Chapter 19

Old Things

Knowledge is at the root of every problem. People live for it, die for it, kill for it and exist because of it. I guess it's alright to be afraid of knowledge, yet constantly yearn for it at the same time. It's not always about what you learn, but the fact that you know it. It's a wonder to feel included. To share in the knowledge. I miss that feeling.

I guess I really had nothing to say at that point. Half the ship could have been blown away, but I really wasn't concerned with it. I didn't know what to worry about because I wasn't sure of anything. Not anymore. How much was I not told? Or was I just not to be told? It was safe to say that when it came to the Federation, I sure wasn't in the loop anymore. I was beginning to miss the old days when it became a top priority to tell me everything because I was a top priority myself. I just guess that luxury only comes when those knowledgeable people need you. Well, need you alive, I presumed.

"Our best option is to head towards your third emergency contact, Samus." said Adam.

"Third? Why third?"

"Your first two are Federation. And this one is the closest that we can intercept with using an Evac Pod. For someone trying to stay under the radar, he doesn't seem very concerned with people knowing his location."

"Well," I replied, "If you knew him, you'd understand why."

"Samus, I'm truly sorry that you didn't know. I thought you were well aware of it and just didn't push the issue."

"Well aware? I was told that you were the AI based off of my commanding officer, not his son. Can you please just explain to me what the hell you are?"

"When your ship was given to you after the asteroid crash destroyed your previous one, the BSL was developing AI for the exact purpose of being used in ships. I was immediately sent to your ship because I was the closest one to completion. My father was never going to be put into your ship and be your personal AI and, even if he was in line for it, he was still being used in the same council used to make the decision you mentioned earlier."

"What isn't complete about you?" I asked.

"AI units are essentially memory backups. However, a complete AI only contains what is necessary to complete its objectives, not to become more human. And because all AI systems are created based off of some post-existing memory backup of a human that had just died, they all contain every part of said person. The Federation only wants a complete one, so they erase everything that isn't needed. I'm not at that stage yet, since I still contain most of my memories deemed unnecessary by the Federation.
"Unlike most AI units, I can still remember my first day of school."

"But even if you were Adam's son, I would have at least heard about soldiers dying in combat if I didn't know you existed." I said.

"I didn't die in combat. Quite frankly, I don't remember how I died. No AI does. Remember, we are memory backups and most memory backups are taken well before death, though sometimes just before. Regardless, no backup can be created after death, so the most recent one has to become before someone kicks the bucket. Some are just lucky enough to be backed up close to death so they at least have a good idea of how they went. I truly have no ideas as to why I am here."

"This still doesn't make sense. You call me Lady. Only your father does that!"

He paused. "He called my mother that before she died of ovarian cancer when I was in the Academy. I vaguely remember my grandmother and one of my aunt's being referred to as 'Lady' as well. I never liked the sound of it, by the way. It was just something I grew up with."

I wondered if that was just an excuse to cover up caring for someone. Adam, and apparently his son, was always one to cover emotions. I knew this far too well and so did everyone else that served under him. Adam never showed emotion, but he always got his messages across. I always knew he had a reason to call me what he did, so maybe it wasn't so much of a coincidence that his son began to say it, too.

"By the way," he continued. "Those were X parasites if you didn't remember. I'm sure you do, but just to be clear, my father wouldn't have been much of a help. His backup is a lot more basic than mine is."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"According to my records, the backup I am made of is very close to my deathbed. My father's wasn't. I've heard of the Federation picking and choosing backup installations to see what they can use the best. If there was something they do not want him to remember, it's likely they revived the backup that was never involved with it." he said.

"Plus, the existence of the X parasites weren't truly realized until you showed up on SR-388. Rather, until you killed all the Metroids. Before then, they were so few in numbers that the data on them was less significant than the menu at the Federation meal house on Orarion. And that menu changes biweekly, I believe."

The Federation sure as hell didn't want Adam to be aware of the Bottle Ship incident, but how could anyone let them manipulate someone like that? Forcing them to remember some things and never even realize they were a crucial part in another. That Adam may not even remember who I am if they backed him up from an installation too early in his lifetime. He may not even remember his son.

"Well, let's get going. We aren't going to be exactly calling in advance. I'm sure he'd rather welcome us before he goes to sleep. And he sleeps a lot." I said.

"I've already got the coordinates locked in. Should be intercepting his ship within two hours unless he decides to move off-course. Though, then again, it doesn't look like he's in any hurry to get where he is going."

"I'm sure he really isn't going anywhere."

"Who is this guy anyway, Samus? Is this a one night stand or the leftovers of a long distance relationship?"

"Neither. He's a good friend of mine. He was at your father's funeral." I replied.

"It says here that he has quite the criminal record. Dates back at least a decade."

"I'm well aware."

