Holochat Chamber, Samus' Dorm, Night Time.
Samus had been waiting for this moment all day, finishing up a long and exciting conversation with Old Bird and his compatriots in the holochat chamber. "Bye, papa. See you tomorrow!" She said, smiling as she waved farewell to them.
"I will count the minutes until our next meeting, little hatchling." He said, the hard-light figure of his hologram threading its fingers through her hair and playfully ruffling it, getting an excited giggle from her before she ambushed him with a hug that he returned swiftly.
Isa-Hesh looked on fondly and joined in. "Ah, my darling girl. I'm so proud of you." She said, feeling another of Samus' arms wrapping around her as she pulled the holograms into her, relishing in their warmth.
As she pulled away from the hug, Grey Voice simply laid a hand on her shoulder and nodded at her.
"Remember, simply because you are gifted is no excuse to slack off on the new duties given to you. I expect your finest effort, Aira-Sekh." He said, only passing her a single nod of acknowledgement when Samus gave him a thumbs up.
"Now, I think we have some other business to attend to, Mother Brain is expecting us shortly. Be well, Samus." War Hawk said, giving her a mimed wave goodbye as their holograms fizzled out one after the other.
Sucking in a breath, Samus twisted her fingers on the console and mentally flicked through the contacts until she got to Arne's profile picture, showing him and Samus before a waterfall at Chozodia. The two were half-dressed in swim clothes with her arm around his neck and her fingers in a victory position while he looked towards the camera drone with a rare earnest grin from him. She knew he would be available from her premonitions, and signalled her readiness to initiate contact, making a ping across spacetime all the way into another galaxy.
Immediately Arne's form fizzled into being, wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt and shorts, the print of a starship on the chest of his red blouse while his blue pants ruffled a bit with his movements. She herself wore similar clothes; though she went with orange and blue and a rabbit print, and both had slipped off their footwear for the indoors. They looked somewhat normal in all honesty.
Arne's expression lit up like the dawning sun, and hers widened in return as he eagerly sat himself down in the bed the second she patted a spot next to him.
"Hey there, Valkyr." He said, the pet name for her making her flush just a bit before she tweaked his nose and got a laugh out of him.
"Oh hush, snowboy." She said back to him, his own pale skin starting to flush in return as he felt the bed she was on and looked back at her.
"Bedroom, huh?" He said, laying back onto it briefly and then pushing himself back up.
"Well, I thought it should feel kind of...intimate, you know?" She said, smirking at him as he nodded back.
"Mhrm, I get that. It's pretty nice too. I'm guessing it's based off yours?" He said, taking only a second to look around before looking back at her.
"Yep! Next time I want you to show me yours." She grinned and gave him a wink and thumbs up.
"Yeah, definitely. I've been trying to set up my workspace in a way that seems familiar to me." He said before taking a look at some of the holoposters she set up and rubbing his smooth chin briefly while he studied it.
"Really fond of Yrimoch aren't you?" He said, eyeing the adventure hero's poster, her armoured figure leaping down into the face of danger and the unknown with an eager energy—white and red armour bold and bright against the backdrop of alien vistas.
"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be? Ian showed me some of her movies, and I just can't stop watching them!" Samus said with a happy grin while Arne gave her a warm, fond look and shifted his legs a bit, flicking some of his hair away from his face as he thought to himself.
"Ian Malkovich, right? Is he cute?" Arne asked, smirking at the happy nod gave to him as she leaned in a bit closer and gave him a daring look into his eyes.
"What about that Solveig girl you messaged me about hrm?" She asked, cackling at the thumbs up that Arne gave her and clapping a bit.
"Honestly so many people here are just...gorgeous you know? I want to get to know all of them as soon as I can and ugh...sometimes I don't even know where to start!" She said, sighing and bringing an arm around him, nestling into the crook of his arm and holding him tight. She academically knew he wasn't actually there, that this was all just a hard-light projection, but it was the next best thing for both of them. She could still feel his empathic warmth, his body heat, and the contours of his skin, and he could feel hers.
"Yeah, I get that too. There's just a lot of really...beautiful and interesting people. I'm just a bit nervous with speaking to a lot of them and, gods I wish I was better at saying hello." Arne said with an exhalation, holding her close to him and popping some of his knuckles on his other hand while she wriggled her toes and hummed a little tune.
They remained like that for a little while longer, just relaxing with each other's company and saying nothing. After a year of being together they weren't quite in the honeymoon phase anymore. They had some arguments here and there, some a bit heated, but they still dearly loved the time they had with each other. It made them feel much warmer, safer, wanted and loved. To know that they weren't the only people who had experiences like themselves and to be able to commiserate about their rather particular life experiences.
Then Samus spoke. "What was it like, seeing how everyone looked up to your parents?" She asked, tilting her head upward and resting her chin on his shoulder as her hair, freed from its pony-tail, shifted a bit with her movements, intent blue eyes studying him for possible reactions. She made a sweet little smile and received a small kiss on her lips in return before he gave her some distance and thought.
"It's honestly heart-aching. I wish I knew them better than just as first memories and old writings left behind. Seeing how everyone looked up to them reminds me of how little I really know them. And I feel like." He sighed and looked forward. "I feel like I'm never really going to be who they wanted me to be. Am I really Arne Skjoldr, or am I Sarxyl Avar? I spent only three years as one, but ten as the other." He said before Samus shooshed him with a finger to his lips.
"Arne don't talk about yourself like that. You're both your sets of parents' son, just like I'm both my sets of parents' daughter." She said, grinning a bit and smooching him on the cheek, getting one in return before she frowned a bit as she mused on her response. "But on the not really knowing the people who gave birth to us, I've gotten a lot of that too lately. Everyone knows my parents as the people who took out the Inferno Pack. Dragonslayers, Scourge breakers..." She said with a bit of melancholy as she thought of what she really knew of the Arans.
"But I was three when they died. I only learned how to ride a bicycle six months before. And I know mama and papa had big expectations for me." She said as she got out an heirloom salvaged from K-2L, showing their high hopes for their daughter. A video-log drive containing their rehearsed messages of congratulation for every milestone they expected or hoped their daughter to take. A new parent thing done as they went through the rush of emotions that accompanied the confirmation of Virginia's pregnancy.
"They wanted me to be a scientist, you know?" She said, wiping away a single tear as Arne patted her on the shoulder and kissed away the flash of sadness that she felt, though she could see that he was crying himself.
"Mom and dad wanted me to go into civics and social work. Help people without having to spend my life at war. I guess that ship's left the dock." Arne said, blinking away a few of his tears and giving a wry smile.
"Really? Clan Champion Gyda Astridsdottir Skjoldr wanted her son to be a social worker?" She said with a little giggle. "That's just so...unexpected for that kind of lineage." She smirked and sniffled.
"Heh, I guess after seeing so much violence, they didn't want me to have to be part of it. They wanted to retire soon too, raise the other kids they wanted to have and I somewhere quiet." He said, thinking wistfully about what could have been before shaking his head. What had come to pass had already happened, he shouldn't dwell on it for too long.
