Ten Years Later
The F class star COROT-23's white light was the only beacon in the surrounding system, marked by the swirling arms of the Milky Way overhead. A jewel in the eternally night sky, its surface broiled with glowing hot gases and simmered with nuclear energy. A few flares escaped the initial gravity only to dissipate shortly afterward, but not without releasing a deadly burst of gamma radiation that would shoot through the cosmos, most likely never to encounter another solid object again.
Thirty-one and a half million miles from the star, an object the size of a small city lay silhouetted against the intense backdrop. Compared to the cosmic body, the mining rig was merely atoms, dust floating around in the empty space. The three spires that processed the raw ore stood tall and mighty over the structure, making it look like an inverted anchor rather than a spaceworthy ship The lone shuttle that now approached the exterior airlock, conversely, was an insect to this new berth, a speck that was at the mercy of COROT-23's blinding illumination. With a clicking sound shuddering through the metal, the two ships converged smoothly and traveled as one through the silence.
Once the airlock had pressurized, the hatch glowed blue momentarily and then slid open to allow the company of Federation marines inside the rig. Each one toted an assault rifle and all were encased in their hard-suits. The blue glow from their visors were the only lights in the dank corridor and the soldiers began to switch their weapon lamps on one by one. Proceeding in single file, the group trudged through the rig, making sure to cover each corner as they traversed.
Behind the group stood a taller figure, one who clutched a massive shotgun. He wore no insignia on his armor, but at first glance it was obvious that he was different from the humans who were patrolling in front of him. They did not utter a word as they checked the rear, cautiously combing to and fro amongst the refuse that drifted in the low gravity.
Worryingly, there were no outward signs of life as the group made their way through the rig. There were no sounds to report, nothing to indicate that anything here was still living. Even when the squad finally made it to the bridge they had not encountered a single soul that was alive. One of the soldiers walked toward the main panel, the one that overlooked the industrial tangle that lay below through the viewport and powered it back up. Lights flickered on overhead and the small bits of debris that had been floating gently fell to the ground as the artificial gravity and oxygen powered back up.
"Bridge secure, Commander Mauk," the marine said as he pulled off his helmet, oxygen hissing through his seals.
"Very good, lieutenant," the enormous man said as he too removed his covering. Free of the stuffy helmet, Mauk rolled his jaw in relief as he combed a hand through his mane, which he had trimmed to resemble a very strapping beard many years ago, complete with a goatee no less. He looked significantly less wild than before but it was a conscious decision that reflected his rank, necessitating the need for familiarity amongst the troops. Besides, Mauk kind of liked the new facial hair. He felt that it made him look much older.
"Run a search of the facility," Mauk ordered as he began stretching his neck. "Have the tech drones activate and scan for any signs of life."
"Got it," a technician said. "Scan commencing."
"Sir!" another soldier called from a nearby platform. "I have the shipping manifest all here, sir!"
"Let's have it then," Mauk said.
The human scanned the contents of the mining rig and blinked in surprise. "Got a few thousand tons of afloraltite ore in the hold, sir. Also, there's still a significant amount of the refined mineral in storage. Other than a few more stores of noble gases and heavy metals that's all there is too it. Nothing's out of place."
"Hmm," Mauk mused. "This isn't the work of Space Pirates, then. They would have taken all of the afloraltite for themselves and destroyed the rig outright. Instead, we have an intact ship and a distress signal, but no living crew."
"That's affirmative," the first soldier notified. "Our drones just pinged back. Nada. Other than a few small blips from insects there's nothing left alive here."
"Do we know where this vessel's last known destination was?"
"On screen right here. Says they made a stop on a planet about three days ago called SR-388. Apparently that's where they found this entire afloraltite deposit and were looking to process it."
Mauk's brow furrowed in concern. That planet's name was one he had never hoped to hear again. "SR-388," he growled. "This is now more complicated than I thought. These aren't our usual suppliers, gentlemen, they're smugglers. And my best guess is that they broke our quarantine of the planet to try and make a quick buck from the raw materials housed there. Only, they bit off more than they could chew."
"Good Lord!" a marine cried as jumped back from a set of database stacks. "Commander!"
Mauk had his shotgun out and ready and cleared the guardrail to get over to the soldier's position. The young man was terrified as evidenced by the shaking of his weapon, his expression fearful. Mauk gently eased him out of the way and hugged the wall before leaning out cautiously to see what all the hubbub was about.
The smell came to him before the sight did. Mauk recoiled back as a rancid tang intruded upon him and he covered his nose as he felt his breath catch horribly in his chest. Leaning in between the rows of computers sat a form with a vaguely humanoid shape still clad in clothes, but it was only when Mauk leaned in with his flashlight did he see that what had once been a human was now unrecognizable. The desiccated flesh was crumbling away, revealing thin bones beneath. Its eye sockets were empty pits, the remaining clumps of hair on its head loose and stringy. It was like the human had decayed in a matter of days in a process that should have taken weeks.
"My god," someone muttered. "He looks like a mummy."
"What could have done this?" another one piped up.
"There's only one thing that I know of that could wreak such damage," Mauk said grimly as he walked toward the corner of the room, his flashlight sweeping around the floor. "And I ran into it ten years ago."
Lowering his beam with finality at an object on the ground, the rest of the company cluttered around him and aimed their rifles downward, towards the drying gelatinous puddle that lay drained around the grating on the floor, the remains of its three nuclei spilled and distributed everywhere. Mauk only needed to make a tender sniff to confirm that it was exactly the same smell as before. It was the scent of death.
An hour later, Mauk stood poised in the comm room, watching the video feed as the mining rig slowly began its plummet into COROT-23. He had programmed the ship personal to fly directly into the sun very quickly after it had been determined that the entire vessel could be contaminated. Once the filtered light had finally swallowed up the infected ship, Mauk turned back to the holo-projector where the static-filled form of Adam Malkovich stood waiting.
"It was only fortunate on our end, General," Mauk said as he snapped the external camera off. "This whole situation could have gone a lot worse, relatively speaking."
"That still does not assuage me, Commander," Malkovich sighed as he removed his cap to run a hand through his slicked back hair. His face had grown harder over the years, wearing the same dark scowl as he did whenever he talked. Age had only intensified him further. "You're certain that your shuttle was also not set upon by any Metroids during the time you had docked with the mining rig?"
"Scanned the interior of the ship twice," Mauk assured. "No aberrations to report. It's just lucky that the only Metroid on that ship was dead when we happened to set upon it."
"The only one you knew of," Malkovich implied. "Lucky that one of the smugglers managed to shoot it in whatever passed for the creature's brain, presumably at the time he was being…consumed, no doubt."
