"Welcome, Defender."
She stood before Samus with her hands outstretched in peace and welcome. Although she had never met the bounty hunter in person, she knows of her, what she is and of the deeds she's done. It was quite an honor to meet an individual so esteemed among her people.
Samus could hardly speak; she was so awestruck. "You're...you're a Chozo!" She whispered in a bewildered, yet accusing tone.
The Chozo looked at herself. "I suppose so." She nodded at the Dachora she was stroking before. "Lady Mother found me in the forest and told me that you were in need of our help. She was going to bring me to your ship but it looks as if my help is no longer needed."
"Well, sort of..." Samus picked up her laser and dropped in her pocket. She felt shy and clumsy in the presence of this individual, and somewhat embarrassed by mistaking her as a threat. Would she be offended? Does her tribe have different customs and traditions than Samus's Zebesian caretakers? The bounty hunter was as uncertain and confused as a child.
Yet, today was certainly a day of surprises for her. To at last find survivors of the Chozo after all these years was like a dream come true. After so much searching and heartbreak, it was hard to believe she actually found the elusive bird-people. She should be elated. Instead, she felt a hollow disappointment. It hit her like a rock to the face that although she found the Chozo, she would not be able to find Old Bird among them. If none of her friends and family of old were here, then what's the use of finding those of the same race? She felt as if all her long years of searching yielded nothing but a little peace of mind, confirmation that the Chozo still exist, but nothing more.
"My name is Veaning." The female Chozo said. She jutted her neck forward.
"I am Samus Aran." It was Chozo ritual to touch beaks in greeting, but Samus doesn't have such a feature on her face. She did the next best thing by letting her cheek graze against Veaning's beak. The gesture felt familiar; it brought back so many memories. She suddenly remembered some of the good times on the Chozo refugee ship, the one in which she spent eleven years of her life. Times of laughter, times of sharing, times of learning, freely touching cheek to beak. The bounty hunter let herself smile, allowing excitement overshadow disappointment.
"It has been so long since I've met another Chozo. It feels like I've been searching forever..." She had a thousand things she wanted to say to her lost people but no idea where to start. She felt she could already trust this Chozo stranger, even if the two of them had just met.
The younger Dachora suddenly interrupted her with a mewling squawk and an Etecoon also chirped his comment. The mother nipped at them both to be silent, but Veaning watched them thoughtfully. "They say they are the ones who brought you here. The coordinates of this planet were marked on your computer, but they were the ones who piloted your ship." The Etecoon chittered rebelliously. Whatever he said, it made Veaning laugh out loud. "Such a frivolous creature! He was upset because you were taking all the credit."
Samus gave the animals a sidelong glance. "Alright, then. Good job finding this planet. Is that better?" They were much happier with that bit of praise.
"I would love to hear all about your travels," Veaning said eagerly. "But the other Chozo will also want to hear your story. I'm sure you have as many questions for us as we have for you. Let us go to the city. Follow me." She crouched and bunched up her leg muscles, springing easily onto the branch of a tree five meters above her.
Samus couldn't leap quite as high with her denser bones, therefore she wall- jumped from the trunk of another tree onto the branch. "So you've all heard about me? At least you know that I'm part Chozo. No normal human can jump that high."
"Of course we know." Veaning smiled and clicked her beak in amusement. "We know a lot about you, Sister. You are like a living legend among us Chozo." Samus also smiled. So Old Bird's ghost had passed through here before, spreading her fame and glory. Or maybe other ghosts. She was also pleased to be acknowledged as kin to Veaning. It made her feel more at home. It was good to be among family again, no matter how distant they were related.
The Etecoons had gathered in the foliage around them, hanging off vines and branches. The two Dachoras watched from their earthbound position. Veaning stood up and jerked her head this way and that, like a bird on the lookout. "Let's go. It's easier to reach the city from the treetops." With that, she launched herself onto the next branch, then the next. Samus followed in quick pursuit, pushing past leaves in her face, barely keeping up. Every once in a while there would be a horizontal branch wide enough to run across, and she would be able to catch up to the Chozo a little. The Etecoons swung from tree to tree like the little monkeys they are, but the Dachoras had to follow from the ground, feet flashing in front of them.
It felt so refreshing to journey the trees like this after days in bed. The bounty hunter made another fantastic leap out into the air but nearly fudged her landing, the soles of her shoes slippery on the moss-covered branch. She felt a bit of regret that she would never be as graceful as Veaning, who flowed like wind between the branches, claws on her feet and hands ensuring she would never lose her grip. She was probably born to the trees, as Samus was born to the stars.
