Searching For My Brother

A Metroid OC Story

by Derald Snyder

~Epilogue: See You Next Mission~

*Federation Army Base, Medical Facility*

Samus Aran stepped out of the elevator, wearing her trademark blue Zero Suit, turning left and walking down the hallway... It wasn't long before she spotted Anthony chatting quietly with a doctor, the Negro soon taking notice of his old friend. "Hey there, Princess! Hendrik's been booked, I take it?"

"He has. Already asked for a lawyer. But with all the data and evidence that Daniel and I have gathered, his conviction in court is all but assured. Speaking of which, how is Daniel?"

"I'm afraid he's still unconscious," the doctor shook his head. "Acute exhaustion and mild bruising; we've hooked him up to an IV drip until he comes around."

"What about his brother?"

"He was sleeping when he was brought in, but he's regained consciousness. He's willing to testify in court against Dr. Hendrik once he's discharged... anyway, we've put them in the same room, but I would advise against seeing them for now..."

"She can come in," a voice spoke from a nearby room. "I'm not too tired to talk..."

"...All right, if you insist, Mr. Markson," the doctor sighed, stepping aside to let Samus pass.

The blonde hunter couldn't help but do a double-take at seeing the two brothers side-by-side, even if Danny was still sleeping. "Wow, Daniel wasn't kidding... you two really do look like palette swaps."

"He said that?! Dammit, Danny..." Donald ran his hands through his hair in mild embarrassment. "...So, you're Princess?"

"Yes. Though you might know me better as Samus Aran," she responded.

"No way." Donald's eyes nearly bugged out at hearing this. "Th- This is what you look like out of the suit?! I mean, I knew you were a girl- (ahem) a woman, but...!"

"Oh, Anthony didn't tell you?" Samus smirked.

"He just said that you used to serve in the same unit, but you quit after a disagreement with your CO," Donald pointed out. "He wouldn't say why, though..."

"It's a long story," Samus shook her head. "So from what I hear, you're a hunter yourself, right?"

"Yeah, but I'm a greenhorn compared to you," Donny shook his head. "I honestly never thought I'd get to meet you in person... Does Danny know?"

"No, he only knows me by Anthony's nickname," Samus replied. "I didn't think he would believe me if I told him the truth, so..."

"I can see why," Donny nodded. "But, um, why did you let him do all the work in your stead?"

"I was still recovering from my last mission. Let's say I had some medical issues and leave it at that," Samus stated sternly. "To be fair, it was Anthony he met first while he was undercover at the clones' training base, and he helped whip your brother into shape, at least enough so the sergeant didn't get suspicious."

"Ohhh," Donny comprehended. "Okay, now things are starting to make a bit more sense..." He looked over at his sleeping brother. "Part of me still wishes he would've contacted the Federation directly instead of going off on his own, but..."

"Well, I made sure to stress to him not to get in over his head," Samus pointed out. "It seems the reason he went out looking for you to begin with was because he felt in his gut that you weren't really dead. And I'm not one to discount gut feelings... they've saved my life more than once."

"...Right, I get it," Donny nodded slowly. "Anyway, I think that for the time being, Danny should be kept in the dark about who you really are. At least until things have settled down a bit."

"Fair enough," Samus agreed. "Oh, looks like he's coming around... Doctor!" she called.

"Mmmmnnngghh..." Daniel groaned as his eyes slowly blinked open. "Wh... where am I...?"

"You're in the hospital at the Federation Army base," the doctor said as he walked up to the bed. "How are you feeling, Mr. Daniel?"

"Tired..." Danny yawned. "Where's Donnie...?"

"Right here, brother," Donald called. "I was just talking with Sa- (ahem) Princess here about how she was supporting you..."

"Oh, right..." Danny lifted his head slightly and nodded.

"Do you feel any pain?" the doctor inquired.

"Don't think so... can I get some water?" Danny requested.

"I'll get some for you," Samus said, turning and exiting.

"So are you... still mad at me?" Danny turned his head to face his brother.

"'Mad' isn't the word I'd use..." Donny began. "I'm still upset that you decided to go off on your own instead of contacting the Federation straight away... But at least you had a couple of veterans backing you up. And I was impressed to hear about you taking down that kraken..."

"Oh geez... I almost died running from that thing after I blasted it's armor off it's head... probably gonna have nightmares about it for a while..." Danny groaned.

"Yeah, well from what I overheard, Dr. Hendrik was really mad that you slagged that power plant on Hydreion," Donny pointed out. "That alone pretty much ended their clone production right then and there. So, good job on that, at least."