Mauk did not want to think about that fate all that much, despite the illicit activities the men had performed. "It was also lucky that we managed to intercept this ship before it could reach a populated area, or worse, if the Space Pirates had chanced upon it. If that had happened, they would have obtained the genetic material needed to clone their own Metroid army. Just think of the damage that this entire encounter could have caused."
"Which would mean complete annihilation on our end," Malkovich sighed. "But we have had fleets patrolling the entirety of SR-388's perimeter for the past ten years now. How could a ship that big just slip underneath all of our warning systems?"
"Bribery, stealth drive, perhaps just inattentiveness on our part?" Mauk shrugged. "Who can say? What this does mean, is that even after we bombarded the surface of SR-388 to a crisp after we learned that more Metroids were down there, they still have survived and are perfectly capable of infiltrating other vessels to escape off-world. That is a troubling prospect."
"Indeed. Which means that we can no longer trust the security we have in place to stave off these Metroids anymore, if we're going to be honest with ourselves. We also cannot risk the lives of a full invasion force to eliminate this species once and for all on this planet as the last time we sent marines down to that planet ended in disaster, but neither can we afford to remain stagnant and wait for the Space Pirates to seize their chance and slip away with one of those damned Metroids in tow."
"So, what are you suggesting?" Mauk asked as he scratched his goatee.
Now Malkovich tightened the corners of his mouth in a smile. "I'm suggesting…that we may want to solicit outside help for this mission. Have us shoulder the financial risk in exchange for someone offering services of an exemplary nature. Considering the scale and importance, I think I know just the bounty hunter who would be willing to take an assignment such as this."
Mauk's grin was wider than the general's as it expanded almost completely across his face. "Are you thinking of whom I'm thinking, general?"
"Most certainly," Malkovich lifted his chin. "Does anyone else come immediately to mind? I'd expect, with this new development, that we will be declaring this mission accomplished within short order, Commander Mauk. I'll sort out the logistical issues on my end, but I have a new assignment for you in the meantime. You're no longer restricted to the outer rim, commander. I'm going to have you head up security around the Ceres Space Colony at Cygnus X-3. I recommended you personally to a friend of mine there. I'd wager that could prove to be more interesting than perusing the Crux Arm for the last few months."
"Sir," Mauk breathed gratefully. "Thank you sir. But, would you like me to handle any aspects of this upcoming mission? Anything at all?"
The general tucked his hat back on his head and loosened his posture somewhat. "No need, I can take care of the administrative details by myself. Don't worry, commander. I'll keep you updated constantly on the mission's status. I'm not going to have you worry about this brewing trouble after this revelation."
"Sir," Mauk gave a toothy smile as he snapped to a salute. "Now that I know who's going, I'm not worried anymore."
One week later
The eight blue eyes glinted sinisterly through the darkness, the only inkling that something was amiss in the small chamber. With its nostrils, it sniffed the air carefully. It could smell something foreign, nothing of which it had sensed before. There was a peculiar presence in play, as if someone had suddenly entered unexpectedly. That meant a lifeform was in this very room. That also meant food.
Suddenly, a long jaw lined with teeth like sabers quickly rushed out of the gloom and snapped down hard, trailing saliva from the sheer force of the bite. The gullet roared hungrily and the neck extended so that it might reach its target on the other side of the room.
Its prey jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Frustrated, the creature dragged itself out further, blinking its several eyes to adjust to the enhanced light, wanting to witness the intruder that had disrupted its nap. Spotting a blur of red and yellow near a cluster of stalagmites, the Queen Metroid growled ferociously and lunged again, her jaw open wide to catch the bounty hunter that had the misfortune of wandering into its hole.
Again, Samus sidestepped and evaded the attack entirely. Her eyes widened behind her visor as she watched the brute force of the Metroids blow shatter rock as its skull smashed through them like they were pillars of chalk. Out of all the odd varieties of life she had witnessed on this planet, this was definitely the deadliest to her survival. Strangely, despite the danger, she felt no fear facing this creature. This was no supremely intelligent being; this was merely something that was struggling to survive despite the odds placed against it. As heartless as it sounded, Samus did feel any pity for the creature. All she saw was a target, and a need to complete a mission.
The Queen finally trudged out of the little niche it had been resting in. A quadrupedal species, the Queen was definitely the most powerful out of all the Metroid variants SR-388 had to offer. More armored than the warrior caste, the Omega Metroids, it was no surprise that the Queen would present the toughest challenge for Samus here. It was very odd considering that this was the final form that all Metroids would eventually evolve into, but Samus had so far prevented that from happening.
There was only one more bounty left to collect, as per the Federation's orders.
Annoyed that it had not ridden itself of the nuisance yet, the Queen lifted a leg and brutally slammed it down on the ground. Samus jumped at the last second to avoid the shockwave and began pelting the Queen's hide with blaster fire. The shots did no good against the Metroid's tough armor as all they did was enrage it even more.
But that was what Samus had in mind.
"Come on," she panted at the snarling animal as she teased off a couple more shots. "Come and get me. You want me, don't you? Well, why don't you come here and kill me?"
The Queen emitted a strangled cry and opened its mouth as wide as it could. Its ivory teeth sparkled like diamonds and its rancid breath traveled ahead of its bite. This time, Samus stood her ground and calmly lifted her arm cannon. Holding down a secondary trigger, she saw a yellow indicator in her HUD light up as she armed her weapon of choice.
"Wrong move," she snarled and loosed a missile from the muzzle of her cannon.
The projectile hit the Queen Metroid at the top of its mouth and detonated. Squealing in agony, the Queen thrashed her head in all directions, not terribly damaged, but in pain nonetheless. It flopped to the ground and coughed, trying to clear its throat. In that moment, Samus rushed forward and began the motion of a somersault before a burst of energy erupted from her back and her armor reconfigured itself into a little ball a quarter of the human's original height. Rolling forward, the ball reached the Queen Metroid and forcibly entered down its throat before it could react.
The Morph Ball was a gadget that the Chozo had left behind on SR-388, an upgrade to the suit that Samus had found while undertaking this mission and immediately she had discovered it to be incredibly useful. The suit upgrade initiated a quantum link with her suit to convert her organic body into energy when she transformed into this mode, ensuring that she would still fit in the smaller space, otherwise she would simply be crushed or her limbs would be severely contorted. With this, Samus found that she was able to traverse low spaces that she could not otherwise access with ease and she had been completely beside herself once she considered the wealth of opportunities this upgrade offered.