"Mama and Papa wanted me to be the first of five kids for my set. But they always said that I was a smart girl. And here I am, working on spaceship and power suit designs...heheh." She said, conjuring a hologram of her latest design that caught Arne's attention as his eyes widened and head tilted.
"Is that a mech?" He asked, taking a close look at the shape before him, large, powerful, but clearly agile and fast-moving. It made him think of a humanisation of a Chozo statue, albeit made of metal instead of stone. The way that the wearer was supposed to fit into it also caught his eye in particular, it'd be a pretty decently large mech if his read of the proportions were correct.
"Yeah. I thought it'd be a fun thing to do to pass the time. Something that might be handy in fights with bigger opponents." She said, shrugging a bit as he studied the schematics.
"Can I have a copy of this? Over a secure line of course...I'd be uh...interested in helping you with this." He said with a smile. The thought of working on another collaborative engineering project with her made the both of them feel quite warm inside.
"Of course!" She grinned, patting him on the back as he chuckled. This might be a fun thing to do on their offtime, though they'd likely need to do a few expeditions to get the necessary materials.
"So how was your day Arne?" Samus asked the white-haired boy looking back at her through the crystal clear hologram. He scratched the back of his head as he thought and gave a small, slightly nervous laugh that made him feel as if he was actually there in the room, sitting next to her as his attention was shifted from their mutual interest in engineering.
"Well, having to say goodbye to my parents was pretty awful. But I think I've made quite a few friends at least." He said, the hard-light hologram reaching to her hair and stroking it, perfectly mimicking the sensation of his actual skin on her scalp as he played with it, looking towards her with a satisfied expression.
"Yeah, I made a bunch too! Just so many people with interesting stories! But I think I'm already starting to miss my family. People here don't pick up on a lot of the same signals. They don't act as understanding." She said, frowning and looking away from him.
"And everyone just wants to talk to me about the Chozo all the time. I love to talk but..." She paused a bit and touched the hand on her head and peeled it off before lacing her fingers through his.
"You don't feel like people want to talk about you, just at you, don't you?" Arne said, his stare sympathetic and kind. He knew what that was like; it was something he dealt with since the Alimbics took him in.
"Yeah." She sighed as she looked down and folded her lips, swinging her legs. "And there's so many new rules and regulations. I can't wander around at night unsupervised; I can't play around with the equipment, I can't just take my ship and fly around a bit..." She pouted, getting him to lay a hand on her chin and turn her face towards him.
"Well, here is less strict than it was under Zurvduat, so I'm liking it here quite a bit. Even if there's been some weird sights." He said, getting a look of concern from Samus. She herself had seen something unusual, but it wasn't something she felt comfortable with burdening him with the knowledge of.
"Like what?"
"Someone who reminds me of a figure I saw on Cylosis. The shapeshifting monster woman. I'm not sure if it's her. This would be really deep into Omdynisch territory for one thing." He said with a frown, he breathed slightly hard at the recollection and looked downright unhappy at the experience.
"You've seen something too, haven't you?" He said, picking up on the signals of what she was thinking of but didn't want to say.
"I...there's been something that looks like...Pirate tech here. Scurrying away when it thinks people can't notice. Everyone is swearing its just some prank." She said, but he could tell she didn't quite believe that. Most people weren't depraved enough to try and joke about the Confederacy of Dismor. Certainly no one she hoped would be allowed to continue being at this facility without being put into a remedial program.
"I see. Maybe they're related? Mom kept on thinking that the attackers on Cylosis were Federation in origin but..." He said before Samus spoke up.
"Arne they can't be. I've told you this a thousand times. The Federation would never do something so horrible! Even to someone they thought was a terrorist like Gyda...and I'm sure that enough of them knew that Gyda was a good person to never do that kind of...genocide." She said, snapping a bit and making Arne shirk slightly away from her before nodding in response.
"I understand, but maybe there's a Pirate connection? That kind of biological modification...it might be their work." He said as she narrowed her eyes and nodded.
"Then we'll kill them." She said with a cold intensity that almost spooked him, a hard gulp coming from the young Cylosian. He understood the lust for revenge; he felt it too; the urge to right a terrible wrong. It was something they both shared. But when she flipped from sweet to chilling it seemed like flicking a switch, just like when either of them had their...episodes.
"I look forward to it." He said in agreement as she gave him a mischievous grin.
"Well, uh. I've been trying to work on being a bit more assertive and well..." He said, clearly trying to cheer her up as he worked up the courage to say something, Samus' eyebrows just about reaching into orbit as a grin began to crack on her face. Oooh this was going to be exciting, she could just feel the anticipation and tension building in the atmosphere.
"There's this new movie, at this really nice complex with a great arcade. So I was thinking...maybe we could take our friends and go on a date...like a group date? Would that be something you'd like to do?" Arne said, chuckling slightly nervously at the thought, getting a little giggle out of Samus in return.
"I'd like that a lot." She said as she laid her hands on his chest and pushed him onto the bed.
"Now...I want t-" She said with an eager look as Arne bit his lower lip. But the two would never quite get the chance they were looking for as the door to the holochamber opened on both of their ends as Ian blearily walked in, and Solveig poked her head inside; the two manifesting on either's respective ends as additions to the holo-communique.
"Samus where is my sunglass ca-" Ian stopped as he looked at the scene and lowered his sunglasses...which he wore at night...in pyjamas, okay...to stare at Arne and Samus.
Then he looked at Solveig who had a tablet in her hand and a set of pink pyjamas loosely covering her body and gave her a finger pistol and a wink while she waved cheerfully at him.
"Sorry, sorry, am I interrupting something?" She said.
"Oh well..." Samus said with a flush, her attentions going over to Solveig and liking what she saw. Solveig noticed the attention given to her and brushed a bit of hair away from her face and offering a grin as she decided that this girl was someone she very much wouldn't mind the scrutiny of. An assessment that Samus mirrored, she was really quite pretty, and the young hatchling couldn't help but think of how many interesting stories she might have to tell. And of course, her face seemed to be ever so soft, much like Arne and Ian's.
Arne went a bit more beet red than Samus did at their moment being interrupted, being the shyer of the pair. Arne flashed a small smile and offered a wave to both of the newcomers, his eyes quickly scanning over Ian and feeling just a bit flushed as he realised that the newcomer was well, quite appealing to his eyes. And the way he studied him in return made Arne feel rather desired in a way that he didn't mind at all? It was validating to be given that sort of wink and thumbs up, though Ian's gaze remained respectful and avoided lingering.
Solveig and Ian studied each other of course, almost circling around each other as they tried to gauge the other before deciding that getting to know each other would be a valuable use of their time. Certainly worth a few repeat usages if the confident smiles they traded to each other was any indication.
"Ian." He said, getting Solveig's name in response. Solveig adjusted her glasses, and Ian made sure that she could get a good look at his eyes as he offered her his best charming smile. Whether or not he was as suave as he thought he was, he did get her to giggle a bit as she approached him and received a hand to shake. A gesture she returned enthusiastically, almost bouncing with her arm. Compliments were passed about each other's hair in short order, and a few pleasantries were exchanged.
