Okay, first, I want to apologize for not updating earlier. My computer decided to be dumb over the weekend, so I couldn't work on anything. I know I usually update daily (which is kind of pathetic really), but my computer obviously doesn't care about my schedule.
Second, I have to rant. I recently watched a review on YouTube about Metroid: Other M. It was an X-Play (a show on the G4 video game channel)review, so I thought I'd check it out. SOme chick named Morgan Webb was giving the review... and I disagreed with nearly everything that she said. She claimed that it completely sucked and that Samus was turned into a "sexualized character" because they showed "ass shots." If you ask me, it was just poor camera placement in the cutscenes. She also says that Samus is bitchy and that she shouldn't talk. Let me ask you all this: if a race of evil, blood-thirsty aliens came to your home an killed both of your parents, wouldn't you be a little bitchy? Samus has definitely earned the right to complain if you ask me. As for Adam Malkovich being "personality-free" as Morgan put it, he's most likely the same as me: he may have aspurgers. It's a condition that makes it hard for someone to understand how others think and act, and often gives the subject a reserved personality. Adam clearly cares for Samus, but Morgan CLEARLY ignores that. As for people who believe Samus was portrayed as "weak" in the game, she has posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. She was traumatized as a little girl when her mother was incinerated right in front of her. When Ridley appeared in Other M when Samus thought that he was dead, it only makes SENSE that she would have a panic attack.
All of this being said sums up to three things: Other M is a legitimately good game with great stroytelling, Samus Aran was NOT portrayed as a weak, sexualized character, and most importantly... Morgan Webb sucks. Now then, with that out of the way, enjoy the chapter.
-o-
Ayame held up a framed picture. She let a small smile form on her face as she looked at the image. It was a picture of her and Samus that taken at an amusement park when she was nine. Samus had cancelled a high-paying mission that day just to be with her adopted daughter. Ayame hadn't known about that detail at the time. She only found out because Anthony had brought it up once. Samus had done so much for her. She had to return the favor somehow. She set the picture back down and turned away. She was about to exit the condo when somebody knocked on the door.
Talk about timing, she thought with surprise. She opened the door and saw Connor standing there. His face went red when he saw her. She couldn't blame him though. Her new Zero Suit V2 was incredibly formfitting, but not so much so as to be uncomfortable. "Hey."
"Hey," Connor replied to her greeting. "I heard you were all right, so I decided that I should pay a visit." There was a strange silence then. "That outfit looks good on you."
"Thanks," Ayame replied with a slight blush. "I… I have to go, so…"
"You're going to find her, aren't you?" Ayame gave her friend a surprised look, to which he gave a small grin. "It only makes sense. She's the one who raised you. And you're too loyal a person to just leave her to die. Of course you'll try to find and save her." Ayame hung her head and gave a small nod, not saying a word. "Well, I guess it's settled then."
"What?"
"I'm coming with you." Ayame was about to protest, but he raised a hand to stop her. "Hear me out: even with all the training you've gotten from Samus, the odds are stacked against you. There's safety in numbers, and there's power in friends. Cheesy, I know, but it remains true all the same. I'm not letting you face an army of Space Pirates all by yourself."
"I won't be going alone," Ayame corrected him with a small pout. "Mr. Higgs is going to help me find Samus. If anyone can help me save her, it's him."
"Still," Connor persisted. "I'm coming, and there's nothing you can do to change my mind."
Ayame sighed in defeat. Connor was telling the truth. One of his most admirable traits was his stubbornness. He didn't give up until he accomplished something. That said, it was also by far his most annoying trait as well. "Fine, you can come. Just… don't get hurt, okay? I wouldn't be able to forgive either of us if you did."
Connor smirked. "Don't you worry. I've always dreamt of being able to go on a mission like this. I don't plan on letting my first true mission become my last."
"Don't you have to clear this with your CO?"
"I already did." Connor's smirk slowly faded. "I'll have to do a year's worth of dish duty when I get back though. But I'm sure it'll be well worth it."
Ayame nodded with a smile. "I'm going to meet Mr. Higgs at the Federation landing docks where Samus's ship was taken. Go get your gear and meet us there."
"All right," Connor agreed as he turned to leave. "I'll see you then."
Ayame watched with a sad smile as Connor left. She was truly grateful for his concern, and she really was happy that he was so eager to help her. But she was afraid that he would get hurt. And that's when her questions came rolling in: what if he got hurt because of her? What if he ended up to injured to be a soldier anymore? What if he…?
