One week has passed since their last visit to the Federation HQ. Samus and Ayame were now on their way to the rendezvous point where they would meet up with their client. They rode in Samus's Gunship in silence. Ayame was actually beginning to feel nervous. What if she messed up? What if she wound up hurting someone? These sudden doubts rushed through her mind like an angry Grenchler in a china shop. She sighed somewhat loudly without meaning to.
"Is something wrong?" Samus asked with a look of concern.
"It's nothing," Ayame said halfheartedly. "Just… first mission jitters I guess."
Samus chuckled at that. "When I was in the Federation officially, I felt the same way on my first mission. It passes after two or three more jobs. Trust me."
Ayame gave a singular nod. "You of all people should know that I trust you. I'm just a little nervous."
"It'll be fine. Don't worry." Samus returned her attention to ship's controls. Ayame looked out the starboard window and watched at the quickly vanishing stars in the great distance. For some reason, she just couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.
-o-
Ayame was caught completely off guard by the client's appearance. She figured that the client wouldn't be human, considering that humans rarely left the worlds that they were born on. But the last thing she was expecting was a bunch of giant bug people that looked like oversized mosquitoes. According to Samus, this insectoid species was called the Gorast. They all had a random color scheme on their exoskeletons, and every pair of eyes was a different color, red being the most common between them. They were approached by a one that had red eyes and a green-on-black coloring.
"We bid you welcome, Samus Aran," it said in what sounded like a feminine voice. "I am Gro, leader of this group of nomads." Gro glanced at Ayame. "And who is this young woman?"
Both were silent Samus nudged Ayame with her elbow. "My name is Ayame Miyamoto-Aran. I'm her adopted daughter. I'm here for my first mission as a bounty hunter under her tutelage."
"Ah," Gro said, her eyes squinting in what may have been the equivalent of a satisfied expression. "Very good. An extra set of hands may be useful here."
"When do you plan on leaving?" Samus asked, getting straight to business.
Gro put three-fingered hand on her chin. "About three standard hours. Your arrival is somewhat premature. We still have to get all of our supplies onto our ship, and then we will move on. Would you both be so kind as to aid us?"
"Of course," Samus said with a nod. She motioned for Ayame to follow her as they headed off to help move the supplies. As they walked, Samus said, "Ayame, are you sure nothing's bothering you?"
"What?"
"You seem a little distracted. You're usually so eager to introduce yourself, but you were quiet back there. Why?"
"Gro is a huge bug lady," Ayame deadpanned. "Don't tell you wouldn't be caught off guard by that if you were in my shoes."
"True," Samus admitted. She looked at her daughter with concern. "You can tell me whatever it is that's bothering you. I am your mother after all."
"My adoptive mother."
"But your mother all the same. So tell me: what's wrong?"
Ayame sighed. "Same as earlier. I'm just a little nervous. And… I just have this feeling. Like something bad is going to happen." She received another concerned look. "I don't know, maybe I'm just overthinking things."
Samus gave a warm smile and stopped in front of Ayame, who looked at the veteran bounty hunter with some surprise. "Listen, Ayame. You can do this. I have faith that you can. I promise that nothing bad is going to happen. And if something does happen, we'll face it together. Do you understand?" Ayame nodded, her determination rising a little with Samus's words.
-o-
1.5 standard hours later
-o-
Ayame stretched her arms. Her body was already sore. Apparently, despite being nomadic, the Gorast didn't seem to know the definition of the phrase "travel light." They seemed to have much greater physical strength than a standard human. Samus didn't seem to be having too much trouble thanks to the Chozo DNA she was injected with as a child. Ayame sighed. She felt incredibly inadequate with all the super strong aliens and the genetically enhanced Samus Aran walking around carrying huge metal crates stuffed with varying items, from food and drink to the occasional supply of light weapons for defensive purposes.
I wonder if Samus can get me some Chozo DNA, she thought. Maybe if there was still some of the stuff around, she could reap the same benefits that Samus does: enhanced strength and speed, incredible reflexes. The works. She sighed as she daydreamed about it. Man, that would be awesome.