"Thanks, I guess..." Danny sighed as he laid back... but then something occurred to him, causing to sit upright. "Wait, my suit! Where's my suit at?"

"I dunno," Donny shrugged. "I think Higgs took it off you when we got here so you could be admitted, so he probably has it. Why?"

"That Grapple Beam... it's not mine, it belongs to a customer! I promised I'd get it back to them before the swinging competition! It's already been over a week, and the event was supposed to start in two weeks...!"

"Oh geez... of all things, you choose THAT to freak out over?" Donny chuckled, shaking his head with a grin. "You haven't changed that much after all, brother..."

*One month later...*

"Thank you so much for getting my laser-tag armor fixed!" the grateful teenager exclaimed as said armor was handed to him. "I'm so glad my buddy recommended you to me... He said you took a bit long fixing his Grapple Beam, but you got this done lickety-split!"

"That was due to family-related issues," Daniel sighed. "But that's all over and done with now. Anyway, I offer a fair price, but not for free..."

"Oh yeah, right!" the customer nodded, promptly handing over some cash. "Just keep the change, okay? It's still a steal compared to what I woulda had to pay the manufacturer to fix this... maybe you should try playing laser tag sometime! You look like you've got the figure for it..."

"Eh, I'll pass," Danny shook his head. He'd had enough real gunfire directed at him to last a lifetime, never mind laser-tag... "Anyway, good luck, and I hope you win."

"Thanks, man! Later!" the young man waved goodbye as he loaded his laser-tag armor into his hover-car, then got in himself and drove off.

Danny smirked as he went back into his garage, depositing the cash in his lock box and securing it, then turning his head as he heard footsteps approach. "Another satisfied customer, huh?"

"You know it, Donny!" Danny concurred, only for his happy mood to vanish as he saw the grim look on his brother's face. "Uh-oh, is something wrong?"

"I just got a call from Anthony Higgs. Remember him?"

"Seriously? How could I forget the guy who pulled my fat outta the fryer more than once?" Daniel half-snarked. "So what's he want?"

"Well, apparently some of my surviving clones have reorganized themselves into a terrorist group, causing property damage and civilian casualties on quite a few planets. He wants me to go and help him deal with them..."

"You? What about me? I'm the one that put down quite a few of those knock-offs!" Danny argued.

"Well, he did ask both of us, actually... I'm just worried that this might be a trap of some sort, that they're trying to lure us out or something..."

"Then they've obviously forgotten who they're dealing with," Daniel shot back. "Between you, me and Higgs, those clones don't stand a chance in Zebes!"

"Glad to see you haven't lost your confidence," Donny nodded slightly. "So is your suit ready for deployment?"

"Should be, just give me a sec to check everything..." Daniel grunted as he went over to a nearby locker with a numerical padlock, turning the combination and opening it- and crying out as several suit parts tumbled out, nearly burying him. "Ugh, right, I forgot I had to disassemble it to store it in here... Stop laughing, Donny!"

"Pffft, sorry!" Donald put a hand over his mouth. "I'll, uh, go check my equipment..." He swiftly turned and strode off, still trying to muffle his snickers.

"My younger brother..." Daniel sighed as he picked his helmet out of the pile. "Can't live with him, dunno what I'd do without him..." As he pulled out the chest piece, his eyes were drawn to the number 'DE-09' on the right 'breast'... "At least I got the Army to give you a proper burial, my friend... it was the least I could do for you." Shaking himself back to reality, he set the helmet aside as he began donning said chest armor...

Metal boots clanked on the floor. One arm, then the other was attached, the modified welder gun then strapped and wired into place on the right arm, the Nova power pack being installed soon after. Then the Power Grip and a new Grapple Beam were attached to the left arm, before Donald slid on the helmet, watch as the visor's HUD booted up, running a self-diagnostic. "Looks like everything's in order."

"Good to hear," Donald said as he came back out, wearing a protective vest over his shirt, his beam saber strapped to his waist. "I'm ready to head out if you are."

"One more thing," Daniel held up his hand briefly. "Here, drone! Wake up, we've got a mission!" A new recon drone obediently skittered to the engineer's side. "Okay, now we're ready."

"So let's go," Donald nodded, the two brothers and their drone climbing onto their starship and descending into the cockpit, said ship soon starting and lifting off, flying into space...

"Hey Donny, there's one thing I've been meaning to ask you..."

"What's that, Danny?"

"Your codename- is it Righteous Ice or Righteous Eyes?"

Donald could only face-palm in disbelief- it hadn't been the first time he'd been asked that. (I really should have picked a different codename...)

~*See You Next Mission*~