Chapter 4: A Tough Start

I've realized more and more that the Federation were nothing more than idiots right from the start. They sent me to eradicate the Metroids back on SR-388, yet insisted on secretly breeding the species themselves. Would I call it corruption? I would be justified in doing so. I've been corrupted more than once. I've almost lost my life twice to some damned infection, whether it be dark or X or whatever. It just seems like no one can be trusted. I still doubt Adam at times. For all I know, he could be still in communication with them. That's the thing, I don't know. I don't know a god damn thing. That's how they want to keep it. That's how it needs to stay...Here's a little message to them: things change.

The jets flared, propelling my craft into the bleak darkness of space. The BSL station hurdled towards the atmosphere. I did my best to keep an eye on it. I was almost paranoid that something would rocket away from it. Maybe one of those SA-X trying to exact its revenge...no, they are all dead. The impact had to kill them. Them and the rest of the X. All of them. They had to die. I didn't know how else to kill them if this didn't. Still, I figured it would be best to relax my mind. There was a lot going through it. The last thing I needed was to freak out. I was always known for keeping my cool in the heat of a situation, but I've been doing that for years. Things aren't the same as they used to be.

Back when I first became a hunter for the Federation, I remember being fueled by my hatred of Ridley and the pirates. I couldn't get past the death of my parents. The K-2L massacre still haunts me to this day. Out of all the things I've bottled up inside, that don't bother me anymore...that incident is the only one that still makes me sick. That was my only motivation at the time. It wasn't about the bounty or prestige. It was about killing those who hurt me. Who killed off the rest of my colony. My friends...my family...all dead. I put it in my head that they deserved all the pain I could unleash on them.

One of my Chozo mentors, Gri'eln, told me as a child, "Spilling blood does not solve problems. It only creates more." As a hunter, it was our duty to spill blood. Spilling blood was my job, my mission, my duty. I always kept it in the back of my head, even though I continued to do what I did. Now, it never rings in my mind like it used to. The Chozo left in me something I don't use anymore: love. They cared. They brought me in as their own. The only reason I had love in my heart for as long as I did is because of them. With it gone, I feel empty. I want to keep the Chozo with me...I just can't. All I have left of them is this armor. This cursed armor.

I'm not a hunter anymore. All the morals I was taught, all the missions I've completed, all the rewards I've gotten...they all mean nothing. The Federation is corrupt. They have tasted power and now they want more. They'll become exactly like the Pirates: they have found a power source and will exploit it until it takes control of them. I damn well knew the Pirates didn't want Phazon to be used that way. They aren't stupid. It got out of control. The GF is doing the same thing with this X. They just don't know it yet. I have the opportunity to stop this before it begins. I didn't have that oppurtunity with them at Tallon IV.

At cruising speed, my ship was one of the millions of tiny bodies moving in that pocket of the universe. Meteors and comets of all different shapes and sizes flew by me. Ice broke off and streamed behind these rocks, forming magnificent tails. Mine was the only one without one, being clearly different from the rest with its odd shape and color scheme.

My mind began to flounder again. The Chozo kept reappearing. Images of my training at Zebes flashed before my eyes. I even remembered when Old Bird, Grey Voice, and the others rescued me after the K-2L events. I owed my life to them and I made sure they knew that. Their kindness was extraordinary. More images of the Chozo appeared before I shook my head to rid them of stealing my concentration. In the past, I had experienced the same routine of images and they always seemed to generate a tear from my eyes. My tear ducts are dry now. No tears will be shed for anything.

To be completely honest, I had no idea what to do next. I had no destination and no means of completing anything. I couldn't take on the Pirates without some sort of backup and my only backup is now on searching for me as a hostile threat. I couldn't even begin to understand the hole I was in.

"Are you alright, Lady?"

The monotonous, computerized voice was music to my ears. Adam had become more personal as our mission went on back on the BSL Lab, especially after finding that he was essentially the same Commanding Officer I had once served under. He still had that cheeky, sarcastic personality I had grown on. He was all I had left now. At this point, I would take any help I could get, so I was glad he was there for me.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

I proceeded to remove my helmet. Oxygen rushed out immediately after taking it off. I could barely move it away from my head before all the gas burst out of the chamber. I spun in my chair and put my back towards the main control panel. Not much of a sight was the back end of the ship, but it would have to do. I knew Adam was looking at me with a trained eye. He always had been, even if he didn't literally have an eye to see with. Just him being there comforted me, but not in the way a teddy bear is to a young child. Comforting in knowing I don't have to watch my back all the time.

"Don't be coy. I can tell how you feel by every word you say. You should know this by now, Samus."

I turned back around and faced him with not a hint of an expression on my face.

"What do we do now, Adam? Any suggestions?"

Adam mulled it over. His response was delayed. He was either truly thinking it out or he didn't know what to say. I was hoping for the former.

"I think you've been in tougher situations, Lady. You'll figure it out."

"Tougher situations? Adam, have you been paying attention to the last few days? We are on the run! We aren't exactly walking down easy street anymore."

"Were we ever walking down this easy street, Lady?"

He had a point. Life was never easy for me and it certainly was never easy for him. He had issues of his own. He wasn't just some computer system. He still retained the memory of his human life and that probably haunted him as my past haunted me. Still, this wasn't something I could take lightly. I knew he wasn't, but I never got past that collected tone he was programmed with.

"Adam, I-"

"Samus. I am completely aware of the situation. I promise you. We will get through this. Come on, you are Samus Aran. Galactic Bounty Hunter. Protector of peace and tranquility in the galaxy!"

"You never quit pushing my buttons, do you?"

"Not in the slightest, Lady, not in the slightest."