At the same time, Arne decided to take the time to stroke Samus' hair, feeling her through the hard light projection's feedback and deciding he quite liked the feeling. Samus let out a little purr at the sensation, nuzzling into his hand while she snuggled a bit around him and whispered to him about how cute she found the situation. Something that Arne agreed pretty quickly with. It was indeed, quite endearing to watch their two new friends get a feel for each other, and the two laughed when Ian bemusedly tried to mime Solveig's Grendakal salute when offered it.
Now that everyone's attentions were elsewhere, Samus decided to stir just a little bit of chaos. Perhaps to get at them while they were distracted and wouldn't be trying to fluster her. "Yes, you were interrupting something. Unless your intention was to join?" Samus asked, getting Ian to choke on his spittle and Solveig to go wholly red and breathe heavily. Ah, that was her intention, to get them both making amusing reactions. Vindicated by her efforts, she gave Arne a smooch before she let out an impish giggle and flipped herself upright into a seated position on the bed and then standing up.
"Why didn't you tell me Arne and his friends were this cute? Consider me very...interested in seeing how your open thing works." He said as Arne stood himself up and ran a hand through his hair, looking back at Ian as he approached him and sized him up.
Arne found himself to be a bit taller than the Slavic boy who had to prop himself just slightly upwards to meet his white-haired counterpart. Definitely easy on the eyes, and both could tell that the other kept themselves in great shape, Ian whistling at the sight of Arne's definition. Skjoldr was honed like a well-sharpened sword and kept his body in virtually immaculate condition. Ian, for his part, kept himself to military standards of fitness, and it showed in a way that caught Arne's eye.
Ian for a moment considered the overall layout of Arne's face, just as he was studying his. Cute, boyish, just a touch androgynous but better for it. An amusing display that got him to smirk as he was offered a hand that he shook quite firmly in return. The gesture wasn't one hundred per cent familiar to him, but he was able to get the gist of it in a hurry—the touch leaving Arne wanting a bit more.
Samus sized up Solveig more closely herself. She was definitely the taller of the two, to Solveig's mild annoyance as she was used to being taller than most girls. Solveig barely had to look to notice that Samus was quite muscular, her body leanly defined for speed more than power. It was almost enough to make her feel self-conscious, but on the other hand, she wasn't so bad herself in that department, thanks to her mother's training and gene-augs.
Samus kept her hair in a shorter cut, more boyish, while Solveig seemed to regard the notion of cutting her voluminous hair as heresy. Both wondered for a moment, what the other's hair would feel like. Solveig just giggled a bit, getting a similar response from Samus as they shared a brief curtsy towards each other that got the two laughing out loud shortly afterwards.
"Ah, I wish you two were actually here with us in person." Solveig said with a sigh as she straightened her clothes and clasped her hands together. The hard light holochat was virtually the same thing as being in person for most intents and purposes, but knowing that they weren't physically there brought a vague hollowness to it. Not enough to ruin the experience, but enough to leave her wanting more.
"Honestly? Same." Ian said, stretching a bit and getting another look at Solveig and offering a hand towards her hair, though he only proceeded when she nodded. While he knew that this was a projection, every detail felt perfectly real to his fingers, only his mind's eye could fully perceive the imperfections. The psionic details that were simply being telecasted rather than actually being there.
"Well, now that we're all here. What do you want to do?" Samus asked, pulling some snacks out of her pocket and taking a little bite from them, chewing on the gummies and bouncing a bit on her feet.
"I mean, I'm not tired. But it's not like we can go very far from this place." Ian said with a shrug. To be fair, with the standardised augmentations, it was easy for the average human to go for months without sleep and to subsist on just fifteen minutes worth every once in a while. Sleep was more often than not just a means of destressing or passing away the quieter hours now, and Ian usually liked to keep busy during the night hours. Especially since the Nocturnal crowd was pretty fun to be with, as was evidenced by this conversation.
"Aw true..." Solveig groaned. She looked at the room, it was decently large, but the projectors would only allow herself and Arne to roam so far around. She wanted to see more, but she could only really go where projectors were able to broadcast, and as a foreigner, her projection privileges were somewhat limited.
Magnasdottir ruminated on that trying to weave a spell to see how far she could actually go. But as she followed the pathways of her arcane energies, she noticed that the data flow of the device wasn't going to all the usual directions. Which must mean that it was being altered in some way...Who would want to alter who gets to view the logs, ah of course! She made a small "Ahah!" her eyes briefly flicking to Arne and making a little knowing smirk.
He must have tampered somewhat with the machine. "Hee, clever boy aren't you Arne?" She said with a beaming grin while Arne flushed.
"I just...didn't want people to listen in on stuff that's supposed to be private, that's all." He said humbly as if he hadn't trivially worked his way around numerous layers of cybersecurity even without the aid of his armour.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell." Ian said with a finger pressed to his lips.
"Ahem, so as I said. What do you all want to do?" Samus asked, clearing her throat, this was rather fun...just getting to know each other, but she didn't want to amble too much. She felt that there was more to do, things that were important and needed her attention. But she couldn't quite put her foot down on just what it was.
It was frustrating to be so underveloped in her sorcerous and psychic gifts, especially when so many of her friends were allowed to go hogwild with them while the Chozo told her she would need to wait for that phase of training. A sore spot like sandpaper rubbing against the worst places, and one that occasionally drew her choler out.
Arne, and indeed just about everyone sensed that annoyance with not knowing just what it was that she sensed coming that required this meeting beyond a simple time to catch up. A simmering dull red sensation of annoyance mingled with the mist of uncertainty curling from her mind. Best to not keep her waiting then.
"Well, there are ways to kinda, have fun without leaving here?" Arne said, shifting his trousers slightly for comfort and taking a look at some of Samus' mementoes strewn about the holographic recreation of her room. He smiled softly, he always found her life so interesting. He loved to learn more about her passions, and feathered his fingers around one of the model mock-ups of a starship idea she had roiling around in her head. He almost wished he could disassemble it to see how she put it together, and almost sounded joyous when he realised it was flight-capable.
"When did you build this Samus? I don't remember you having something like this before" He asked, getting Solveig and Ian's attentions as well as hers almost immediately when he got it to fly with a psycho-tactile command.
"Oh, I put it together after breakfast. I was a bit bored, so I decided to try out some of the worskhops. I wish they had some better materials, but I think it worked out great!" She said with a proud grin while Ian let out a whistle.
"Dang, I thought you were just metalworking for the hell of it. That thing actually functions?" Ian asked, Samus nodding eagerly in response.
"Oooh, so you like to mess around with machines too? Arne here was busy with some other side-projects too!" Solveig said, pushing Arne slightly forward towards Samus as her eyes lit up with curiosity and he chuckled a bit.
"Oh I was just kind of trying to work on a new helmet design. My current one is well...kind of creepy. You know how you've got a few different helmet designs?" He said, taking a moment to conjure up a replica of the helmet.