The missiles were another bonus that she had found while on her quest to exterminate the forty-eight Metroids on this cursed planet. It was almost like the Chozo expected her to come here and thus provided the necessary tools for her to complete her mission ahead of time. Between the Morph Ball, the missiles, and another upgrade, she realized that once again, she owed her life to her benefactors, wherever they were now.
Inside the Queen Metroid's gut, Samus could not really interpret the sensation of being trapped inside a living creature's digestive system, but she certainly was aware of where she was at the moment. There was not a second to waste, as the Queen could recover and vomit her out at any time if it was too pained from Samus' intruding entrance. Quickly, she thought about the move she wanted to make and on cue, a small device popped from the side of the Morph Ball and splashed into the digestive juices. Making a hasty retreat, the Morph Ball skidded on the slippery surface before it gained traction and spat itself out of the stunned Queen Metroid's gullet.
Now hopelessly confused, the Queen was even more pissed off that the now crouching Samus had treated it so haphazardly with the stomach intrusion. Enraged, the Metroid stomped forward but tilted its head in a funny look as a muffled thump sounded from within it. Incredulous, the Queen belched suddenly and blinked in acceptance before it collapsed in a heap, its tongue lolling out as died, the creature not even knowing how its fate had come to pass.
Samus grinned as she stood up out of her crouch and shook the fluids from the Queen's stomach off her. The Morph Ball bomb was the last upgrade she had obtained from this planet and, like the Morph Ball and missiles, it had proven to be invaluable to her cause. She looked down at the dead Metroid without any remorse, watching to see if it was faking its demise until a gout of blood and bile slowly began to leak out of the creature's throat. There was no fanfare to this, just the consequence of death.
"Mission accomplished," Samus whispered as she stepped around the corpse. Jumping up into the cave from where the Queen had crawled, she spied a small passageway that seemed to lead outside. Seeing as there was no other way for her to exit, Samus crawled through the small opening in the rock and maneuvered through the narrow passageway.
Pushing aside some rotted vines, Samus wrenched herself from the tiny crevasse and stumbled into the next room. The air was more humid here and a small shaft of sunlight shot through an opening in the cavernous ceiling. She looked through it and determined that the surface was not all that far off, maybe a few dozen meters at first glance.
She was feeling confident and full of life, ready to meet the new day head on when a soft rustling emitted behind her. Samus turned around slowly and spied a stagnant pool of water on the side of the small cavern, a grotto. In the middle of the shallow pool sat an ovular object about as tall as Samus' shin. It was a deep forest green and the surface of it was ridged and webbed, very much like the pattern a spider would make. Samus only had a fleeting second to guess what this object was when the surface of it suddenly cracked and opened up, revealing a slimy, translucent organism inside.
As the creature rose from the egg, Samus' arm cannon followed it path. Samus managed a tight gasp as she looked at the tiny infant Metroid, no bigger than the palm of her hand. It seemed to be struggling to stay afloat and it made several soft, warbling cries as it flitted through the air. Samus was still aiming her weapon at the baby but her aim faltered more and more as the Metroid did not seem to be taking an interest in hurting her at all, rather coming closer and closer tenderly instead of aggressively.
In seconds, the baby shot forward and nuzzled its delicate body against Samus' visor. She blinked, caught off guard. She had never witnessed such an action from a Metroid before. She had certainly been on their bad side a couple of times and recalled the painful stinging sensation as they tried to suck her life force out as they clamped their mandibles upon her but this sensation was nothing like that. This one seemed like it had no inclination for such violence, but that was quickly proven wrong when the baby suddenly made a noise and shot down to grasp a hornoad in its mandibles, quickly devouring upon its essence as Samus watched in horror.
Another fresh corpse adorning the room, the infant finished its feasting and dropped the body to rise up to gently hover around Samus' head again, chittering happily. Now that she was no longer aiming at it, Samus raised her hand to see if she could touch the thing without any repercussions. The baby saw the movement and quickly melded into Samus' palm, rubbing its body along the smooth metal of the suit.
"An…imprint?" Samus wondered out loud. Surely this sort of behavior was omnipresent in many animals, so why wouldn't it be so for Metroids? Maybe because that she was the very first being this Metroid saw, would it be so far-fetched to surmise that it now thought of her as its parent? Was that why it did not attack her?
It doesn't matter, her subconscious told herself. You are going to have to be rid of it all the same. You were hired to kill every single Metroid on this planet. Might as well complete that mission right now.
Yeah, she now argued. But I technically did accomplish that already. This infant, I don't know…it could be different.
How so? How could a killing machine such as this be any different?
Because it's not attacking me, that's why. Since this one is docile and we know that Metroids carry astounding power, it would be more valuable to capture this thing instead of kill it.
Capture? My, my, Samus. That's a bit daft of you. Do you really think that this Metroid is worth more to you alive than dead?
"I do," she said aloud as she quashed her mental argumentative half while the Metroid continued to persist in nuzzling her. "I was meant to inherit the Metroids as part of the Chozo's will. They entrusted them to me and I know that they can be used for good if we present the right conditions."
Withdrawing a clear glass cylinder from a slot on her back, she held it up and gently eased the infant Metroid into it. Once she sealed it, the tiny Metroid quivered, as if it was anxious to be separated from its "mother."
"Don't be too sad," Samus spoke quietly as she held the cylinder up to the light. "You might be our hope for the future, little one. With you, I might be able to redeem the Chozo for your corruption. Together, we might be able to finally save this galaxy."
Thirty-six hours later – Ceres Space Colony
The space station looked like a segmented cylinder that hovered at the edge of the second asteroid belt that orbited the star Cygnus X-3. Actually, it was more like a lengthened donut as the center circular portion was empty so that the station could rotate in place to simulate the effects of gravity among the inhabitants. This is where the main docks were also located and where Samus quickly guided her burnt orange ship into after she had been granted clearance to land.
The ship was an older model that she had been loaned from the Federation when she had discharged herself. The HUNTER-II was a lightly armed gunboat but it was sturdy and perfect for just the type of work that suited her as a bounty hunter. Not that she would be suited for anything else, there were little occupations that matched the lifestyle of what an ex-Star Tracker would call familiar. At least this one paid the bills.
The hatch that connected the main hallway to the ship docks buzzed open and the armored Samus walked towards the security checkpoint after stretching her back out. She detested sitting inside a cockpit for very long and always relished any time to move about freely.
The cylinder containing the baby Metroid was once again strapped to a slot on the small of her back, and in her left hand, she clutched the neck of a handcuffed Zygrtarian. She approached the two security guards with her captive in tow, now aware of the one-way pane of glass that spread the length of the hallway. She briefly considered nodding to the rest of the security team that was more than likely observing her from beyond that pane of glass but quashed the thought, focusing her mind on the present, the obvious present.
