated voice not at all like his own.

His anger had subdued and now she could see that Yitrun's destruction had really driven home the importance of their mission, of how easily it might fail and what would happen if they did fail. He had worked so hard to rebuild Nebulon and help the galaxy's needy. Now everything he had worked for and cared about was standing on the edge of destruction, and he was alone, straining to keep it from falling.

Samus didn't answer at first. She had to chose her words carefully, and, while being extremely confident in many things, she didn't trust herself to say the right thing here.

"I don't want to put you on the spot," said Maelos, "it's just, well, I feel kind of hopeless."

"Hey," she got upand motioned for him to come with her, "I've been through things that looked just as hopeless as this situation, but I never gave up, and I'm not going to start today. We will defeat this."

Maelos looked up at her. The light caught her profile just right and accented her keen blue eyes. An aura of strength and knowledge came from her. She was so confident, her voice and eyes conveying a certainty he'd never seen in anyone else before. And so, feeling calmed and protected, he followed her.

The Unity Ball was to be held on the Puideya Space Station, which orbited around the fifth moon of Aret. It was a minimum of 3 hours flight from Burxig, and they had to be there at 6 p.m. polarian time to get Torim ready for his introductory speech.

Because of this, as soon as Samus and Maelos entered room 1135, they immediately began to get ready for the Ball. Torim had gone to pick up their purchases from Doxin.

When he had left, Sonilla, still silent with shock, had retreated to her room and started to fix her hair. Samus went to her room, partially to get advice for her own hair, and secondly to calm her like she had Maelos.

Strange that I now find myself the comforter, Samus reflected. Entering the room, she glanced around and saw Sonilla in the corner, staring blankly at the wall.

She held a curling iron in her hand, the blinking light indicating that it was on. Samus approached her, but Sonilla didn't notice.

"Sonilla?" Samus asked quietly.

"Ah!" yelped Sonilla. She hurriedly jumped up and then grabbed at the iron as it flew off her lap. This action burnt her hand, and she swore at the hot iron. Waving her burnt hand, she placed the curling iron on the desk and turned to Samus with an embarrassed look.

"I'll get you something," said Samus.

She returned with some ice and gave it to the grateful Sonilla.

"We should be getting ready," she told Sonilla, "or your father will be late."

"We?" questioned Sonilla timidly.

"Ha," snorted Samus, "you didn't think I would do my own hair and makeup did you? I've never touched the stuff in my life, and you're lucky I'm going to let you put it on me."

"You want me to do all that for you?" asked Sonilla, realizing that Samus wanted her to help.

"Well, yeah."

"Okay, let's get started," Sonilla said.

Giving her something to do obviously helped Sonilla take her mind off of the destruction of Yitrun, and that's exactly what Samus had wanted. The calmer they are, the better for this mission. Plus, I really can't do any of this...

"...normally I go to a salon for this type of thing," Sonilla was telling Samus as she finished with the Hunter's hair, "but given the circumstances, well... I can do a decent enough job."

They had both changed into their dresses. Sonilla's hair was put up in a delicate up-do that echoed her sweet and youthful dress. For Samus, Sonilla had selected to curl her hair in loose curls and pin half of it up to give the tomboy a softer and more feminine look.

Samus couldn't deny that she liked the face looking back at her, but at the same time it was a foreign face; a looking-glass that showed a life she could have had if K-2L hadn't been destroyed. 'But such things are not to be dwelt on', the Chozo ideal filled her head.

Using a large and ticklish brush, Sonilla leaned forward and touched up the blush on Samus's cheeks. As she did, Samus noticed for the first time the thin band on her right hand's ring finger. It was silver, displaying a crowned heart made of a light purple gem held by a pair of hands.

"What's this?" Samus asked as she gently grabbed Sonilla's hand. "Are you married or something?"

"Oh, no," replied Sonilla, who had drawn back her hand.

"Well, what then?" Samus demanded.

"I..." Sonilla paused and looked at Samus, who raised an eyebrow that meant 'go on'.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly what it is," Sonilla admitted, "it's origin was lost ages ago, but it's essentially a symbol of love. See…when the crown is put towards the wearer, it symbolizes that that person is free of commitment. Turned out, it means you're "with" someone. On the left hand means marriage."

Samus noticed that Sonilla wore it on her right hand, crown pointed to herself.

"So you're telling the world that you're single?" concluded Samus.

"Kinda," said Sonilla quickly, "it's more of a reminder to myself. A reminder that I'm waiting for someone, and that I need to keep myself for that one man. I just have to find him."

She ended and looked at Samus, her gentle face smiling meekly. Samus looked away, thinking.

I agree that the galaxy is certainly a place of floating morals. Finding something solid is definitely a thing to strive for...

But she had never had relations of any kind with a man, so was she to judge? It isn't at all a bad thing to have a promise to yourself, one that could keep you on a certain path, she thought. But then again, she had never before pondered on the rights/wrongs of monogamy and polygamy.

The Chozo were monogamous, her inner voice said. It can't be a bad thing then.