"I was just thinking if I'm supposed to be a knight, why not look more the part?" He said, showing off the new helm. Rather than the unflinching cyclopean gaze of his standard helmet, it had a simple gently upward sloped V-shaped visor atop a shield-shaped mouthguard, turning the crest into a pair of antennae at the side and a small V-shaped antenna at the forehead above the visor.
"It's part of some aesthetic concepts I had. To make people more comfortable around me and well...announce that I'm Arne, not just the Neophyte or Primoris." He said smiling as Samus took the replica in her hands and lit up with fascination.
"Oooh, I also had some concepts for a way to keep my favoured looks and colour schemes with upgrades." She said, grinning a bit back at him as he chuckled in response.
"Without having to just rely on my collection of spare suits." She smirked.
"Hah, yeah I guess it is kind of a shame to keep on changing colours when we designed them to look a certain way." Arne laughed a bit before something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Something moving fast that Solveig also noticed, an accusing finger stretching from her hand.
"Is that supposed to be there?" Solveig asked as she looked at the insectile thing with a look of displeasure, getting less than great vibes from it.
Samus snapped her head into the direction of the machine and narrowed her eyes. She vaulted back and caught the machine as it tried to outrace her. It managed to skitter faster than its own sound, but she was much faster still, and she moved like a whip to snatch it between her fingers and quickly studied it with her eyes.
She identified a circuit about to transmit a self destruct signal and squeezed her fingers in just the right way to pop its barrier, and squeeze the self-destruct initiator mid-transmission. The signal flickered against the superhuman skin of her index finger and thumb before fizzling out entirely, a sigh of relief coming from her as she peeled off its legs as soon as she felt it trying to stab the incredibly sharp blades into her, grunting a bit and shaking a hand in annoyance before disabling it.
"There...got you!" She said triumphantly.
"Nice work...what can you see?" Arne asked as Samus laid the machine out on a table she had conjured up and squinted at its mechanics and inner workings. Clever minds made this machine with very sophisticated tools, but a cursory examination showed that the design was one for mass production. Her eyes focused onto even microscopic details and saw standardised parts, non-custom fittings, the lack of any sign of minor alterations characteristic of having been tinkered with. She guessed that it was self-replicating after having a closer look, seeing it trying to pick off any usable matter with its jaws and process it into new "tissue". Something it kept on doing until she had hard-light fields restrain its movements.
But what solidified her decision was noticing that, when she focused the energies of her scan visor through her eyes, she could detect leftover traces of serial numbers. Her armours were a part of her, pieces of her soul. Just as nothing could permanently destroy them while her inviolable soul continued to exist; some of their abilities were always available. One of them was scanning, and the wiry cords of quasi-mystical energy of her armour pulled the information directly into her brain in the period of a single thought.
The answer came to her almost as a shock, her face scowling in disgust at the truth. Then that disgust turned to anger. She breathed hard for a moment, clenching her hand rapidly before Arne put a hand on her shoulder; sensing her anguish. The memories of fire started to smoulder and crackle in her mind, and she had to fight down a snarl that was trying to form itself on her lips. She quenched her fury briefly with cold determination, but the maelstrom inside of her stirred at ever greater speeds with violent ideation. It refused to be stilled, hormones and trauma conspiring together to start a raging storm inside of her heart.
"It can't be made by a student." She said with anger making her voice choke as she began to quiver, looking at Ian and nodding sagely at her conclusion. Ian tilted his head briefly and adjusted his shades as he tried to think for a bit until he decided to nod along. He was nervous, sensing the maelstrom inside of her heart start to whip into a vicious fury. She was twitching.
"Okay, but how do you figure Sam?" He said. He was trying to hide the slight quail in his voice and the quake in his legs. She was immensely powerful, a protozoan star of budding potential. He had so far only really seen her at her best; when she was happy or excited. The animalistic expression on her face was terrifying; like staring into the face of an oncoming tidal wave.
"Ian, are you sure she's going to be okay?" Solveig said, worry in her voice as she felt the boiling cauldron of fury building inside of the blonde. The causeways of destiny quaked at the potential outcomes of her oncoming outburst. Her voice was choking as she tried to formulate a coherent response to the fairly asked question of her.
"Samus, what's wrong?" Arne asked, knowing that anger inside of her quite well. He could feel the agonised fury that sought release inside of her. And that was something that worried him because he too felt his own beast inside scratching and clawing for release.
"These components are mass-produced. Serialised components even." She said, her voice furious as her efforts to quench the anger began to break down. "And the technology is definitely space pirate." She said with clear contempt in that phrase. She almost wanted to smash the thing in her hands; she almost did, in fact. She had to stop herself at the last moment from destroying the evidence and instead had the holochamber make something breakable and fragile.
She needed to feel something come apart in her hands and thought of something that would feel good to destroy. It couldn't just be hard-light, it had to be real...and the nanites in the chamber got to work on fulfilling her request. She saw a grey rectangular mass form next to her and slammed her fist through the ferocrete block that it had generated with a casual swat as she let out a frustrated cry of monomaniacally focused rage. The combination of mineral and metal was no match for her strength or her skin, nanotube fibres and metallic rebar augmenting the precision-engineered mineral crystals smashing apart against superhuman cell structures without even scratching them. A block that could have shrugged off re-entry and impact shattered into pieces so energetic that Ian had to throw up a telekinetic barrier surrounding her to stop them from moving around.
It wasn't enough. She needed more. A hard-light training drone designed to take the abuse of the students with a heavy, padded sports player like body fizzled into being as if to respond to her call. The air split with a thunderclap, and she threw a hammer fist so violent that the hard-light image of the holochamber flickered before simulating the machine just about exploding. More and more objects were given to her, all of them breaking in a hurry as Ian and Solveig backed off with concern.
She briefly caught sight of the others gathering within the chamber, seeing her rearranging a conjured cliff with her fists and making quite the furor. She didn't care until she had smashed the whole thing to pieces, about to relieve her stress against something else until Arne snuck in and hugged her. She almost swung around to throw her fist into his face, her hand lashing out by sheer reflex until Arne brought his own to catch it by his palm; the holochamber flickering his image a bit as it tried to calculate the immense force of what happened.
She had almost hit Arne.
"...Samus?" He asked. He was sympathetic; he always was, just like she always was for him. They understood each other, knew the others' anguish all too well. And she had almost hit him out of the blind rage of a temper tantrum when she couldn't maintain her calm any further.
"I'm...sorry." She said, shame in her voice as she pulled away from the offered hug. She didn't feel like she had earned it, not after an outburst like that. What good was she if she couldn't control herself around one of the people closest to her? Her armour manifested around herself, zero suit and then plating encasing her body after a fade-in of orange light as she hugged her knees to her chest.
She wanted to shut out the outside world, to sink into this shell and hide her shame. Her face looked out at the world through the visor, and she pulled up the hood of her Phantom suit after activating the upgrade to provide one more layer of anonymity. Arne's attempt at hugging her was foiled by her activating the incorporeality systems, causing him to pass right through and fall onto the ground before he picked himself up and shook his head.
"Samus..." He said with soft concern.
"I don't deserve the help after an outburst like that..." She said glumly before Ian stepped in and sat down next to her ghostly form.