Judging from her glimmering crest of blue and black feathers, Veaning was a young Chozo, likely younger than the bounty hunter. Her oval, slightly upward tilting eyes gave her away as being female, whereas males usually have spherical eyes that droop downwards as they grew older. Her gender could also be assessed by the pattern of feathers on her back, but that was currently covered by a length of green cloth made of some sort of fiberous material. She wore it like a cape or a backwards apron. It was decorated by a vibrant yellow Chozo symbol which, if Samus remembered her teachings correctly, meant 'available'. She blushed a bit at that. Veaning must be unpaired and advertising herself to potential mates.
The Chozo and the bounty huntress climbed up towards the canopy, using the branches as easily as one would use stairs. They finally broke the veil of leaves and paused for a moment, panting after that brisk romp through the trees. Without the cover of leaves, the wind almost reached gale speeds at this altitude, whipping at hair and feathers relentlessly. The sky of this planet was finally visible, an endless wash of pearly white, as if perpetually covered by a thin layer of clouds. The sun also shone white, although a nearby star colored the atmosphere with a bright splash of green. Samus could not tell how high up she was, but she could see the faint backbone of mountains running along the line of sky. In the distance, huge bushy plants grew out of the canopy every hundred miles or so, dotting the forest like bouys upon a sea of green. Even the smallest of those amazing plants could probably conceal a modern battle cruiser in its leaves, while the largest ones rivaled the mountains in height.
Veaning pointed to one of the nearest and largest bushes, squinting against the wind. "That is our city. There are almost three hundred thousand Chozo on this planet, and about five thousand live in each of the Sheltering Trees."
"All of you live in the tree?" Samus wondered. "Nice. But how do you keep the tree alive if you carve into it?"
"Oh, we use the tree for shelter, but we don't technically live inside it. We would not want to hurt our tree." Met by Samus's uncomprehending stare, Veaning smiled again. "You will see when you get there." She jumped, disappearing beneath the foliage, the bounty hunter close in tow. The two of them resumed their journey, staying under the cover of leaves to avoid the harsh wind. They only breached the canopy to realign themselves if they veer off in the wrong direction.
As Samus drew nearer to the Sheltering Tree, it towered over her, an impossibly tall monument of nature, but still more like a gigantic bush than a tree. No branches were visible under the wealth of leaves that shivered with each breath of wind, glittering deep green and purple. The leaves were so dense that they appeared impenetrable, like a brick wall. It came as a surprise to the bounty hunter when Veaning simply leaped into it, vanishing into the foliage as if she had never existed. Half-expecting to crash into something solid, Samus took a deep breath and jumped in.
She landed on all fours, the better to steady herself with. She stood up hesitantly and noted how the wind, as well as the veil of leaves, abruptly ended on this side of the Sheltering Tree. The leaves were simply a facade, a skin hiding the trunk and branches as well as providing safety for the inhabitants that lived here. The whole tree was conical in design, much like some of the other plants in this world. It started out with a relatively thin foundation, maybe a hundred meters across, then grew ever wider as it grew upwards, until it was several miles in diameter. Sort of like an oversized ice-cream cone. A cyclone would actually be a better analogy, since the trunk of the tree spiraled upwards instead of growing straight. That's right, spiraled. Samus was currently standing on the main trunk which was horizontal save for a slight incline. She looked far down and could see the enormous roots of the tree, as well as two green dots racing up the trunk as if on a twisting staircase. Those dots would be the Dachoras, who had to run up until they're dizzy before reaching this level. She looked up and could see a circle of pale sky, ringed by the multitude of leaves.
The branches that protruded from the main trunk have been bent and manipulated and reinforced into homes. Like Veaning said before, no living quarters were carved from the tree's main trunk. In fact, the Chozos living here probably kept the Sheltering Tree healthy with their amazing technologies. And there were a lot of Chozo.
Samus had never seen so many Chozo in one place. The sight of them all caused her to swell with happiness. For the first time, she saw them as a part of a planet, content and free, rather than the shattered remains of a once-great civilization, constantly running from demons unseen. For a moment, the bounty hunter considered giving up her trade and living out her life with these bird-people, never again worrying about money, or Space Pirates, or the fate of the galaxy. She used to dream about such things as a little girl.
"Are you okay?" Veaning noticed Samus's silence.
The bounty hunter blinked and turned to her new friend. "Yeah. It just seems... unbelievable. I mean, I've spent nearly all my adult life trying to find the Chozo, and now that I'm here..." She shrugged helplessly. "It feels like the end of my search. But the beginning of something else. I don't know."
Veaning took Samus by the hand, careful, as all Chozo were, not to cause any injury with her sharpened talons. "The elder will want to meet you. Come." She led the human up the tree's trunk, walking this time instead of branch-hopping. This gave the Dachoras a chance to catch up, although they were exhausted by the time they did. Veaning picked up the younger one to save him the trouble of walking. Other Chozo were also beginning to gather around, appearing out of houses and jumping from branches, curious about the newcomers. They chatted among themselves in the Chozo tongue. Samus could only understand bits of their conversation and desperately wished she had paid more attention to Old Bird when he tried to teach her the language.