"Identification, please," one of the helmeted troopers ordered as he clutched his gun, more worried at the look of the purple alien being painfully transported in Samus' hard grip rather than the warrior herself.
There was a data port to Samus' right and she inserted her arm cannon into it. The slot accepted the input and drew the necessary bio-readings from the sensor chips embedded in the Power Suit's FOF tags. Immediately, Samus' image appeared on the monitor for the guards to peruse, confirming her identification.
"Samus Aran," she spoke with confidence into the voice ID grill. "I'm here to give my after-mission report from SR-388. General Malkovich is expecting me." She gave her prisoner a light but painful shake. "Also transporting bounty number XF-2100 with the intent to process claims."
The Zygrtarian snarled but Samus silenced him by painfully squeezing his spine. Glowering, she fixated the alien with a firm stare until it meekly backed down. He had been one of the easier bounties that Samus had been paid to acquire in the last few months. The Zygrtarian was the husband of a rising star in the Federation navy but when it appeared to him that his wife was caring more about her job than her marriage, he did not respond all that well to the news. He had set her ablaze in their own home and quickly ran but had no money to make it out of the system, having forgotten that all of his savings were in the name of his now deceased wife. The fool thought that he could blend in around the capital city of the system but his stagnation made Samus' hunt all the more easier. She only got an adrenaline rush out of the eventual chase while he eventually ended up with a broken leg.
Two more troopers came into the security corridor from a side wing and grabbed each of the Zygrtarian's arms. The purple skinned alien hobbled on his good leg, his other wrapped in a makeshift cast, and his yellow and black eyes oozed pure hatred but there was nothing he could do. The soldiers led him away, leaving Samus and the original guards alone in the checkpoint.
"You're cleared to proceed," one of the troopers said as he validated Samus' access on his monitor. Samus nodded and plucked the containment cylinder with the Metroid inside from her back and held it in front of her.
"I also have a sample of the bio-weapon that I was paid to extinguish," she explained to the uneasy soldiers. "Notify the head of the science team here so that I may hand it off to them."
"Have you taken the necessary security precautions?"
"It's contained," she emphasized, lifting the vessel for a better view. "It could also be beneficial to the war effort. Would you like to keep it in confinement and risk its expiration or would you like me to deliver this quickly so that a proper examination can proceed at once?"
The guards glanced at the other, clearly not liking their options. However, sensing that this decision was something far beyond their paygrade, they just waved Samus on through and went back to manning the checkpoint. Samus, to her credit, gave the guards a respectful nod and proceeded through the next hatch.
A yellow arrow blazed on the side walls with the words "Science Lab" beaming brightly above it. She followed the marked path as she headed down the industrial hallway. The space colony was not the most habitual looking place she had ever been to, as many of the walls were unfinished, allowing the wiring and piping to just jut out, creating obstacles for someone to bump themselves on easily. She edged past a few workers, noting their startled expression at her towering presence as she proceeded onto the individual lifts parked in the corner.
One uneventful trip down a few stories later and Samus stomped by a large window on the side of the next hallway, milky light washing from the room beyond. Looking inside, she could see three individuals standing in the reception area, milling about in the center of the room as they conversed. She recognized two of them and was unable to keep a tiny smile from appearing as she ducked into the room, way taller than two of the men.
"Samus!" Mauk beamed as he turned away from the group. "It has been too long, my friend."
"Likewise, Commander Mauk," she laughed as she made her way over. "Much longer than I initially anticipated."
"Just Mauk, to you, Samus," Mauk grinned cheekily. "You don't need to call me by my rank, you know. You used to be my superior once."
"Once," she conceded. "But not anymore." She now straightened as she appraised the stoic man in dress blues directly across from her. "General."
"Samus," Malkovich nodded. He gestured to the other man in the group, an elderly man in a lab coat that was almost two heads shorter than Samus. He had a white beard and medium length hair who clearly had the air of a scientist. "This is Dr. Simmons," Malkovich introduced. "He's the head of the science department on Ceres."
"Just the man I was looking for," Samus said as she handed him the cylinder with the Metroid. All eyes tracked the tiny creature as the frail man's hands firmly grasped the object and hefted it, the transaction complete. Within the glass, the baby squirmed and beat its body against its prison, trying to speed itself in Samus' direction. Despite the notion that she was making a mistake, she tore her eyes away from the Metroid as she continued to speak to the doctor. "I'm sure you are aware of the significance of this creature. This is the last known specimen of Metroid in the galaxy, Dr. Simmons, a creature that, for all intents and purposes is considered extinct to the galaxy. Knowing how dangerous this thing could be if it were to come into the wrong hands, I trust that you will treat it with the utmost of care?"
"Absolutely," the doctor said, entranced at the gelatinous alien floating within the container. "It is such an utterly fascinating species." He shifted the container to his right arm and held out his left hand for a shake, which Samus accepted. "You've done a remarkable thing here, Samus. We will maintain strict caution when handling this Metroid. You have my word."
"Thank you, doctor," Samus granted as the little man sped on into the lab with his prize in tow. She watched from the wing as the scientists in the lab all began to drop whatever projects they were working on so that they could crowd around their newest specimen. Samus walked closer to the window and stared directly at the infant, but noticed that despite all the attention being lauded on it from all directions, the infant was still looking directly at her.
"So," Malkovich cleared his throat behind Samus, shaking her from her thoughts. "I noticed that, along with the Metroid, you had some additional baggage that you cleared at the security checkpoint."
She glanced at the general, noting that Mauk had departed to give them some privacy. Still behind her visor, she resumed looking at the infant, watching the scientists transfer it to a larger tube situated in the center of the lab. "Yes," she said in a distracted manner. "That. He was the bounty I was pursuing at the time when you notified me about the SR-388 job. If I recall correctly, you were very insistent about completing that job immediately so I towed him along for the ride. Never got the opportunity to drop him off at any other Federation outpost beforehand."
"So…you just left the prisoner in your ship while you were off hunting these Metroids?"
"I left him an ample supply of nourishment," she defended, her helmet tilting fractionally in the general's direction. "It was probably more than he deserved after what that Zygrtarian did to his wife, though."
"Yes, terrible tragedy, that." Malkovich removed his hat respectfully. "Well, I can't fault you for acting accordingly. But, what I'm interested to know is why you thought bringing a Metroid here was a good idea, especially when you had been tasked to destroy them all on SR-388, not let one live."
"I did destroy them all on SR-388," she said forcefully. "Including their queen. There are no Metroids left on that planet for the Space Pirates to plunder." She gestured to the interior of the lab. "That one there is the last of its kind."
"And you wanted to preserve it instead of kill it?"