"Hey, look. What you went through...look God knows what would happen if I lost my family. But hey, if there is someone letting pirate drones here run wild, can't think of many places better equipped to stop them than here right?" Ian said with his best attempt at a reassuring smile.
"You don't understand...people here could die and it would be my fault if I couldn't keep them safe. They're...they're monsters Ian, they're going to pull this place apart looking for what they want then..." She was starting to wander back into that awful place. The very idea of the soldiers and agents of the Confederacy of Dismor in a place she thought was safe was enough to make her sink into some of the worst memories of her life.
Raw, undiluted violence at every turn, everyone she knew dying. Torn apart, eaten, crying for help only for no one to come. Powerless, unable to do anything for the damned and the doomed. Useless.
So much blood, so much noise, so much fear all around her. And not a single thing she could do could help any of them. She felt herself crying, sobbing as she tried to shut out the screams of the dead that still haunted her to this day.
She no longer heard anything else, but she clutched tightly at the medallion that Old Bird had given her, conjuring it into existence and holding it tight until she saw an astral projection of Re-Sekh's form before her. At once, everything seemed to melt away, leaving the two of them in a comforting void as the mirage like visions of terror disappeared.
"Aira, child, what troubles you my golden sweet?" He said with the gentlest of voices, offering a gauntleted hand while his eyes stared out of his eyepieces with warm light and fatherly love. The sensation that nothing could go wrong in his presence helped to ease her pain and made everything feel like it was falling back into place. She breathed, and cleared her sight and mind before looking back at her father.
"Papa...I'm sorry...I, I lost control, and I'm so worried about my new friends here..." She said; doubt wasn't usually something she succumbed to. Her mind was armoured in confidence just as surely as the Mek'tesh suit armoured her body. It was something she associated more with Arne, and rarely did she ever feel the need to confront it head-on.
"You fear the forces that destroyed your first family have found you. It is understandable that this concerns you, but does that not mean that you are where you are needed?" He said, trying to get her attention with his statements of prophecy. Samus flicked her attention to the million year ancient as he conjured a visualisation of the causeways of destiny with his other hand. Threads and cables of possibilities winding through time, a handful occasionally changing in the past, a few futures withering as soon as they were observed, and the pulses of choice going down one cord or the other.
"What do you mean papa?" She said with a slight sniffle at the end, unsure of herself and doubting her ability to handle what she could feel was coming in her own perception of destiny. Fiery pain and bruised egos started to twist and wrap the destinies of so many down certain paths that lead to great suffering. A coil she vaguely recognised burned particularly bright, and it made her almost recoil at the sight of that green thread before she stilled herself.
"Someone will have to put a stop to this. You and Arne are stronger than you believe yourselves to be. I am sure that you will be able to handle this, Samus. You've always given me so many reasons to have such great confidence in you." He said, laying his hand upon her and dismissing the vision of the paths of destiny. She gulped a bit and tried to hide her shame at allowing fear to rear itself in her head, but she took one look at him and knew he had no such disappointment in her.
"We let you venture far from our care because we knew you could handle yourself and the freedom you desired. Were you not ready, we would have sought more controlled environments. Yet every time I look at you; I see a growing woman who is ready for anything in the stars." He said with continued gentle affection that made Samus feel so much prouder about herself, beaming at his astral form as they spoke.
"I almost hurt Arne...and I scared everyone with my outbursts though. How can I be ready when I can't even control myself?" She asked, her curiosity leading her to fixate on the question.
"But you can, my darling hatchling. Do not try to reject your anger and hurt. Channel it constructively. Forge it into purpose and direction. Your cry for justice is not wrong. You need only turn that cry into a purposeful manifesto." He advised, chirping positively beneath his helm and getting a nod out of the young blonde.
"I...yes I think I can do that." She said.
"Now, I think you have people waiting on what you have to say. Tend to their needs, take care of yourself, and help those you can. No matter how evil and cruel your foes may seem, you will always have those who look out for you; and in the end, it is because you fight for their compassion rather than your own malice that you will prove the stronger." He said with the wisdom of the ancients, each word making her feel more sure of herself, readier to face the danger.
"I can do it...I have to try." She said, steeling herself.
"There is goodness in everyone Samus, your task is to help change the world so that this goodness can flourish rather than be punished. It is living amidst rules that punish kindness and reward cruelties that makes monsters of people. Seek your justice, but remember that you must also bring this justice for others." He said, pausing to wait for her to add her own bit.
"Until all live free." She completed the phrase for him, beaming at him, brushing away tears from her mental form's face.
"Wise beyond your years as ever, my sweet. Now go, do what you must." He said, trading an astral hug goodbye with her as they held each other tight before giving a longing look towards each other as they parted. She waved goodbye and god a nod in return as the world began to fade back into being, time resuming its flow and her eyes opening again. Not even a second had passed, and she found Arne kneeling in front of her with concern, Solveig right besides him and Ian staring at her with worry.
She dismissed her armoursuit once she had pulled herself back from the brink of a panic attack and flopped onto her backside, letting out a grunt of relief as she did so. The tension was almost slipping off of her like a cape she had unclasped. Her body was seeming almost tangibly to cool down as the stress drifted away. She felt better, at least, not perfect, but better. And that was good enough for now.
Samus, are you alright? You kinda had a bit of a moment there." Ian's voice was full of genuine concern, but it was Arne that she hugged first as soon as she let her suit dissipate. The two shared that moment briefly before he gave her the space she needed and allowed her to share a hug with Solveig and Ian; right before he brought them all into the same hug together.
"I'm so sorry for lashing out. I just...I lost control, and I'm sorry." Samus said, looking down and sighing sadly as she pulled from the embrace, turning her eyes towards the group for forgiveness.
Forgiveness they granted her quickly as Arne gave her a thumbs up, Ian smirked, and Solveig beamed. That made her feel a lot better about herself, almost glowing inside really. She sighed softly and hummed gently to herself. Then she noticed some of the others also decided to intrude in to get a better look at what was going on.
"I...I'm sorry I just had a bit of a moment." Samus said, relaxing a bit and stretching out her legs to help unwind some of the last tension in her musculature. She exhaled, focused on her breathing, and let all her worries flow with the puff of air that escaped her lips. She opened her eyes and stood up, offering a hug to the three who had gathered before her. The hug lasted only a brief while, but Solveig, Arne, and Ian were only too happy to return it.
They shared their warmth, but she knew that others needed her attention too. Kreatz was the first to speak up, bold as ever.
"Hey, goldie, you okay there? It sounded like you were wrestling some Viragils or something." He said, getting a quick look of unfamiliarity from Arne and Solveig.
"...Right, intergalactic holocall. You probably don't know what those are." He said with a sigh and a shake of his head. He seemed sympathetic, however, worried for Samus' health and safety, though not taking his eyes too far away from Arne and Solveig. He was clearly demonstrating more than a bit of interest in the pair before refocusing himself on his new friend.
"It's alright! I could figure out it meant something dangerous pretty easily." Solveig said with a cheery grin before she returned to patting Samus on the shoulder.
