I truly enjoy that everyone who read the Fic finds it good. As I promised, Samus appeared in the last chapter. Now it's very hard to describe Samus' personality, as she almost never talk. So I make her mostly cold hearted but heroic, and she contrasts Apoc in both physical and personality. For this I will switch POVs between Apoc's and Samus'. I hope you like it.

CHAPTER 3: ABDUCTION!

(Samus' POV)

MISSION COMPLETE!

I've finally defeated the Queen of these strange creatures. Since I was considered by the Federation a menace, I have had to do out of law job. The latest was for a human from Zexxet who wants to be called "Jack". I had to kill the queen of a unnamed race of space raiders who, according to my computer, Adam Malkovich, were attacking a planet called Lendoan. He also stated it wasn't gonna be a dangerous mission. He was right, as always. But neither Adam could predict what's happening to me. I am getting hugged. By a kid. Okay, I do think he is sixteen, but anyway too young for me. He is hugging me, his arms around my armor-covered waist.

He is also muttering: "Thanks".

Oh well, a thing I don't dislike, at least. It has a long time since someone thanked me for having completed a mission He anyway should have the decency to not keep one of his legs raised. I hope he will leave me soon… He doesn't want to leave me. Oh well, I give him a little punch, enough to just knock him out but not to make him lose consciousness.

He quickly gets up and says: "Okay, I understand. I've been a little too oppressive…"

I turn away from him and proceeds towards the queen's corps. I have to take… something from her. Just a proof of her death.

The kid starts following me and says:"By the way… Hi, I'm Apoc Smith, journalist… I mean, former journalist of 'The Fire of Knowledge'. Here are the ruins." He then point one of the destroyed buildings

I don't like very much self-commiseration and I prefer to ignore him.

"Then… - he continues – you must be Samus Aran, the bounty hunter. I don't think there are many people dressed in orange who can destroy anything, aren't there?". He giggles.

Very lame joke. Better to keep ignoring him. I finally reach the queen. Here is her head… As 'Jack' said, the queen should have a red gem under her 'chin'.

"Then, what's your favorite color?" I hear. It's obviously Apoc. But now what is he thinking to…? Just a moment. He said he was a journalist. Oh Lord, I despise paparazzi! Especially him. I'm not shooting him only because he is just an annoyance, and not a serious danger. Keeping ignoring the boy, I finally find the so-called "red gem" and I tear it off from the creature. Now it's better to call Adam with my communicator on the wrist. He will send the spaceship where I am.

"Samus Aran, you are under arrest for having destroyed a Galactic Federation's space station." This time is not the voice of the kid. I turn around.

There are ten warriors of the Federation. It's better to not underestimate them. They are skilled fighters, despite not as good as me. Adam sends me a message. He says to go toward one of the last rooftops standing, where I will find the ship. Now I have two thing I can do:

!) To fight toe to toe with the warriors then go to the rooftop. Not a good choice. My foes are not evil, perhaps they have a family. I can't bring myself to kill them. Also, I'm quite tired for the battle with those bug-like aliens

2) To escape. But how to go without any trouble. I need a sort of hostage or….

I have got an idea. Finally that Apoc who is bothering me willbe useful. He seems more surprised than me by the warriors, despite he has nothing to fear... from them. I grab him by the throat, lift him up and point my cannon arm at him. He is truly afraid. At least now he shuts up. His eyes are widened and he is sweating.

"On, No! The Hunter has taken an hostage!" one of the warriors says

" Don't worry", a second more ruthless replies, "Nobody will know about it. Let's take Aran down!"

Then Apoc yell with an high pitched voice: "WHAT! Don't shoot me! I had a near death experience just two minutes ago! Same for you, Samus! Come one! Now let's pull down all the weapons and go for a milkshake!".

The warriors look at him shocked.

Boy, you are such a big jerk. Also, you are one of the few people able to get me on nerves…. I don't know why I'm not shooting you!

After this the warrior start shooting me. I use my Screw Attack and Space Jump to, literally, fly above my enemies, taking Apoc with me. He is screaming a lot as we are spinning fast. He is almost giving me headache. The warriors attempt to attack me but because of my pure energy shield they don't harm me at all. Finally I manage to go to the tallest rooftop in the city planet and I leave Apoc. He doesn't seem to be fine. He has his face pale. Suddenly, those warriors arrive with flying motorcycle and shoot Apoc in the chest. He faints. I don't care about him (since such a direct hit must have killed him) and start ducking the attack.

Then Apoc gets up. How is it possible? No one can survive to a direct attack from laser. He is confused as much as me. He then touches the part where he was shoot and says: "Lucky man! I have got my Guide to the Galaxy under my chest!".

I then return to ignore him and attack the warriors. I only attempt to damage their vehicles, a thing I manage to do. They won't get back that easily Finally my spaceship arrives and sends a bright green flash I jump off the rooftop toward it.

Finally at home, with no human-eating aliens, no people hired to arrest (actually to kill) me, and, obviously, no paparazzi. I take off my Power Suit and meet my only friends: thee Etecoons and a Dachora. I hug them and they 'hug' me back. After having sent them in their room, I go to the control room, when Adam Malkovich is waiting for me.

"Welcome back, lady! Did you have a good day?", he asks me.

I replies: "As always, Adam!", then I show him the 'Red Gem'.

"Congratulation, lady! I think now we have to go again to Zexxet!", He states

"Of course!" I say.

Then I hear a voice calling me.

"Samus. Are you here!"

"What did you do, lady? You usually don't bring your job at home!", Adam sarcastically claims.

"I… don't know, it sounds like a voice of a kid I have met during my mission. A truly annoyance". As the room is acoustically isolated, he can't hear me, but I can. I hear the voice again.

"Samus! It's me, Apoc! You left me on the planet. Fortunately I found you just in time before that green light faded away. Then, is this your spaceship? Nice. I like it. Come on, Sam, where are you?".

"Lemme guess, lady. He is the guy!" Adam states.

"He is!" I sadly say. Now he is even calling me by nicknames.

Apoc calls me for several minutes, then his voice starts becoming more serious and says those words. In Italic my thoughts.

"Okay, Samus! I'm sorry Finally. Maybe you are too mature, or upset or tired and because of this you dislike me Yes, I am. I was just trying to be friendly. You know… I lived in that planet for three month without anything, then I got my job Really?. Finally something… but then those space raiders attacked the planet and left nothing to me. I hope you understand…. Oh, boy, you don't know how much I do You were the only one to save me. I would die if it wasn't for you. It's a shame the Federation showed up only to go after you. Please, let me stay with you… I will do anything... Please! You are the most dangerous being in the universe. I am safe with you!"

Wow! His speech does move move.

"Adam, tell him to go into my room and to have a sleep!"

"Are you sure, lady!"

"Yeah,,,! I will reach him after ".

Adam obeys. As much as I hear, he gets Apoc to go there. After three hours, I start fellin' tired. It' better I take a rest too. I asks Adam to take by himself the ship's commands (I recently installed an auto pilot system) and I go into my room. Sat on the chair of my desk, Apoc sleeps. He must be really tired. I hello him with a: "Goodnight, boy!", before I myself go to bed and start sleeping.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ZOMG! I finished it! I hope you like it. NOTE: Samus still find Apoc annoying, but let him stay with her cuz he reminds her past to her. Also, Apoc still doesn't know Samus' true gender, and, as you noticed, he has already been affected by Stockholm Syndrome. R&R.

P.S.: Do you like my version of Samus?