"It didn't attack me, Adam!" she shot back. "It thought I was its mother! I couldn't just kill it in cold blood right at that moment. That last Metroid was mine to do with and I thought that it would do us some good if we were to take it for ourselves, perhaps study it."
"Yours?" Malkovich scoffed. "And what exactly do you think gives you the right to dictate their existence over the will of the Federation?"
"It was my right that was given to me by the Chozo!" she stepped forward menacingly, but Malkovich did not back down. "The Metroids were entrusted to me so that I could oversee them! They created the Metroids with the purpose of saving us, this galaxy, and they were not meant to be indiscriminate killers! I trust whatever plan the Chozo once had I'm willing to take that risk by not destroying them so that the full potential of the Metroids can be understood. That alone is more precious to me than the orders of the Federation, Adam."
Malkovich sighed and scratched the back of his neck. He looked more uncomfortable than ever as he solemnly glanced at the Metroid. "I wish you had destroyed it, Samus," he said softly. "While the Metroids may possess extraordinary abilities, don't you think that others would want to exploit them sooner or later? The Space Pirates will still try to pursue them for their own nefarious needs or a new threat could arise even closer to home. The weapons manufacturers that constantly strive for new innovations will want this technology for themselves, Samus, and this could be too much power for anyone to control."
"But I can control them," Samus glared. "They only need a chance, Adam. All they need is a chance."
"The matter is out of my hands anyway," Malkovich grimaced as he adjusted his cap. "I cannot reverse your decision, Samus, so you must live with the consequences." He made a motion to leave the reception wing and Samus followed, ducking so that she cleared the threshold back out into the dark hallway. "I'm scheduled to give a report to the new chairman of the Federation at the capital in a few days of your mission, Samus. I'm expecting you to be there to give your own firsthand account."
"Fine," she said as she evaded a stack of sheet metal as she stepped across a narrow walkway. "I'll be there."
"It will take place immediately after the inauguration ceremony so you better be prepared to back up your actions carefully and thoughtfully. From what I've been told, the chairman is most anxious to meet you as he has been monitoring many of your exploits. I'm expecting you to be on your best behavior this time."
"Oh, come on, Adam," Samus groaned. "You seriously cannot be thinking of-"
"I certainly am," Malkovich replied with not a trace of humor in his voice. "I still remember vividly that the last time you were in a room with a politician, you threatened to break his jaw while you were pointing a gun at his face. Every time you've gotten in a confrontation with someone, Samus, you are quick to anger and lash out a lot at anyone in the vicinity. I'd say that any concerns I have are well warranted."
"He was only a minister of transport!" Samus protested incredulously as she stepped onto the lift. "And I only wanted to scare him! Besides, he was being a smart-ass to begin with."
"That's not helping!" Malkovich called angrily as Samus disappeared up the elevator shaft.
The trip to Daiban took a brisk sixteen hours and Samus used the time to take a quick nap, even though she was still in her armor. She relished the silence in space, something that had been missing the last time she flew as the Zygrtarian in the prison hold had spent the entire voyage either sobbing his eyes out or cursing her in multiple languages. Now that she finally had peace and quiet, she quickly seized this chance to get some shut eye.
Miraculously, she managed to sleep for ten hours and woke up fully rested, a first in weeks. The autopilot was doing all of the work and she just let the ship glide on it after it broke out of the hyperjump, revealing the endless expanse of cities sprawling on the capital world of Daiban. The automatic handshake protocols began to do their work and the autopilot soon corrected the course for Samus' house, located at the edge of a sprawling park on the largest continent.
The lucrative bounties had paid for the property, money well spent in Samus' opinion. The house was a modern two-story, nothing so outrageous in terms of architectural originality. It was situated a ways away from any other homes, the isolation suiting her just fine. Samus' backyard opened up onto the forested expanse that had been artificially uprooted from some fringe world and brought here to give off the appearance of eco-mentalism. She hardly ventured outside in the backyard anymore, or looked out the windows for that matter. Samus just did not feel safe being all exposed with a bunch of skyscrapers towering over her. Too many blind spots for her to cover.
Her ship automatically glided into the garage of the house and touched down inside. Samus had already clambered out even before the ship had landed and jumped off to land with a thud on the pristine floor. As the engines began to die down, Samus focused her mind and hardly noticed the light that enveloped her.
Once her Power Suit had finally dissipated, Samus stood in the middle of her garage, her body now free from the snugness of the Chozo armor. Her ponytail bobbed, containing her long, blond hair as it flowed behind her. The two locks of hair that had characteristically fallen over her face had gotten longer and over the years Samus had given up trying to tie them in place.
She was garbed in a skintight blue suit underneath all that protection, a more form-fitting and comfortable article of clothing that gave her more maneuverability while wearing her Power Suit. It was something she had affectionately dubbed the 'Zero Suit' as it offered relatively no protection from fire, bullets, acid, or heights. As it was, the Zero Suit was quite snug, but definitely better to wear than those damned army regulation uniforms underneath. The entire thing was made out of a synthetic polymer and it was separated into sections to allow for greater flexibility. Pink symbols flared brightly from her back and chest, communication points that allowed for connectivity to her Power Suit at all times. Faint trails of wires were embedded within the Zero Suit, emulating the look of veins underneath skin as they wrapped around the suit and Samus' body.
Rubbing at her face, Samus caught her own gaze in the mirror across the workbench. Her features had only gotten more angular across the last ten years. Her soft blue eyes now contained a cold stare and her mouth was a hard line. Tough muscle rippled across her skin, giving her a powerful and sturdy look. Every solitary feature on Samus was as tightly wound as a drum, a testament to the wonders of humankind, her Chozo genes notwithstanding. Samus was very much a beautiful woman, but her looks were only secondary in her own eyes. Still, there was something about her own reflection that did not sit well from her and she turned away, brushing at her hair in frustration, a tic that had developed over the years.
She checked the chronometer on the wall and found that she still had a few hours to go before she had to attend the inauguration ceremony. Taking her hair out of its band and letting it rumple messily behind her, she walked up the stairs to the second floor, straight to her room. She grabbed a set of clothes from her dresser and took them into the adjacent bathroom and shut the door, whereupon she promptly turned on the shower, creating a hissing noise as the water hit the porcelain tub.
Forty-five minutes later, Samus walked out of the steam-saturated bathroom, her damp hair tied up in a ponytail again. She had donned a simple white tank top that revealed a sliver of her midriff and a pair of black combat pants with a belt tying them around her waist. She padded barefoot over to her bed and slipped on a pair of socks followed by a pair of polished black combat boots.