A large, disklike machine suddenly rose from the eye of the cyclone-like tree. Samus jumped back, startled, then realized it was only an elevator mechanism much like those she had seen on Tallon IV. It was probably used by those too old or too lazy to climb the tree, or to transport heavy objects to the topmost branches. It was rather odd to see such technology in the midst of all these natural buildings and pathways. But the Chozo have always been like that: a striking mixture of the primitive and the advanced, forever united by their unwavering spirituality. Some of them lean more towards the technological than the natural, and vice versa. The elevator settled briefly on a higher level, then descended to the bottom floor with three new passengers, humming softly.
Veaning stopped at a building made out of a beautiful species of vines, different than the rest of the homes. "Here we are." She pushed back a curtain of leaves and invited Samus to enter first. The bounty hunter stepped in hesitantly, unsure about what she would find. First of all, the scent of fresh-cut grasses assaulted her senses, almost overwhelming until she became used to the fragrance. The cavern was made out of branches so intertwined that not even light could shine through. A flurry of florescent insects provided the room with an eerie blue glow, just enough to allow Samus to see the walls of the building. It was about as high and as wide as a cathedral and decorated with metallic vines grown or shaped into intricate patterns. The floor was either made out of ceramic or hard, polished wood. Every step echoed in this dark chamber.
Both the mother and the younger Dachora were eyeing the glowing insects hungrily. The chick was about to reach for one when a soft chuckle interrupted him. He immediately retracted his neck with a tinge of embarrassment. Samus looked for the source of the chuckle and found a lone Chozo standing on a pedestal at the other end of the building. He was a little shorter than the bounty hunter and dressed in swaths of billowy robes made out of some sort of reflective material. The color, cut and design of the clothes told her that he was merely the elder of this forest community, not the leader of the planet as her mentor and foster-father, Old Bird, was. He was rather young for an elder, still retaining a natural head of feathers although he wore a crown for ceremony. In his clawed hands he held a wooden cane shaped like the head of a Chozo.
"Little Runner, I suggest you abstain against the consumption of our lighting sources," The elder said to the young Dachora. "But if you would be patient for a while longer, I am sure we could provide you with ample provisions for you as well as your mother and your cohorts." The Dachora whined and fled behind his mother. The elder's voice was strangely scratchy, as if he had ruined it by screaming a lot, but his mastery of Universal was as good as any native's use of the language, perhaps even better. He turned to Samus, smiling with the loose skin on the edges of his beak. "Quarano esludius tsangid Chozo." He said smoothly.
Samus bowed. "Gyantsi Chozo cyrulid otorning." She replied in ancient greeting. The words sounded foreign to her; it's been so long since she's used them.
The elder sighed as if relieved. "Ah, so you must be the Hatchling of legend, one who is of Chozo blood. Please, come closer. I have heard much about you through our ancient fathers and mothers, fantastic stories of heroism and triumph. Yet, I had never expected such a legend to grace our humble home." He stepped off the pedestal and drew nearer to his visitors.
Samus warmed at the compliment. "Thank you, Elder." She said and bowed again. The elder's beak brushed the side of her face in greeting. He repeated this gesture with each of the Etecoons and Dachoras in turn. To Veaning, he was a little more affectionate, stroking the feathers of her neck while his beak and forehead touched with hers.
"First Daughter, you have done well to bring our lost friends and family to the safety under our wings. If you do not have any unfinished duties to attend to, you may stay and listen to the tales of battles, bravery, and exotic lands that the Defender brings to us." He spoke in Universal for Samus's benefit.
"Father Elder," Veaning began. "I assume our visitors are tired after their long journey here. Maybe they would like to rest first?"
The elder fluffed up his feathers, startling the glowing insects that had been resting on him. "Of course, of course, child of mine, she needs not tell all for the moment, but we haven't even been formally introduced yet." He turned to the bounty hunter. "You may call me Wind Elder." Wind Elder. Samus vaguely wondered if he was called that because he leads this city braced against the wind, or because he likes to talk a lot. "But I am most curious, Hatchling. What might have brought you here to these remote regions of space. Are you in need of our assistance? Perhaps we are in need of yours? Or do you have some other purpose?"
There was a number of reasons why Samus ended up here. But she didn't want to reveal to the Chozos that she had some sort of energy-sucking disease. Not yet, at least. "Wind Elder, I have been searching for the Chozo ever since Old Bird left me alone among the living. I suppose... the only reason I am here is because I've succeeded in my search." The mother Dachora grumbled a little, urging Samus to say more. The bounty hunter shook her head slightly, just enough for the bird to see and understand. The Dachora appeared somewhat disgruntled at her human friend, staring at her with red eyes stained velvet by the blue light. Samus hoped the bird would keep quiet about her illness for now.