About ten days after the incident at the Bottle Ship, the Federation held a funeral for the death of my commanding officer, Adam Malkovich. The explosion he created to destroy Sector Zero, and subsequently ended his life because of it, made sure that his body was never found, though I'm sure that was not his intention. All that was left was debris, dust and organic materials floating in a ball throughout space. Hundreds of miles from the ship, the collective space garbage was found.

We never saw any of what remained at the funeral. Just a casket.

It was raining that day, but no one minded the outdoors. Even the heavens wept for him. I felt like I should be up there, not him. There was no reason for him to die. There was no reason for him to be involved in any of what happened to him that day. It was not his time to go and we all knew that.

As I sat in a chair during the beginning ceremonies of the funeral, I scanned the people around me. I shuffled in my chair a bit as I did, uneasy due to the feeling of the chair against my black dress. I wanted the cushioned padding of my suit, not the bare warmth of plastic held together by steel. Thankfully it was dry because of the dome above us, but if I had my suit on, I wouldn't mind the rain chipping away at me. I never had.

When I did finally get to look at everyone around me, I truly realized the life Adam had. All of these people were so close to him, even if they weren't family. And he had quite the family judging from how many people were there. Friends wept along with them, as did I, and I recognized a few of them from the Academy.

I never greeted them. I was not one of them anymore.

Anthony did find me, though. I wanted to be alone, but his presence was okay. And he always found me, no matter where I hid. Such an odd quality for a giant of a man like him, always searching around for people like a little kid looking for a four leaf clover. I guess he felt that he found one.

"You doin' okay, Sam?" he asked.

"Yeah, as always. What about you?"

"He was a great man. But he's in a better place now and I'm sure he's enjoying it. Though he's probably giving out orders, not trying to relax in paradise." he said, a grin quickly growing on his face.

I couldn't help but laugh at his resilient humor. But the more I thought of Adam, the more my heart sank. I smiled and hugged Anthony, getting almost crushed by his superhuman-like strength, then walked off. Anthony's grin went away. He missed Adam just as much as I did.

"Higgs, quite a sight, huh?"

Anthony turned to find just as equal a sight: Excolo.

"Well, look what we got here," said Anthony. "I thought you wouldn't make it."

"It's not like I was invited or anything. But the man deserves my respect. I just wish I got some from him when he was around." Excolo replied.

"Maybe if you weren't you, you would've gotten some." said Anthony. "You really shouldn't be here you know. The feds are probably scouting this place out as we speak."

"Already way ahead of you, actually," said Excolo. "They already have this place surrounded. When this all ends, they'll be all over this place just as I'm getting ready to leave. But they won't do anything during the ceremonies. Doesn't look good on the news."

"That still doesn't mean you should be here. They'll probably add another charge to your record. Another few years, most likely."

"Another few years to a life imprisonment isn't much." replied Excolo. He grabbed a finger food on a nearby plate and began to point at Anthony after he finished. "You know, it is quite ridiculous actually. I get more years for stealing a ship or two than someone else does for blowing up an orphanage. Bias, I tell you."

"Well, I could help you out. It won't be much, but twenty to thirty years is much better than what you have now. I could pull some strings and maybe they'll let you off easy. But you'd have to turn yourself in, Col."

"Thanks but no thanks, Higgs." Excolo said. "I do enjoy the life I lead. It's much more thrilling. Plus, if I really wanted to, I could pull the strings myself and get off with maybe five years at the most. No one would know who is pulling the strings, but they would be pulled. I mean, it was the least I could do for the old man back there."

"I'm lost. What do you mean?" Anthony asked.

"The Federation planned to have Malkovich buried on Arcadia, but this place is more suiting for him. Only the best military minds are here. I don't know why the those galactic assholes wanted him there, but it didn't take much to get him where he needs to be."

"You really did that?" Who knew you actually had a heart?" said Anthony.

"Yeah, beats the hell out of me."

I saw the two finish their conversation. Anthony walked off and Excolo did as well. I didn't greet him, either. It had been too long and he probably wasn't in the best situation to be talking to another bounty hunter. If only he had kept himself straight, it wouldn't be such a tough situation to do so.

Thankfully, he didn't miss what ended up being a beautiful and honorable ceremony for Adam. It's how he would have wanted it to be. When the casket was lowered into the ground, the horns of the military blaring into the air, I couldn't help but shed a tear for my commanding officer. Neither could anyone else. He meant too much to all of us not to.

I wished upon that tear as hit hit the ground. I wished that he would always look over me. I hope he got my message.

"Come on guys, it's a funeral. No need for violence. I truly don't want to be sending you all home broken. Then again, maybe it'll look honorable in your debriefing. Trying to defend the innocent from a psychotic ex-bounty hunter. How awesome is that?"