Whereas civilians would normally find casual clothing a bit less uptight, the reality of the matter was that Samus had very little in terms of clothing that could be remotely considered casual. With the enormous side pockets of her pants, her huge boots made for stomping, and the slim tank top that revealed her muscular arms, Samus was more dressed for boot camp rather than a leisurely stroll in the city. But Samus did not give a damn, and these were the only civvies she had so the chairman would have to forgive her if she did not show up to the ceremony in a flowing white coat and an elaborate sunhat.
Samus plucked a small blue windbreaker from her closet and quickly threw it around her. She kept it unzipped, preferring to let herself be aired from the wind. She checked the time again and found that she needed to leave quite soon. There was still the sensation that she was missing something but she quickly remembered that final part just as she was headed out the door.
She bolted back into her bedroom and threw aside the pillow on her bed. Gently chastising herself for being so foolish to almost leave it behind, Samus strapped the combat pistol to her side after checking that its batteries were still charged. Satisfied, she patted her sidearm and finally walked back outside into the heat of the city.
Her hands in her pockets, Samus casually strolled to the nearest tram station, conveniently finding one about to depart right in front of her. She squeezed past the closing doors and into the cramped interior, which was packed with people about to join the throngs gathering near the assembly chambers. Samus edged through the crowd, leaving a wake behind her, and her very stern and focused presence seemed to demand a little more wiggle room from the people around her. Very subtly, Samus found herself enjoying just a tad more personal space than the rest of the sardines.
Ten minutes later, the overstuffed tram deposited its load out onto the Federation Mall, streaming its passengers out into the city once more. Samus threw up a hand to ward off the sun's glare momentarily and relished the slight breeze that wafted against her before following the crowd towards the trifecta of triangular buildings situated near the six reflecting pools that surrounded the main assembly tower. The majority of the people were congregating near the southernmost building so that was where Samus headed, walking at a faster gait due to her extremely long legs. Her height allowed her to crest the majority of the people so that she could pick out the best route through the gathering mob, politely scything through so that she could get closer to the podium. Her fingers brushed the butt of her pistol in reassurance, checking to see if it was still there.
The cluster tightened and Samus soon found herself unable to proceed further. She carefully walked over so that she was now lining the aisle that led straight to the podium that cut the crowd in two. Guards rimmed the corridor, making sure that the route was not impeded, but this gave Samus an unobstructed view of the event, not even bothering to regard the multiple screens televising it for others' convenience.
Samus scanned the stage and immediately spotted Chairman Vogl at the podium, about to make his remarks on his predecessor. To his right, she could see the statuesque form of Adam Malkovich, undoubtedly serving to reinforce Vogl's position of military force as some kind of symbolism. The general actually looked rather stiff, wary from the thousands of eyes scrutinizing him all over. Samus bit her lip as she smiled. This was the first time she had actually seen Adam visibly uncomfortable.
To the soon to be ex-Chairman's left, a small crowd dressed in red uniforms teetered on small risers. Samus looked them over and recognized the dress code which indicated that these were students of the Daiban Military Academy. New entrants, most likely, judging by their visibly young age. They looked even more nervous than the general and all of the children were trying hard to put on a brave face in front of the entire galactic civilization as they knew it.
Samus was about to look away when she spied a shock of raven-hair from one of the students in the front row. She arced and eyebrow and blinked in recognition. A girl of about thirteen, adorned in the uniform of her peers, was shyly talking to her neighbor up on the riser, trying to make small talk to distract her from the ever looming pressure. She had changed a lot since Samus had seen her last, but it was that one look that told her everything that she needed to know.
"Damara…" she mused thoughtfully, a pleased smile working its way on her face, taking her out of her visibly sullen appearance. Little Damara all grown up, she thought pleasantly. Now she's a cadet for the military academy. And the Space Pirates said she was 'useless'…hah!
She was still reflecting by the time the new chairman strode out from the side entrance, flanked by his bodyguards, that Samus almost did not notice when the crowd politely silenced, awaiting to hear the words of what were about to be spoken today.
The open roars of the populace did not faze Keaton in the slightest as he took his seat behind Vogl, for he had been used to the rabble in congress for years now that it seemed he was permanently deafened. In mere minutes, though, all of the adoration and attention would be on him. Soon, he would have the entire ear of the galaxy instead of the lunkhead beginning to speak his final hurrah.
It had not been easy trying to get through these last ten years of politicking. Keaton swore that he had aged forty years from all of the stress placed upon him and knew that things were probably not going to lighten up any time soon. At this rate, he should have had multiple heart attacks by now if he had not paid for all of that cardiovascular therapy to keep himself fighting fit. The election years were always taxing and the body enhancements merely delayed him perishing before he could take office.
He was dressed in a conservative black coat that was rapidly approaching the fashion sensibilities of a cloak. The material completely covered his legs and wisped around the floor and the neck of the article rose up high behind Keaton's neck. His choice in clothing gave Keaton that more intimidating edge that he had always been seeking, to combat his fragile appearance which was the one quality about himself that he had always been disappointed in.
The fall of the Chozo did not immediately raise Keaton's star once the news hit Daiban. Of course, Vogl had used the incident on Zebes to proclaim a need for greater military force, a decision that even Keaton had supported, oddly enough. However, despite the move from Vogl, a chain reaction had already begun that would effectively call him and his entire policy into question – ten years too late in Keaton's opinion.
Maybe that was because everyone was still too timid when it came time for Vogl's shot at a third five-year term. They were now in a war and that gave them the tendency to look upon their leaders with more sympathetic eyes. But once those five years had passed and nothing had come to fruition, many congressmen began to get impatient, and that's when Keaton made his move.
Several people had known that Keaton had been good friends with the Chozo ambassador, Old Bird, and they began to use that anecdotal reference in his favor once he had announced his candidacy. This sort of promotion had not been organized by Keaton at all and he was therefore quite pleased when the story began to spread among the ranks, even if it was very slightly exploiting the memory of his friend. Ultimately it did not matter, the Chozo were no longer around and the idea that Keaton would have done something to prevent their disappearance quickly manifested into a movement in his favor. All he had to do was craft his points finely around the topic of war, endure a few debates, and eventually the public responded with their answer. When Keaton learned of his victory, though, he did not celebrate. Instead, he sat down and thought for hours on end, knowing that the real work would begin soon.
If only Vogl would allow me to actually speak, Keaton now thought in disbelief. The chairman was still droning on about his policies, like a child that was refusing to lend a toy even though he was required to share. The bluster was so random and unnecessary that Keaton entertained the idea of simply rising up and shoving Vogl off the steps. That, of course, would never do so he simply fought to keep his expression level while he mentally ticked off the seconds. Surely this long-winded speech was bound to end soon.