Samus sighed and gave up the contemplation, another time maybe.

Choosing not to comment, she said to the waiting girl, "come on, we need to leave."

They left the room and found the men waiting for them by the balcony. All three of them looked very fine and handsome, but the appearance of the spectacular ladies humbled them greatly.

Torim smiled at his daughter and blushed when she kissed him on the cheek.

"You look lovely," he whispered to her.

"Well," said Geros loudly, "let's see the couple."

He took Maelos by the his tux jacket and thrust him towards Samus.

Straightening himself, Maelos stood next to Samus. He was wearing a handsome black tux with a silver-blue bow and vest that nicely matched Samus's gown.

For Maelos's protection, Samus was to be his escort for the night. And while Samus felt awkward being so close to a man, she knew it was the best action.

"You may want to be, ah, closer," said Torim delicately.

Maelos quickly placed his arm around Samus's waist and Samus allowed herself to be pulled closer to him. And while the others were studying their clothes and stance, Samus and Maelos met eyes.

There was no spark of romance or lust between them, but it was something just as important. What flashed between their eyes was the same understanding they had come to 8 years ago. They were friends. Both willing to sacrifice themselves for the other, but not sharing in a sensual love.

And with that confirmation made, Samus and Maelos both relaxed.

"Now, you look good," said Torim. "You look believable."

"I agree," chimed Sonilla, and Geros nodded his agreement.

Torim suddenly frowned and asked Samus, "the Federation doesn't know what you look like, do they?"

"Way ahead of you," said Samus as she led them out on the balcony and helped them to board the still invisible ship.

"I allowed them no photographs when I took their missions, but for bounties you have to have an iris scan for identification and payment.. There's only one being in the galaxy who has that scan, and it's my agent back at the bounty office in Coirya."

"It's safe? From Medici?" questioned Torim.

"Yes," replied Samus.

"Alright," said Torim, trusting her word, "we'd better start."

He and Sonilla, with Samus's help, lifted themselves up and into the ship.

Samus turned back and saw Geros and his son still standing in the hotel room. She could see them talking but couldn't make out the words over the general noise of the outside balcony.

"...I'm fine Dad," Maelos told Geros.

"Good," said Geros with a sigh. He pulled himself up and adjusted his cuff-links.

"Is that...?" asked Maelos, his face dawning a look of understanding and near horror.

"Yes," answered Geros slowly. He swallowed hard and blinked his eyes rapidly.

He had almost hoped Maelos wouldn't ask about the white suit he was wearing, but now he was glad his son had asked.

It was the same suit he had on wore on his wedding day, that happy day so many lifetimes ago, or so it felt. He had stared at it for hours as he was packing to come to his injured son some days before. Then he'd tried it on and had been amazed that it still fit.

And standing there together, father and son knew and realized that it was the final chain being broken. Geros wearing that suit really finalized that he was letting go. They were both finally letting go of their beloved wife and mother, and for some odd reason, it felt so appropriate to do it now.

"Hey! Let's go!" came Samus's sharp call.

They came to her and as Maelos boarded, Geros held back.

"Thank you for talking to him," he said. He reached out to grasp her shoulder, thought better of it, and then merely said, "please take care of my son. I love him, and I know you're the only one who can protect him."

Samus was touched by the desperation in his voice. Twice today he had asked something of her, and not for himself but for his son. She reached out and took his arm.

"I will," she said, all the determination in the galaxy rang out in those two simple words.

"You are all very beautiful, especially you, My Lady," said Creto as the hatch closed and Samus buckled up.

"I'm flattered," replied Samus in a monotone.

Once they had exited the planet's atmosphere, she turned off the cloaking device and pressed the button beside it. The cockpit hummed lightly and then everything seemed to ripple. The walls swayed slightly, and they could feel themselves shift.

"What was that?" asked Torim.

"I have just disguised the ship as a dark blue Reco 620, and I'm changing our broadcasting codes so they won't know it's me. They'll think we're your newest rental, complete with driver and posse."

"Sounds good," remarked Torim.

Puideya Space Station came into view some 4 hours later. It was a massive sphere that was made of hundreds of millions of reflective octagon pieces. The light of Aret's sun bounced off of it and made it look like a diamond floating in space, a jewel lost to the rest of the galaxy.

Samus slowed the ship and was granted access to dock M-092. She navigated the traffic and then landed on the dock, which promptly sealed them in a glass case filled with oxygen.

"Everyone ready?" asked Torim.

The group gave forth a weak round of 'sure'; Samus remained silent.

"You will do fine," said Creto happily, as they disembarked, "you have my confidence and wish of the best luck."

"Thank you," replied Samus, who was last out, with genuine affection.

Creto had been with her forever. Since being forced to leave the planet of the same name, her ship's internal computer had been the only constant in her life. Creto was a loyal servant, and friend, who had assisted her so many times before, and even saved her life.

As she and the others entered the station's entrance tunnel, Samus realized that she would always be grateful to Creto, no matter what happened.