"Excuse me," said a masculine voice behind her. She turned to see a large, apparently male Gorast. He had a white-on-red scheme on his exoskeleton, and dark emerald eyes. "Do you require refreshment, Miss?" He held up a glass of what appeared to be strawberry milk.
"Oh, uh, thanks," Ayame replied, taking the glass. She took a hesitant sip of the pink beverage and found that it tasted nothing like what she was expecting – it was far better. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and had a flavor that was like a mix between cool ice cream and hot chocolate. How it managed a flavor like that was a complete mystery to her. "This is really good!" She drank the rest greedily. The male Gorast chuckled.
"It is made from Chalaka berries from the planet Cordas," he said with squinty eyes, which Ayame had figured out really was the Gorast equivalent of a human's smile. "They only grow wild, and their bushes are often the home of War Wasp Hives. Getting to them is no easy task, but the reward is well worth the effort."
"Well, thank you very much," Ayame replied with a smile. She held out her hand. "By the way, I'm Ayame Miyamoto-Aran, Samus Aran's daughter. What's your name?"
The male Gorast put his fists together and bowed, then shook Ayame's hand with his own bony, but gentle hand. "I am Garnak, son of the Gorast warrior Teguk. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ayame."
"You know, where I come from, 'Garnak' would probably be called a weird name," Ayame commented. She suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. She hoped she hadn't just offended the Gorast. Garnak simply laughed, to which Ayame breathed a sigh of relief.
"I could say the same of 'Ayame,'" he said jokingly.
"I guess that's true," Ayame admitted. She looked over to the crates to her left. "Would you mind helping me get this stuff onto the ship? I could use a hand."
"I would be honored." Garnak immediately hefted up a huge crate and placed it on his back. Ayame sweat-dropped at the sight.
"You're certainly strong," she commented as she picked up a smaller crate. It was still heavy enough to demand effort. "I wish I had your strength."
"My people have a saying," Garnak said. "'Strength is measured not by the warrior's body, but by the warrior's spirit.' Physical power alone is not enough. A person's power lies in the heart."
"That doesn't exactly help me lift a hundred-pound crate full of who knows what," Ayame deadpanned. "It's a nice thought though."
They talked as they brought the supply crates aboard the Gorast vessel. Ayame told Garnak that she was on her first mission here, helping the Gorast move. In return, Garnak told her that he was also in training to become a warrior, a protector of his people, like his father was. Ayame couldn't help but admire that. Despite the fact that Garnak was basically a giant bug, creatures that Ayame had never been too fond of, he was a nice guy, and seemed determined to be the best warrior he could be. It was really quite admirable.
-o-
About half an hour later, Ayame needed to take another break. She was resting in the shade of a nearby tree, her back against its trunk. She took a sip from a glass of Chalaka berry juice that she had managed to get her hands on, with a little help from Garnak. The flavor was damn near addictive. She hoped it wasn't. The last she would ever need is an addiction to juice from some alien fruit. She watched as the sun set in the horizon, behind a distant range of mountains. Put simply, it was positively picturesque.
I wonder the sunset looks like on a planet with a red sky? Ayame wondered. Samus had told her that such planets existed, but they weren't very common. Ayame hoped that she would someday get to visit a red-skied planet, if only to see what the sunrise and sunset looked like there.
She sighed when she finished her drink. She stood up and stretched her legs a bit. She would have to get back to work before Samus found her lounging about. As she turned to head back to pick up another crate, she heard a strange noise. She turned around. She could've sworn that the sound had come from behind. She shook her head. Maybe she was just hearing things?
But then she heard the noise again. It sounded much closer than before. It sounded vaguely like the engines of a large ship. She backed away from the tree that she had been resting under to try and get a better look. When she finally had a clear view, her eyes widened in horror. Her mind flashed back to when she was only six years old. She recognized the design of the massive ship before her. The three huge prongs on the bow, the blue light in the middle at the ship's front, the gunmetal gray color scheme. There was no mistaking it.
It was a Space Pirate warship.