Wind Elder nodded as if satisfied with this answer. But Veaning was somewhat confused. The Lady Mother had told her that they came here looking for help. She said Samus was suffering from a dire disease which human doctors could not heal. Yet, why did the Defender not mention this to the elder? Veaning sensed that something else was on the bounty hunter's mind, something she was trying to hide. The Chozo wisely decided to keep her suspicions to herself for now, preparing to reveal them when she finds a private moment with the elder.
Wind Elder turned to the Etecoons and Dachora. "And what about you, friends of our deceased cousins of Zebes? I was much concerned when I heard your home planet had been destroyed, fearing you did not survive. How is it that you have escaped in time and have your paths cross with the Warrior's?" Samus noted his use of 'Warrior' to refer to her. Chozos have an annoying habit of naming people by their traits, abilities or situations, forgoing the use of their actual names. That made for very complex bookkeeping sometimes. She wondered why she earned another nickname when she already had so many: Defender, Newborn, Hunter and Hatchling. Well, it's mostly the Space Pirates that called her Hunter, and she was a little old to be a Newborn anymore. She supposed the older Chozo still might call her Hatchling, but probably not the younger ones. Maybe she was due for a new name.
The animals answered the elder's question with a series of squawks and chirps. Samus couldn't understand them, but she was able to detect changes in their tone and expression as they told different parts of their story, from the exciting to the mournful to the frightening.Wind Elder would nod at various intervals to indicate he was still listening. When they were finished, Samus asked, "Wind Elder, would you mind telling me what happened to them as well? I mean, I couldn't understand a word they said."
"Ah, of course. My apologies, Hatchling." He clicked his cane on the ground nervously. "Where should I start? How about with the destruction of Zebes? They tell me that its destruction was one you had a hand in, yet you had no choice. Am I correct? Ah. You freed the Dachoras and Etecoons from the Space Pirates and they escaped using a small passenger ship. Now, you have to understand that having lived among the Chozo for many years, Lady Mother has learned of a few of our sanctuaries. She took her child and the Etecoons to a planet which we call Troidemis. The Chozo there have long since left this world, but she should have found shelter there anyways." The old Chozo shook his head in disbelief. "They didn't. For some reason, the Eaters have returned, and the metroids are nowhere to be found..."
"Metroids?" Samus interrupted. "There are metroids on Troidemis?"
"Yes." The elder replied simply. "The metroids have always lived there."
"Always?" Samus stopped for a moment, trying to piece together her scattered thoughts. As far as she knew, metroids were native to SR388. And they were all extinct now. But if they still exist somewhere, then what would she have to do? Would she try to save them, preserve them from those that might use their powers for destruction? Or would she slaughter them all as she had tried to do before? No, she knew that she could never willingly kill them again. Not without a wrenching pain in her heart. "Where...exactly is this Troidemis?"
The Wind Elder told her the coordinates of the planet, and with a tinge of regret, she realized that it was actually SR388. The Chozo simply had a different name for it.
Continuing on with his story, the elder said, "Without the metroids, the Dachoras and Etecoons had no defense against the Eaters. It was a miracle they survived as long as they did, but they knew they couldn't last long. Their passenger ship was out of fuel, and therefore, they couldn't escape the planet. Fortunately, they were picked up by human researchers. They accepted imprisonment as laboratory specimens in return for their safety. However, the laboratory was eventually invaded by the Eaters, who infected all the humans and their experiments. It was around this time that you arrived to rescue them." Wind Elder clicked his beak. "I suppose you know the rest of the story."
Samus listened to all this stoicly, the wheels in her head doing steady turns. The Eaters were probably the X. Metroids eat the X. She had always found it odd how the Chozo managed to colonize SR388 with all the metroids flying around. She thought that the metroids were the cause of their extinction on that planet. But from the way Wind Elder spoke of them, they appeared to be less of a threat than an asset, a vital item in fending off the even deadlier X. All of which meant....what...?
She was about to ask more questions when Veaning touched her hand. "Father Elder, we should leave now." She said with a courteous bob of the head. "The sun is setting, and I suppose Samus would want somewhere to stay for the night."
"Yes, yes. We can continue this conversation some other time." The elder said quickly, yet he was clearly reluctant to let such an interesting person leave. "Ah, you must be exhausted, Hatchling. How selfish of me to keep you to myself for so long when you have your own needs to attend to. If you are in no rush, feel free to explore our wonderful city tomorrow. My Chozo brothers and sisters welcome you here for as long as you would care to stay."
Samus still wanted to ask more questions of the elder, but Veaning took her hand and led her out of the cathedral. It would be rude to refuse such hospitality.
Oh, what the heck, it's not as if she's planning to leave anytime soon. Her questions can wait. Instead, she turned her thoughts to the prospect of tomorrow, the thought of once again being among the Chozo, sharing, learning and living. It would be just like years ago, when a bright-eyed young girl of Chozo blood leapt to where no other human can reach. Twice had she lost her family, and now, having found them again, will cherish every moment she spends in their company and care.