Yramil had thrown on some simple pyjamas with runic prints on them, placing her hands into her pockets. Yramil looked at the situation in front of her, and then gave a nod of understanding.
"Guessing you found out where that drone really came from huh?" Yramil said, always seeming to know what to expect. That made Samus trust her, someone she could rely on even without the wisdom of the ancients behind her.
"Dismorin..." Samus said in a low voice, almost a whisper as Montauk hardened his expression. The weight of that word was heavy, and just mentioning the Space Pirates by their official name seemed to darken the atmosphere and drain a little bit of the colour out of everything. Everyone had heard the stories.
"Not sure what they'd want with a place like this. But it can't be for anything good. We should probably tell Adam as soon as we can. He might know what to do." Montauk said, brushing a finger against his lips as he lowered his shoulders. It seemed to be the reasonable decision for him, Chozo heiress amongst them or not; there was no real reason for them to put themselves in harm's way when there were authorities in place to handle this.
"And then what?" Samus asked.
"This is something for Adam to handle. We're just cadets." He said with a shrug and a sigh before Samus shook her head. The vigour of her refusal almost catching him off guard before he regained his composure and braced himself for one of her lectures on what was right or not.
"And what if they can't? We can't just let themselves get hurt because we didn't want to do anything about it!" Samus said, standing up to her feet and hardening her expression.
"We're not going to let anyone get hurt." Sekiryu said, urging everyone to calm down just a bit, waiting for Samus to relax and let out a cool breath of air as she refocused her energies and attentions.
"So do you agree with me?" Samus asked.
"Yes. But we're going to need to figure out how they got here, and why they're here." They said, tapping a finger onto their lips as they had themselves a brief moment to think about it before drawing up blanks and shaking their head.
"They must have someone on the inside. Probably a mimic or an infiltrator synth." Uldrasi said, tapping her fingers together as she walked around and paced, mechanical feet shuffling around.
"If you send me the data maybe I could have a look at it? That way you can work on the physical side on your end? Shouldn't be too hard, honestly." Arne said, getting a nod out of Samus.
"That sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Arne!" She said with a wide grin on her face.
"Oooh I could use some practice with technomancy honestly. Just uh, don't delay too long! Gotta get my hours in you know?" Solveig said with a bit of a bounce to her step.
"Heh, someone's a little eager." Ian chuckled.
"Duh! This is exciting! I'm doing important stuff! Oooh, all this and the shapeshifter wandering around at campus. So much to do! So much to think about!" She said with a starry-eyed look of wonderment. Just about over the moon with an explosion of energy throughout her body. Her legs bouncing up and down with enthused gusto while she hopped in place. Something that continued until Arne stilled her slightly with a hand on her shoulder. An effort that quickly got an affectionate nuzzle out of her as she wrapped her arms around him.
Samus smiled at the sight, glad that he was happy and already finding new potential partners, and then giggling at how he flushed red at the sensation of her arms around him. However, she got her own turn to flush red as Ian moved in to give her a similar gesture, snaking an arm around her side and pulling her towards him before giving a thumbs up.
Arne took a moment to look towards Samus and smiled, with the two giving each other a longing gaze for a moment. To be able to see each other in such clarity, to be able to touch each other...all without the other actually being there felt a bit bittersweet. Yet getting to check in on each other was an elating experience, one that both were hoping to relive soon. Especially when they now had to be concerned with how the other was doing while they were apart.
"Hey, don't worry. He's in great company! We'll take good care of him!" Solveig said, getting a brief glance from Arne who then gave a warm nod towards her.
"Likewise, we'll look out for each other. No need to fret Arne. Though if you ever want to hit me up for a holoconvo; well; I'm down for it." He said, lowering his sunglasses and then winking at Arne while Solveig smirked at Samus and raised her eyebrows suggestively.
The two progenitor turned red for a moment before Samus cleared out her throat and twirled around some of her golden locks of hair. She was trying her best to not seem awkward and for the most part, failing, but the effort was valiant for the most part.
"You'll get the uh...data soon. I'll try to meditate on some answers for the rest of the night." Samus said, trying to seize control of the conversation back.
"Yeah...see you soon. Be safe, please." Arne said, waving goodbye and getting a wave in return as his image winked out and the holochamber returned to its actual configuration; a sparse and empty cylinder that one's voice would echo across if spoken in.
Samus looked towards Ian who patted her on the shoulder and started to walk back out of the room. "Come on Samus, best to rest a bit for now. We'll figure this all out soon." He said.
"Mh, yeah I'm just hoping that we have enough time for it." Samus said with a gentle sigh as she stepped out of the chamber with everyone else and turned towards her real room.
Parting from Ian for a bit and waving goodbye to him and everyone else, Samus felt a bit more alone when the door closed and she sat down on her bed. Every word she muttered to herself seemed so much clearer without the speech of anyone else. The dark room was dimly lit, but her eyes could see just fine in them, making out all the little details and trying to see if there were any imperfections in the holographic recreation she had just left.
Realising that she was letting herself be distracted by minor details, she exhaled and she pulled her legs towards her hips. Reaching for her hairband and undoing it to let her hair fall to its natural length, she rested her hands on her knees and closed her eyes. She would reach for the stars in her mind's eye and clear her thoughts for answers that she could only seek in a realm beyond the physical.
What did destiny have in store for her? What did she need to do next? The maelstrom of possibilities danced around the sight of her mind's eye, coiling tendrils of futures, pasts, and present cabling all around her. Her own thread touched countless other ones, something that Papa always told her meant that she had a tremendous influence on the fate of all things.
It was intimidating really, it seemed like her own cable would touch on every other thread at some point and she was always scared to try and see why her and Arne's destinies mattered so much to so many. She was warned that there would be a great deal of fog obscuring much of the fates of her counterpart and herself. Uncertainties and deliberate attempts to obscure her sight, but answers would come to her as she practised and got closer to the sources of obscuring efforts. It was all just a bit overwhelming to think about, but she couldn't get lost into her own possibilities.
She had to think about something else, whose cable touched that drone the most heavily? She let her mind wander a bit through the pathways of outcomes and fates and the circumstances that lead to them. The less likely ones more ephemeral and shadowy and the more certain ones more solid and real. The thin, wraith-like cord of the drone was hard to see due to being so unimportant. But it was easy to focus on without strain due to how little its existence mattered. But there was a more straining cable that touched it, one that she recognised all too well.
It was a cruel and harsh cable that had brushed against her own ten years ago. Green, spiteful, wrathful. She wasn't sure of the exact nature or the depth of the connection, whether it was only brief involvement or something more sinister. But it was something she couldn't ignore, especially with the snarl his fate had with hers in her own past. The spiteful marshal whom the dragon had entrusted with his troops during the razing of her home. The old warlord and former high command hopeful.
Weavel.