"…and I do believe that, while some of my decisions might not have settled well with others," Vogl announced, prompting a vicious round of eye-rolling from Keaton, "I firmly believe that I performed my duties to the best of my ability. But, as I stand before you today, I now wish to introduce to you the man who will carry out the laws of the galaxy, forging his own decisions in the name to protect this good Federation, who will see us through these trying times of war, and who will preside over this grand assembly from hence forth. It is my pleasure to open for this great man today. All of you, join me in welcoming Chairman Keaton!"
Finally. Keaton stood from his seat as the crowd now roared his name, chanting it over and over again. Allowing a tiny smile, Keaton gave a subtle nod to the group, now enjoying the effect his own name had on him as it was repeated by thousands. He walked to the podium where Vogl had stepped aside, cradling a massive book in his hands: the Federation Charter.
As Vogl held the book out for Keaton to take, he leaned down and spoke so that only they could hear it. "You know, Keaton, I have not forgotten what you said to me all those years ago. Do you think that I tore down the foundation, or built it back up?"
Keaton considered the question as both men grasped a corner of the book. He was intrigued that Vogl had remembered his words from so long ago and had his answer almost immediately. "I believe, Vogl, that what had to happen, had to happen. The foundation was always in jeopardy, it seems."
That was partially a lie but Vogl accepted it as a reasonable answer. Relinquishing his grip on the charter, he finally stepped aside to allow Keaton access to the podium. The enormous crowd roared their adoration again and he smiled, unable to help himself. The row of young cadets clapped enthusiastically next to him and he lingered on stage to hear his name being repeated a few more times before he cleared his throat to talk.
The first speech was always the most nerve-wracking.
As the chairman began to talk, Samus crossed her arms as she appraised every word out of Keaton's mouth. He made specific references to him being a servant, a shield, and a protector. Samus liked those words, they reflected the attitude of someone who had the interests of the bigger picture in mind, not just himself. Apparently he had been good friends with Old Bird so maybe the Chozo's many anecdotes might have rubbed off on the man. She just knew that she was liking the new chairman more and more.
She glanced over and saw Damara smiling happily on stage. Samus also felt glad at the girl's enthusiasm. In fact, she was staring at Damara more than the chairman that she almost failed to notice the small shift in the crowd across the empty corridor.
Samus dipped her head and frowned as she saw a figure in a trench coat gradually inch their way out of the crowd, but within the guarded perimeter. She eyed the person apprehensively and noticed more movement as four more similarly garbed beings trudged out, their features covered by hoods. Grimly, Samus also edged out and began to approach one of these new arrivals from the back, her hand cautiously floating over her pistol. Something just was not sitting right with her and she made sure to keep her distance, her breath coming out slowly and calmly.
The guards were still oblivious to the potential danger and the chairman was still talking up on the podium. Samus stepped softly as multiple signals in her head pointed towards a terrorist attack. She was about to lunge forward at the first cloaked form when she saw a pale hand peek out from underneath the long sleeve. Samus froze at the sight of the human hand but blinked as she spotted a tiny shimmer of light surrounding the hand, almost like it was extending into a longer appendage…almost like a claw.
"Down!" Samus bellowed as she shot towards the figure, her hand slamming down to impact on the outstretched arm. As her forearm impacted with the limb, a brief burst of static flared followed by a howl as the person's hood was knocked back. The shadowy shapes coalesced and suddenly vanished as the urban camouflage unit failed from the blow, revealing the yowling maw of a Space Pirate underneath all the clothing.
Shrieks erupted from the crowd as the majority of them started to flee at the sight of the Pirates. The four other cloaked Pirates stood where they were, too stunned and confused to even move. The guards lining the corridor were also shocked, as was the chairman, who stood at the podium with his mouth agape. Malkovich was by his side in a heartbeat, already leading Keaton away while he momentarily locked eyes with Samus in acknowledgement.
Grunting, Samus grabbed for one of the Pirate's arms in front of her and brutally twisted it. Bone popped from underneath the carapace and the alien shrieked. Samus then swung with her fist and caved in the Pirate's skull with an enormous blow, dropping it as greenish blood sprayed onto her white tank top, staining it. She drew her pistol and put two rounds in its chest to be sure, the noise a ka-THUMP, ka-THUMP!
By now, the other four Pirates had discarded their elaborate disguises and three of them made to attack her while the other one headed for Keaton. The first Pirate hissed and fired twin bolts from his claws but Samus easily vaulted over the beams which impacted safely into some trimmed bushes, setting them ablaze. Her pistol was already aimed by then and she lined up the sights for only a second before she loosed a bullet that took the Pirate's head off. Brains splattered the carpeted corridor and Samus' hair finished whipping in her face, the warm air now more evident than ever.
There was a crackling sound and Samus shot her head back just in time for a ragged bolt of plasma to barely skin by her, igniting a few strands of her blond hair as it grazed through the air. Furious, Samus lifted her pistol up and shot the Pirate in one of its hands, the limb now useless.
Clenching her teeth, she rose to her feet and ran at the Pirate with all the speed she could muster. Her hair locks stung at her face and her windbreaker flapped behind her as she reached thirty miles an hour in four seconds. Panicking, the alien stood helpless as it watched the human rush toward it and didn't even react as Samus leaped and kicked the Pirate hard in the chest with her heavy boots, breaking all of its ribs and pushing it through the glass barrier that lined the concrete walkway. Panes of glass crumpled around the Pirate as it fell through the air, slicing through its tough skin and causing the broken alien to bleed out onto the grass below.
Samus had little time to catch her breath because there was a bloodcurdling scream and she suddenly found a weight on her back, a Pirate having jumped onto her to tear into her flesh. Samus roared and pushed the arms of the Pirate aside before they could so much as scratch her. Tightening her limbs, she bent her knees and jumped in the air only to fall flat on her back, smashing the Pirate against the pavement. The alien cried out as its wind was knocked out of it, allowing Samus to roll out of its grip.
Freed, Samus twirled the pistol in her hand and savagely brought the butt of the gun down on the Pirate's neck, opening up a gash. The Pirate gagged and its limbs twitched feebly for a second before Samus rotated the gun again so that she could shoot the alien in the side of the head, creating a dinner-plate sized hole on the opposite side of its skull. Now coated in even more Pirate blood, Samus rolled so that she could get on her feet running, her eyes rapidly searching for her next target.
The last Pirate was now fending off the guards near the podium as they closed in to protect the chairman. The Pirate hissed as it evaded multiple shots in its direction, annoyed that its mission to take the chairman was constantly impeded by its enemies. It was so focused on its mission that it didn't notice Samus sprinting up behind him, or that its comrades were bleeding on the ground, one of them now headless.