She stood before Samus with her hands outstretched in peace and welcome. Although she had never met the bounty hunter in person, she knows of her, what she is and of the deeds she's done. It was quite an honor to meet an individual so esteemed among her people.
Samus could hardly speak; she was so awestruck. "You're...you're a Chozo!" She whispered in a bewildered, yet accusing tone.
The Chozo looked at herself. "I suppose so." She nodded at the Dachora she was stroking before. "Lady Mother found me in the forest and told me that you were in need of our help. She was going to bring me to your ship but it looks as if my help is no longer needed."
"Well, sort of..." Samus picked up her laser and dropped in her pocket. She felt shy and clumsy in the presence of this individual, and somewhat embarrassed by mistaking her as a threat. Would she be offended? Does her tribe have different customs and traditions than Samus's Zebesian caretakers? The bounty hunter was as uncertain and confused as a child.
Yet, today was certainly a day of surprises for her. To at last find survivors of the Chozo after all these years was like a dream come true. After so much searching and heartbreak, it was hard to believe she actually found the elusive bird-people. She should be elated. Instead, she felt a hollow disappointment. It hit her like a rock to the face that although she found the Chozo, she would not be able to find Old Bird among them. If none of her friends and family of old were here, then what's the use of finding those of the same race? She felt as if all her long years of searching yielded nothing but a little peace of mind, confirmation that the Chozo still exist, but nothing more.
"My name is Veaning." The female Chozo said. She jutted her neck forward.
"I am Samus Aran." It was Chozo ritual to touch beaks in greeting, but Samus doesn't have such a feature on her face. She did the next best thing by letting her cheek graze against Veaning's beak. The gesture felt familiar; it brought back so many memories. She suddenly remembered some of the good times on the Chozo refugee ship, the one in which she spent eleven years of her life. Times of laughter, times of sharing, times of learning, freely touching cheek to beak. The bounty hunter let herself smile, allowing excitement overshadow disappointment.
"It has been so long since I've met another Chozo. It feels like I've been searching forever..." She had a thousand things she wanted to say to her lost people but no idea where to start. She felt she could already trust this Chozo stranger, even if the two of them had just met.
The younger Dachora suddenly interrupted her with a mewling squawk and an Etecoon also chirped his comment. The mother nipped at them both to be silent, but Veaning watched them thoughtfully. "They say they are the ones who brought you here. The coordinates of this planet were marked on your computer, but they were the ones who piloted your ship." The Etecoon chittered rebelliously. Whatever he said, it made Veaning laugh out loud. "Such a frivolous creature! He was upset because you were taking all the credit."
Samus gave the animals a sidelong glance. "Alright, then. Good job finding this planet. Is that better?" They were much happier with that bit of praise.
"I would love to hear all about your travels," Veaning said eagerly. "But the other Chozo will also want to hear your story. I'm sure you have as many questions for us as we have for you. Let us go to the city. Follow me." She crouched and bunched up her leg muscles, springing easily onto the branch of a tree five meters above her.
Samus couldn't leap quite as high with her denser bones, therefore she wall- jumped from the trunk of another tree onto the branch. "So you've all heard about me? At least you know that I'm part Chozo. No normal human can jump that high."
"Of course we know." Veaning smiled and clicked her beak in amusement. "We know a lot about you, Sister. You are like a living legend among us Chozo." Samus also smiled. So Old Bird's ghost had passed through here before, spreading her fame and glory. Or maybe other ghosts. She was also pleased to be acknowledged as kin to Veaning. It made her feel more at home. It was good to be among family again, no matter how distant they were related.
The Etecoons had gathered in the foliage around them, hanging off vines and branches. The two Dachoras watched from their earthbound position. Veaning stood up and jerked her head this way and that, like a bird on the lookout. "Let's go. It's easier to reach the city from the treetops." With that, she launched herself onto the next branch, then the next. Samus followed in quick pursuit, pushing past leaves in her face, barely keeping up. Every once in a while there would be a horizontal branch wide enough to run across, and she would be able to catch up to the Chozo a little. The Etecoons swung from tree to tree like the little monkeys they are, but the Dachoras had to follow from the ground, feet flashing in front of them.
It felt so refreshing to journey the trees like this after days in bed. The bounty hunter made another fantastic leap out into the air but nearly fudged her landing, the soles of her shoes slippery on the moss-covered branch. She felt a bit of regret that she would never be as graceful as Veaning, who flowed like wind between the branches, claws on her feet and hands ensuring she would never lose her grip. She was probably born to the trees, as Samus was born to the stars.
Judging from her glimmering crest of blue and black feathers, Veaning was a young Chozo, likely younger than the bounty hunter. Her oval, slightly upward tilting eyes gave her away as being female, whereas males usually have spherical eyes that droop downwards as they grew older. Her gender could also be assessed by the pattern of feathers on her back, but that was currently covered by a length of green cloth made of some sort of fiberous material. She wore it like a cape or a backwards apron. It was decorated by a vibrant yellow Chozo symbol which, if Samus remembered her teachings correctly, meant 'available'. She blushed a bit at that. Veaning must be unpaired and advertising herself to potential mates.