Consolidated Logbook Entries
Federation Record: Prodigal Program Memo: Concerning User: Regarding the New Student
I would like to inform the faculty of our program that Samus is not a prop for your personal theories regarding the Chozo nor is she a resource to be probed into for insight regarding progenitor cultures. She is a human child and orphan who has specific needs unique to her situation that we will, as is proper for our relation to her; do our utmost to meet while still ensuring her integration with society. Initial analysis suggests that she is reluctant to embrace the reputation accrued from her actions on Zoront and it is also recommended that one not make a habit of bringing up her parents or their sacrifice. Given her diagnosis with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is recommended that she have regular contact with a regular therapist. The smell of burning human-like tissue, the sounds of aggressive space pirate vocalisations, and sights reminiscent of the Confederate Enforcer Ridley are known traumatic triggers and it is recommended that these stimuli only be shown to her under controlled conditions with her consent.
Fortunately, her Chozo caretakers seem to have taken excellent care of her over the years, and she has demonstrated a high degree of social energy even if there are a number of social skills that she needs to practice. However, she is easily bored and the degree to which she was educated by the Chozo greatly outstrips the standard for most students here; thus ensuring that she remains properly stimulated remains vital to keep her Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in check. Further analysis to determine whether she is simply socially awkward and inexperienced with peers or is somewhere on the Autistic spectrum will need to be done before a diagnosis can be committed to.
Addendum: Samus' scan systems are capable of breaching every virtually every form of security we have. Please keep files you do not want her to read to devices that are not connected to any form of external wireless network. Despite initial presumptions, she does not actually require her helmet to be manifested to make use of her scan capabilities. Always assume that she is able to read anything written on an electronic device or can manipulate most such devices she can access that lack shut-door mechanisms to seal off unwanted signals.
- Headmaster Varagyl Stemix.
Samus' Notes:
Oh Old Bird told them I could do that? Ugh, I wanted them to have to figure that out on their own. And again with pushing me in front of everyone. I want to be known for helping people but...I don't want to live under a scanner. I'm hoping I get some privacy.
Arne's Notes:
I find it a little concerning that they have to warn their faculty to not see Samus as a prop for their academic careers. But, they at least have people looking out for her, so it's not all bad.
Omdyn Records: Educational Council Directive: Concerning User: Concerning Arne Skjoldr
There are concerning signs that Arne Skjoldr suffered heavily from abuse during his time among the Alimbics compounded with his traumatic feelings of helplessness brought about by the mysterious Cylosis assault. This has resulted in Arne having a great aversion to confrontations with authority figures he reads as fatherly and continual feelings of self-doubt and intense self-criticism. While he seems to be stable for the time being, he is heavily dependent on the maintenance of healthy social relationships with key peer and caretaker figures and is considered to be at high risk of a prolonged major psychotic break if isolated from them. At once eager to please those who show him kindness but reluctant to trust the sincerity of overtures of kindness, Arne is in need of major psychological therapy to fully heal from his past.
It must also be noted that Zurvduat lost custody of Arne under less than amicable circumstances and regarded him as a high-value asset, and as such the possibility of attempts to retrieve him cannot be ruled out. Physically superior to virtually all known humans with a heavily altered neurology; Arne will be a significant challenge to provide for the needs of. But it is a challenge that we are prepared to accept to fulfil his desire for our care and a chance to interact with peers. Please keep Arne's psychological profile in mind when interacting with him and be aware of his electronic warfare capabilities as well as latent esoterical powers. He had given his trust to us, and we must demonstrate that we are worthy of it. It should also go without saying that subjects on his list of trauma triggers should be broached with extreme care around him and only when he has indicated that he is ready. Do not assume that you are in a position to decide when to handle these issues for him.
Addendum: While his parents and mother, in particular, have an extremely distinguished reputation that he feels strongly attached to, it is best to not hold this over him continually. Do not make him feel as though you are giving him nonstandard treatment due to his blood relations with the former Clan Champion of Grendakal, particularly not when he broaches the topics of trying to reconnect with his maternal Clan. He wishes to feel as though he has earned the right to be mentioned with his parents, not to be simply given it.
- Council Chair Lelygim Asraeni
Samus' Notes:
If Zurvduat wants Arne back, he's going to have to go through me first! I'm happy to know that they're going to take care of him as best as they can at least.
Arne's Notes:
Keeping an entire file on me makes me feel so strange. I'm sure they've got one on everyone, but having so many specific recommendations...Hopefully it's nothing to worry about.
Technology: Communications: Holographic: Holochat Platforms
Developed from hard-light holographic entertainment modules, Holochat Platforms were designed to allow for long-distance communique to be conducted as if the people on the other end were actually there. With hyperluminal transmissions ensuring the accuracy of hard-light replicas and thousands of safety systems built into them, Holochat Platforms are widely utilised throughout the known universe by most civilizations. Though originally considered for possible military applications, the extra vulnerability of hard-light to cryogenic or energy-based attack has made the idea of "hard-light warriors" one of generally dubious value to most analysts save for an emergency backup form of defence in areas with projectors. On the other hand, the technology has also found widespread usage among long-distance romantic bonds due to its ability to facilitate relation consummation. Many users also prefer to alter their holographic avatars' appearances to live out various fantasies or represent themselves in differing ways for conversation groups.
Samus' Notes:
Just needed to make a few modifications to keep the school from being able to peep on our conversations. Sorry, but no eavesdropping please! Especially not when I'm trying to use the tactile functions!
Arne's Notes:
The technology involved in this is pretty sophisticated for non-progenitor artifice, some inefficiencies here and there but nothing I can't fix. Hrm; I could probably salvage a suit upgrade out of one. Never was brave enough to dismantle the one in the Sleipnir.
Movies: Superhero-Adventure: Franchise: Federation Origin: Stylamiera Origin: Yrimoch; Star Traveller.
Yrimoch: Star Traveller is a highly successful film franchise conceived of by Lelthynmir Aeslaera and Eldranthir Staerom and produced by the Eglimranth Studio. Covering the adventures of the fictitious Lancer Yrimoch Hrelima; the series is known for its themes of discovery, defending the weak, Social Justice, and self-betterment through adventure and collaboration. Her films are typically rendered in animated format with a stylized and sleek look to them to suggest greater motion and more exaggerated emoting. Popular particularly among adolescents, the Star Traveller series has more than twelve films under its belt as well as a quartet of seasonised show programmes that have routinely earned an audience across much of Federation space. Now into its twentieth Terran year, the series seeks to expand its reach beyond Federation space somewhat more in an effort to grow the audience further while Lelthynmir and Eldranthir plan out another arc following the conclusion of the twelve film saga.
Samus' Notes:
Yrimoch is the best! She's so suave and graceful and she's got the most wonderful friends! I'm hoping I can live a life like that, for real you know? I'd love to be that kind of travelling hero making all kinds of strange companions in exotic places having fantastical adventures.
Arne's Notes:
The Lancer lifestyle seems to be really interesting if this is anything to go by. I could definitely see myself giving it a go...Huh, I'd probably need a special Lancer codename though. I'll have to think about it, maybe something that starts with an S?