She shook her head, forcing those dark thoughts out of her mind. She couldn't let herself be distracted by doubt; not in herself, and definitely not in her best friend. Connor was too stubborn to go down easily. Hell, even when he's just playing card games, he persists until he's got nothing, and even then he keeps on going. He was like a factory of stubbornness.
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, she sighed quietly and left to meet with Anthony. She would have to explain Connor's inclusion, too.
-o-
Anthony was leaning on the Gunship as he waited for Ayame. He checked his watch. She should've arrived twenty minutes ago! She was probably caught up in saying goodbyes to all her friends and whatnot. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. She was clearly eager to go save Samus, but she was still just a kid, no matter how tough she acted around certain people. She was just like Samus in a way: usually wearing a tough shell, but will sometimes let that barrier fall away for the sake of friends.
The sound of footsteps in a run broke his musing. He noticed Ayame running towards him, with her friend Connor following in his Federation uniform.
"Hey there," he greeted them when they stopped in front of him. He raised an eyebrow at Connor. "Care to explain why he's here?"
Ayame took a second to catch her breath before answering. "He insisted on coming along, and I caved."
"I hope that I can be of some assistance, sir," Connor said in a formal tone reserved for superior officers as he stood with his back as straight as possible. "I've already cleared it with my commanding officer. I decided to come because I wanted to help Ayame." Anthony gave the eighteen-year-old a rare analytical look. Connor suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
Soon, Anthony smirked and nodded. "All right then. Ayame knows her friends better than I do. If she thinks you can handle what's coming your way, then I won't doubt you." He cocked his head toward the platform at the bottom of the Gunship. The first to step aboard was Ayame.
She walked through the short, narrow corridor leading to the cockpit. Despite the ship's compact size, it had enough room to fit five people. Three in the cockpit, and two in the back. it was designed this way in case Samus ever decided to take on joint operations with other bounty hunters. Ayame immediately headed for the pilot's chair, which was set in an optimal position behind the windshield: ahead and between the two passenger seats. This allowed the pilot a near perfect view of the space ahead of the ship. But the whole thing seemed dead and empty without Samus behind the controls.
"Something on your mind, kid?" she heard Anthony ask. She turned to face him, then looked down, suddenly depressed.
"I miss her," she said simply.
Anthony gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, kid. Samus is tough. She can take care of herself. Believe me when I say that she's been in worse situations before. It'll take way more than whatever the pirates can throw at her to take her down."
"I guess so." She still wasn't completely assured. Regardless of all of her feats, Samus was still only human. Sure, she had Chozo DNA in her system, thanks to those same birdlike people, but that didn't make her invincible. She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard an impressed whistle.
"Look at all this!" Connor said in awe at the hyper-advanced technology of the Gunship. "This thing's equipped for everything, isn't it?"
"Damn straight," Anthony replied with a grin. "Samus was nicknamed 'Prep' back in her Federation days, because she was always ready for everything, always prepared for every little detail. The motto she went by back then was 'better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.' I'm sure you can see what she meant." Anthony proceeded to give Connor a brief lecture about what certain things were (that he knew of) and what they were for.
As that was happening, Ayame hesitantly sat down in the pilot's seat. Immediately, Gear's little eye-like camera appeared, ejecting itself from the ceiling and floating around Ayame's head. She had designed this little feature herself so that Gear wouldn't be as confined. Of course, the eye still needed to recharge its power after a while, so the AI couldn't wander too far from the ship.
"Hey, Ayame," Gear said in a tone that somehow sounded sleepy. "I guess you're going to finally get to learn how to pilot the ship."
"Yes," Ayame replied. "Connor, Mr. Higgs! Buckle up! We're going to take off soon!" Their response was quick. They went to the passenger seats and buckled themselves in. They both gave affirmative nods when they were ready. Ayame nodded back and faced the ship's controls. Gear immediately began giving instructions on how to fly the Gunship. Ayame placed her left hand on the glowing blue sphere that acted as a steering wheel for the craft. She quickly got a feel for the controls, and, thanks to her innate talent with all things technology, she memorized every detail Gear had shared.
"All right, boys," she said when she believed she was ready. "Cross your fingers." She flipped a few switches and held her hand over the ignition button, taking in a deep breath. Okay, Ayame. You can do this. It's just like riding a bike… a seven-ton, ultra-high-tech, bike, but the principal still applies. She pressed the ignition button. She felt the ship lift up off the ground. It slowly left the docking platform. Her eyes then gained a determined look. Don't worry, Samus. We'll find you. And we'll save you. She pressed down on the steering sphere, and the ship sped off and away from Earth.