The Chozo and the bounty huntress climbed up towards the canopy, using the branches as easily as one would use stairs. They finally broke the veil of leaves and paused for a moment, panting after that brisk romp through the trees. Without the cover of leaves, the wind almost reached gale speeds at this altitude, whipping at hair and feathers relentlessly. The sky of this planet was finally visible, an endless wash of pearly white, as if perpetually covered by a thin layer of clouds. The sun also shone white, although a nearby star colored the atmosphere with a bright splash of green. Samus could not tell how high up she was, but she could see the faint backbone of mountains running along the line of sky. In the distance, huge bushy plants grew out of the canopy every hundred miles or so, dotting the forest like bouys upon a sea of green. Even the smallest of those amazing plants could probably conceal a modern battle cruiser in its leaves, while the largest ones rivaled the mountains in height.
Veaning pointed to one of the nearest and largest bushes, squinting against the wind. "That is our city. There are almost three hundred thousand Chozo on this planet, and about five thousand live in each of the Sheltering Trees."
"All of you live in the tree?" Samus wondered. "Nice. But how do you keep the tree alive if you carve into it?"
"Oh, we use the tree for shelter, but we don't technically live inside it. We would not want to hurt our tree." Met by Samus's uncomprehending stare, Veaning smiled again. "You will see when you get there." She jumped, disappearing beneath the foliage, the bounty hunter close in tow. The two of them resumed their journey, staying under the cover of leaves to avoid the harsh wind. They only breached the canopy to realign themselves if they veer off in the wrong direction.
As Samus drew nearer to the Sheltering Tree, it towered over her, an impossibly tall monument of nature, but still more like a gigantic bush than a tree. No branches were visible under the wealth of leaves that shivered with each breath of wind, glittering deep green and purple. The leaves were so dense that they appeared impenetrable, like a brick wall. It came as a surprise to the bounty hunter when Veaning simply leaped into it, vanishing into the foliage as if she had never existed. Half-expecting to crash into something solid, Samus took a deep breath and jumped in.
She landed on all fours, the better to steady herself with. She stood up hesitantly and noted how the wind, as well as the veil of leaves, abruptly ended on this side of the Sheltering Tree. The leaves were simply a facade, a skin hiding the trunk and branches as well as providing safety for the inhabitants that lived here. The whole tree was conical in design, much like some of the other plants in this world. It started out with a relatively thin foundation, maybe a hundred meters across, then grew ever wider as it grew upwards, until it was several miles in diameter. Sort of like an oversized ice-cream cone. A cyclone would actually be a better analogy, since the trunk of the tree spiraled upwards instead of growing straight. That's right, spiraled. Samus was currently standing on the main trunk which was horizontal save for a slight incline. She looked far down and could see the enormous roots of the tree, as well as two green dots racing up the trunk as if on a twisting staircase. Those dots would be the Dachoras, who had to run up until they're dizzy before reaching this level. She looked up and could see a circle of pale sky, ringed by the multitude of leaves.
The branches that protruded from the main trunk have been bent and manipulated and reinforced into homes. Like Veaning said before, no living quarters were carved from the tree's main trunk. In fact, the Chozos living here probably kept the Sheltering Tree healthy with their amazing technologies. And there were a lot of Chozo.
Samus had never seen so many Chozo in one place. The sight of them all caused her to swell with happiness. For the first time, she saw them as a part of a planet, content and free, rather than the shattered remains of a once-great civilization, constantly running from demons unseen. For a moment, the bounty hunter considered giving up her trade and living out her life with these bird-people, never again worrying about money, or Space Pirates, or the fate of the galaxy. She used to dream about such things as a little girl.
"Are you okay?" Veaning noticed Samus's silence.
The bounty hunter blinked and turned to her new friend. "Yeah. It just seems... unbelievable. I mean, I've spent nearly all my adult life trying to find the Chozo, and now that I'm here..." She shrugged helplessly. "It feels like the end of my search. But the beginning of something else. I don't know."
Veaning took Samus by the hand, careful, as all Chozo were, not to cause any injury with her sharpened talons. "The elder will want to meet you. Come." She led the human up the tree's trunk, walking this time instead of branch-hopping. This gave the Dachoras a chance to catch up, although they were exhausted by the time they did. Veaning picked up the younger one to save him the trouble of walking. Other Chozo were also beginning to gather around, appearing out of houses and jumping from branches, curious about the newcomers. They chatted among themselves in the Chozo tongue. Samus could only understand bits of their conversation and desperately wished she had paid more attention to Old Bird when he tried to teach her the language.