Mechanoids: Confederacy of Dismor: Non-Combatant: Infiltrator: Micromite
Micromite drones are designed to carry out infiltration of facilities while having all the machinery needed to serve as their own intelligence hubs without central direction. Capable of self-replicating, copying and secretly sending out information, and multispectral cloaking, Micromites are one of the most commonly produced Space Pirate infiltration devices. While lacking in any ability to defend themselves from macroscopic aggressors, they are highly evasive and capable of moving at extreme speeds whether on land, in water, or while flying and as such can be quite vexing to catch even for those who can see them. Micromites also possess advanced multispectral scanning devices that are used to keep tabs on virtually anything that their synthetic consciousness deems to be of possible interest or relevance to their mission. And the aforementioned intelligence is sophisticated enough for them to be able to coordinate spying activities without exposing themselves via needing to receive orders.
Samus' Notes:
What could the space pirates want with this place? It must be related to some project of Weavel's to build his forces back up...but this drone's hard-purged so many of its records as soon as I grabbed onto it. Ugh, I'll have to try other methods to find out the answers.
Arne's Notes:
If there's one of these, there's more. And if there's any of these, there are other space pirate infiltrators in the facility. I can't make a precise estimate, but there'd probably be at least hundreds, at most low thousands given the size of the facility. Everyone there is in danger.
Individuals: Confederacy of Dismor: War Criminals: Bermudan: Male: High Marshals: Inferno Pack: Weavel
Demoted from the rank of Grand Marshal at the cusp of his ascension to the prestigious company of the Generalissimo grade among the War-State of Ikamaxin that serves as his home country within the Confederacy; Weavel has become notably bitter at the setback to his career that demotion to High Marshal represents. Though able to avoid execution due to his prior service record and commendable salvaging of the disastrous K-2L operation, Weavel is heavily defined by his spite and scorn and his capacity for cruelty and atrocity has increased markedly as he seeks to reclaim his old rank and put his career back on track. With the Inferno Pack's restructuring following the loss of a large portion of its core fleet at K-2L, Weavel has focused his efforts at establishing his own loyal power base in the clockwise spinwards regions of the Ventelian Galaxy and pursuing independent schemes without relying on High Command's aid.
Samus' Notes:
If he's mad about being demoted he can come on and face me. Then I'll give him so much more to worry about than his career.
Arne's Notes:
If he finds out Samus is still alive he's not going to stop at anything to get even...nor is she. I think she'll come out on top though.
Consolidated Headlines and Article Excerpts
International level News: Federal: Intergalactic Enquirer: Vogl Ergutok of the Torchlight Association re-elected Chairman
In the Grand Parliamentary elections of the Galactic Federation, Vogl Ergutok's Torchlight Association has managed to form a coalition government with the Federal League for Action, the Guardians of Freedom Party, the Federal Progressive Party, and the Movement for a Modern Federation. The electoral victory despite losses to more pacifistic or internalistic party blocs will represent a continued shift towards a more militaristic Federation in the face of rising aggression from the Confederacy of Dismor, the War-Spores, and the Kriken Empire among other powers as well as building tensions with numerous other polities. Most controversial amongst Vogl's policies, however, is his repeated push for the enactment of general conscription among the Federation and to increase integration of the National Militaries of the Federation's component states into overall Federal command.
Samus' Notes:
I don't understand why the Federation wastes so much time and energy on staring contests with people who could be helping them when they should be focusing everything on the Space Pirates. Ugh, the people with power are so dense some times...
Arne's Notes:
Mom wrote about how the Federation or other similar governments would often consider her movement more of a threat than local Space Pirate concentrations because they more directly threatened their power structures. I hope she's not right in this case.
National level News; Federal: Minute Report: Samus Eabha Aran returns to Federation Space
The mysterious saviour of the lost brigade has been revealed to be none other than the only daughter of Rodney and Virginia Aran; Samus. Presumed deceased, Samus has turned out to be more than just alive and well; but also seems to be in possession of Chozo enhanced physiology and technology. While the capabilities and limitations of these gifts remains a mystery, and she has so far shied away from interview attempts, Samus' return to Federation space has already stirred significant speculation as to the course of her upbringing away from Federal territory. Based on the opinions of the experts we have asked, we have come to build a profile of what to expect of her even as she's registered into the privacy of the Prodigal Programs. What all of them agree on though is that what we have seen is going to be the prelude for even more in the future.
Samus' Notes:
By the revered spirits...I really hope this isn't going to be a constant thing. Getting the camera drones out of my face was enough of a problem already. I'd...kind of like people not knowing what I look like beneath my helmet, so I can relax some times without everyone bothering me. Or at least, just...hang out with them as me, not whoever they imagine is under my suit.
Arne's Notes:
I find it weird how their reports kind of overlook my presence as much as possible, but I guess it's only fair. I'm hoping though that they don't push her too hard, she needs her space and a lot of news agencies seem to believe the second your name is widely known you don't get to have any.
International level News: Omdyn: Lector Popularum: Kriken Border Incidents on the Rise
Kriken activity in neighbouring space between the Omdyn and the Empire have been increasing dramatically with the delegation of Archprince Trace to the Elemria Region in the Antennae Galaxy. Though still a minor by the laws of the Kriken Empire, Trace is regarded as extremely vicious and already is in possession of a lengthy record as a war criminal. Trace is believed to be seeking favour from his father; Emperor Kharve; to distinguish himself over his other siblings in the eternal conflict to rise to the top of the pecking order in the Imperial Family. Despite his extremely young age, Trace's command is surprisingly effective and exceedingly aggressive, seeking to escalate numerous border disputes into increasingly deadly raids and skirmishes. The increased Kriken threat has prompted a response of significantly increased military presence and militia readiness in the disputed region.
Samus' Notes:
I don't know as much about the Krikens as I should, but from what I do know...they're as bad as the Space Pirates, and this Trace is in the same Galaxy Arne is. I'm hoping he'll be safe. Mama and Papa, Old Bird, August Wing and all said a lot about how horrible the Kriken Military was, and how rotten the Imperial Family is to the core.
Arne's Notes:
Mom and Dad wrote a lot about the Krikens and Elmorni mentioned something about them being one of the great mistakes of the Order. I think they're going to do something very dangerous soon, I've got this...feeling in the Distant Sight, that something bad is coming.
National level News: Omdyn: Universal Sophont: Arne Eriksen Skjoldr found alive
Arne Eriksen Skjoldr of Clan Grendakal; son of Gyda and Erik Skjoldr has; to the surprise of the whole of our Omdyn; been found to have not perished with the Cylosis raid. In news jubilantly received by Clan Grendakal and the Uskarling populace as a whole, Arne's return from seeming death has been kept relatively quiet out of his desire to avoid an overabundance of direct attention. Having been placed under the care of a progenitor culture during his time away, Arne is reportedly in excellent health but is somewhat reluctant to speak to public officials at the present time. The nature and identity of Cylosis' attackers remains a mystery that the young Skjoldr reportedly has no answer to. At this time, it is expected that his desire for privacy be respected, as is his right.
Samus' Notes:
Well, at least I know I can always talk to Arne about how awkward it is to be the centre of attention like this. I hope he's handling it better than I am.
Arne's Notes:
I'll..maybe talk to them if I feel ready later on. Just, not right now. I need some time to adjust to how different everything here is from home.