Midway through her charge, Samus fired again and the left kneecap of the Space Pirate exploded outward, the bullet shattering the bone. With a pained scream, the Pirate dropped to its good knee but was hoisted up again as Samus snaked her arm around its neck. She jammed the muzzle of her pistol against the alien's back and it had barely enough time to register what was going on before an infuriated Samus fired her gun several times, punching several holes through the carapace on its chest, spewing blood and guts as the Pirate found its cardiovascular system suddenly shredded. As fluids began to leak out of its mouth, Samus gripped the jaw of the Pirate and rotated her arm very quickly, snapping its neck for good measure.
As the dead bodies of the Pirates lay around her, Samus stood alone in the empty corridor, wiping her mouth as more guards closed in to contain the situation. She listened to the quiet for a few seconds before she strapped her pistol to her belt again. Using her tank top, Samus dabbed a bit at the green blood beginning to encrust her forehead, catching the glances of shock from Keaton and approval from Adam. She flickered over them for a second before she caught the eye of Damara, who had been frozen in her position the entire time. Their gazes locked and Damara's mouth seemed to be mouthing words in disbelief, no sound escaping her. Samus shot her an assured smile, stepping forward to talk to her, but a flicker from a nearby rooftop caught her eye at the last moment.
Malkovich had seen it too and bodily yanked Keaton aside just in time to avoid the bright red line that cut effortlessly through the spot the chairman had just occupied, the report from the sniper barely sounding afterward. But, because of the low angle, the shot kept traveling in its direction toward the riser – toward Damara, even after it had missed the target. Samus had been moving even before she knew the sniper had fired and dived protectively, feeling a warm glow about her as a blistering heat began to form at her back.
With a cry of pain, Samus crumpled on the stage, her Power Suit finishing its formation around her. "No!" Damara screamed just inches away and ran towards the fallen woman. Flinching as Malkovich and the rest of the guards began to open fire on the nearby rooftops, the child dropped down and pulled at the limbs of the armored warrior. She grunted as she tried to lift Samus up, but she was too heavy and she was too weak.
"Get up!" Damara pleaded. "Please get up!"
Yanking on Samus' hand, Damara was unaware of the tears flowing down her face. She screamed for help and continued to pull. It seemed like she had been doing this for hours until the large hand gently wrapped its fingers around her tiny limb. Shocked, Damara gaped as Samus rose to her feet, able to see the hard eyes through the blue visor soften for just a moment.
"Hello Damara," the voice she had remembered for all these years said.
"Hello…Samus," Damara beamed, her tears already starting to dry.
Samus smiled, wincing as her back ached. That damn Pirate got a lucky shot just when her suit had almost finished its materialization. The bolt had taken away fifty units of energy and given her a burn, from what she could feel. Moving Damara behind her protectively, Samus turned around, a golden warrior arisen, and looked straight at the spot where the Pirate sniper had situated itself, witnessing a stunned expression on its face at the fact that the person he just shot was still alive.
With a tight grin, Samus merely raised her arm cannon and loosed a singular shot. The Pirate at the top of the nearby building disappeared in a cloud of smoke, the shot disintegrating most of his body at direct contact. The danger passed, Samus lowered her weapon and turned back to the child, who barely rose to her breastbone while she was in her armor.
Samus quickly disengaged her armor so that Damara could see her expression up close and proper. Ignoring the yells from the other people in the vicinity, Samus dropped down to a knee so that she and Damara would be able to speak eye to eye.
"When I said we were never going to stop being friends, Damara," Samus said after brushing her messy blond hair out of her eyes, "I meant it."
Damara nodded once before she hugged Samus hard, her arms barely reaching around the woman, bloody clothes and all. She soon pulled back, her eyes watering again. "I'm really glad that I met you, Samus," she mumbled, thick with tears.
Hugging the shell-shocked Damara, Samus saw Malkovich and Keaton out of the corner of her eye give her a respectful nod before departing back into the safety of the building. She smiled and held Damara some more amongst the shambles of the inauguration, keeping the child safe from any unwanted attention.
Patting the young lady on the back of her head, Samus was surprised to feel a wrenching emotion start to arise from within but she stomped it down before it had a chance to manifest itself. Instead, she gazed warmly at Damara and led her to the serene reflecting pool at the edge of the assembly mall, away from the quickly regrouping press and curious bystanders. They ducked behind some bushes and approached a small amphitheater, located right next to a memorial fountain in the middle of the park.
"Well," Samus said as she now seemed to take in her now disheveled look, absentmindedly playing with the edge of her ruined tank top. "We have a lot to catch up on, don't we, Damara?"
"Yes," the girl said as she took a seat upon the marble steps, her eyes hungry. "We certainly do."
A/N: Aha! I'm guessing that you now know where I'm taking this plot. Make no mistake, these changes were deliberate decisions by me so that I might give the story a sense of finality. Also, it kind of makes sense to wrap the storylines from concurrent games into one so that the narrative can be more developed. Hopefully straying from the source material like this won't upset people too much...hopefully.
But damn, this took a long time for me to write. I knew I was adding more material but I never guessed it would amount to this much.
Inspiration for Samus' casual wear was taken from the piece "Samus Aran - Casual Clothing" by Usomnus on DeviantArt, which is a very cool and realistic take on what Samus would wear if she was going for a stroll (it also doesn't sexualize her - and it's a sad, sad day when I have to specify something like that).
Actually, apart from one scene in the beginning, I didn't adapt anything from the manga in this chapter. Most of the passages were original content, and the ones that did make the cut were so heavily altered that they resemble nothing from the manga that they were adapted from.
An example would be the inauguration scene. In the manga, Keaton is introduced a bit earlier in the chapter but that sort of encounter did not really work after I had veered the story line, so I had to cut that part out. Also, when it came time for the action scene, there were no Space Pirate forces attacking the chairman. Rather, Damara had offered Keaton a bouquet of flowers for his election and the Space Pirates had (somehow) managed to swap them with a deadly creature that proceeded to attack the chairman, which Samus then destroyed while protecting Keaton and Damara.
In my opinion, that was just stupid. That scene was just a series of implausibilities ranging from Samus' dressy clothing (which I already mocked), to the fact that Damara should have been imprisoned for bringing a dangerous creature in contact with Keaton (despite her innocence), and the fact that Samus had to attack several guards in order to kill the creature, which also should have landed her in jail for assault at the very least.
Anyway, those are just my two cents...but since I'm also writing the damn thing they happen to be two very important cents. We're approaching the final act of the story now, about five more chapters left!
Let me know what you think!