A large, disklike machine suddenly rose from the eye of the cyclone-like tree. Samus jumped back, startled, then realized it was only an elevator mechanism much like those she had seen on Tallon IV. It was probably used by those too old or too lazy to climb the tree, or to transport heavy objects to the topmost branches. It was rather odd to see such technology in the midst of all these natural buildings and pathways. But the Chozo have always been like that: a striking mixture of the primitive and the advanced, forever united by their unwavering spirituality. Some of them lean more towards the technological than the natural, and vice versa. The elevator settled briefly on a higher level, then descended to the bottom floor with three new passengers, humming softly.
Veaning stopped at a building made out of a beautiful species of vines, different than the rest of the homes. "Here we are." She pushed back a curtain of leaves and invited Samus to enter first. The bounty hunter stepped in hesitantly, unsure about what she would find. First of all, the scent of fresh-cut grasses assaulted her senses, almost overwhelming until she became used to the fragrance. The cavern was made out of branches so intertwined that not even light could shine through. A flurry of florescent insects provided the room with an eerie blue glow, just enough to allow Samus to see the walls of the building. It was about as high and as wide as a cathedral and decorated with metallic vines grown or shaped into intricate patterns. The floor was either made out of ceramic or hard, polished wood. Every step echoed in this dark chamber.
Both the mother and the younger Dachora were eyeing the glowing insects hungrily. The chick was about to reach for one when a soft chuckle interrupted him. He immediately retracted his neck with a tinge of embarrassment. Samus looked for the source of the chuckle and found a lone Chozo standing on a pedestal at the other end of the building. He was a little shorter than the bounty hunter and dressed in swaths of billowy robes made out of some sort of reflective material. The color, cut and design of the clothes told her that he was merely the elder of this forest community, not the leader of the planet as her mentor and foster-father, Old Bird, was. He was rather young for an elder, still retaining a natural head of feathers although he wore a crown for ceremony. In his clawed hands he held a wooden cane shaped like the head of a Chozo.
"Little Runner, I suggest you abstain against the consumption of our lighting sources," The elder said to the young Dachora. "But if you would be patient for a while longer, I am sure we could provide you with ample provisions for you as well as your mother and your cohorts." The Dachora whined and fled behind his mother. The elder's voice was strangely scratchy, as if he had ruined it by screaming a lot, but his mastery of Universal was as good as any native's use of the language, perhaps even better. He turned to Samus, smiling with the loose skin on the edges of his beak. "Quarano esludius tsangid Chozo." He said smoothly.
Samus bowed. "Gyantsi Chozo cyrulid otorning." She replied in ancient greeting. The words sounded foreign to her; it's been so long since she's used them.
The elder sighed as if relieved. "Ah, so you must be the Hatchling of legend, one who is of Chozo blood. Please, come closer. I have heard much about you through our ancient fathers and mothers, fantastic stories of heroism and triumph. Yet, I had never expected such a legend to grace our humble home." He stepped off the pedestal and drew nearer to his visitors.
Samus warmed at the compliment. "Thank you, Elder." She said and bowed again. The elder's beak brushed the side of her face in greeting. He repeated this gesture with each of the Etecoons and Dachoras in turn. To Veaning, he was a little more affectionate, stroking the feathers of her neck while his beak and forehead touched with hers.
"First Daughter, you have done well to bring our lost friends and family to the safety under our wings. If you do not have any unfinished duties to attend to, you may stay and listen to the tales of battles, bravery, and exotic lands that the Defender brings to us." He spoke in Universal for Samus's benefit.
"Father Elder," Veaning began. "I assume our visitors are tired after their long journey here. Maybe they would like to rest first?"
The elder fluffed up his feathers, startling the glowing insects that had been resting on him. "Of course, of course, child of mine, she needs not tell all for the moment, but we haven't even been formally introduced yet." He turned to the bounty hunter. "You may call me Wind Elder." Wind Elder. Samus vaguely wondered if he was called that because he leads this city braced against the wind, or because he likes to talk a lot. "But I am most curious, Hatchling. What might have brought you here to these remote regions of space. Are you in need of our assistance? Perhaps we are in need of yours? Or do you have some other purpose?"
There was a number of reasons why Samus ended up here. But she didn't want to reveal to the Chozos that she had some sort of energy-sucking disease. Not yet, at least. "Wind Elder, I have been searching for the Chozo ever since Old Bird left me alone among the living. I suppose... the only reason I am here is because I've succeeded in my search." The mother Dachora grumbled a little, urging Samus to say more. The bounty hunter shook her head slightly, just enough for the bird to see and understand. The Dachora appeared somewhat disgruntled at her human friend, staring at her with red eyes stained velvet by the blue light. Samus hoped the bird would keep quiet about her illness for now.
Wind Elder nodded as if satisfied with this answer. But Veaning was somewhat confused. The Lady Mother had told her that they came here looking for help. She said Samus was suffering from a dire disease which human doctors could not heal. Yet, why did the Defender not mention this to the elder? Veaning sensed that something else was on the bounty hunter's mind, something she was trying to hide. The Chozo wisely decided to keep her suspicions to herself for now, preparing to reveal them when she finds a private moment with the elder.
Wind Elder turned to the Etecoons and Dachora. "And what about you, friends of our deceased cousins of Zebes? I was much concerned when I heard your home planet had been destroyed, fearing you did not survive. How is it that you have escaped in time and have your paths cross with the Warrior's?" Samus noted his use of 'Warrior' to refer to her. Chozos have an annoying habit of naming people by their traits, abilities or situations, forgoing the use of their actual names. That made for very complex bookkeeping sometimes. She wondered why she earned another nickname when she already had so many: Defender, Newborn, Hunter and Hatchling. Well, it's mostly the Space Pirates that called her Hunter, and she was a little old to be a Newborn anymore. She supposed the older Chozo still might call her Hatchling, but probably not the younger ones. Maybe she was due for a new name.
The animals answered the elder's question with a series of squawks and chirps. Samus couldn't understand them, but she was able to detect changes in their tone and expression as they told different parts of their story, from the exciting to the mournful to the frightening.Wind Elder would nod at various intervals to indicate he was still listening. When they were finished, Samus asked, "Wind Elder, would you mind telling me what happened to them as well? I mean, I couldn't understand a word they said."
"Ah, of course. My apologies, Hatchling." He clicked his cane on the ground nervously. "Where should I start? How about with the destruction of Zebes? They tell me that its destruction was one you had a hand in, yet you had no choice. Am I correct? Ah. You freed the Dachoras and Etecoons from the Space Pirates and they escaped using a small passenger ship. Now, you have to understand that having lived among the Chozo for many years, Lady Mother has learned of a few of our sanctuaries. She took her child and the Etecoons to a planet which we call Troidemis. The Chozo there have long since left this world, but she should have found shelter there anyways." The old Chozo shook his head in disbelief. "They didn't. For some reason, the Eaters have returned, and the metroids are nowhere to be found..."
"Metroids?" Samus interrupted. "There are metroids on Troidemis?"
"Yes." The elder replied simply. "The metroids have always lived there."
"Always?" Samus stopped for a moment, trying to piece together her scattered thoughts. As far as she knew, metroids were native to SR388. And they were all extinct now. But if they still exist somewhere, then what would she have to do? Would she try to save them, preserve them from those that might use their powers for destruction? Or would she slaughter them all as she had tried to do before? No, she knew that she could never willingly kill them again. Not without a wrenching pain in her heart. "Where...exactly is this Troidemis?"
The Wind Elder told her the coordinates of the planet, and with a tinge of regret, she realized that it was actually SR388. The Chozo simply had a different name for it.
Continuing on with his story, the elder said, "Without the metroids, the Dachoras and Etecoons had no defense against the Eaters. It was a miracle they survived as long as they did, but they knew they couldn't last long. Their passenger ship was out of fuel, and therefore, they couldn't escape the planet. Fortunately, they were picked up by human researchers. They accepted imprisonment as laboratory specimens in return for their safety. However, the laboratory was eventually invaded by the Eaters, who infected all the humans and their experiments. It was around this time that you arrived to rescue them." Wind Elder clicked his beak. "I suppose you know the rest of the story."
Samus listened to all this stoicly, the wheels in her head doing steady turns. The Eaters were probably the X. Metroids eat the X. She had always found it odd how the Chozo managed to colonize SR388 with all the metroids flying around. She thought that the metroids were the cause of their extinction on that planet. But from the way Wind Elder spoke of them, they appeared to be less of a threat than an asset, a vital item in fending off the even deadlier X. All of which meant....what...?
She was about to ask more questions when Veaning touched her hand. "Father Elder, we should leave now." She said with a courteous bob of the head. "The sun is setting, and I suppose Samus would want somewhere to stay for the night."
"Yes, yes. We can continue this conversation some other time." The elder said quickly, yet he was clearly reluctant to let such an interesting person leave. "Ah, you must be exhausted, Hatchling. How selfish of me to keep you to myself for so long when you have your own needs to attend to. If you are in no rush, feel free to explore our wonderful city tomorrow. My Chozo brothers and sisters welcome you here for as long as you would care to stay."
Samus still wanted to ask more questions of the elder, but Veaning took her hand and led her out of the cathedral. It would be rude to refuse such hospitality.
Oh, what the heck, it's not as if she's planning to leave anytime soon. Her questions can wait. Instead, she turned her thoughts to the prospect of tomorrow, the thought of once again being among the Chozo, sharing, learning and living. It would be just like years ago, when a bright-eyed young girl of Chozo blood leapt to where no other human can reach. Twice had she lost her family, and now, having found them again, will cherish every moment she spends in their company and care.