Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Welcome, Samus Aran!” 

The bounty hunter entered the briefing room to a feminine voice. She was a few inches shorter than the bounty hunter, blue hair, pink eyes, and tanned skin. “I am Fleet Admiral Alex Miles, I am the head of this vessel.” She looked to be in her early twenties, quite young for the position she held. Her voice sounded a bit familiar but Aran couldn’t remember where she heard it before. That’s to say she wasn’t the one Samus was expecting to see.

“It’s an honor to meet the Protector of the Galaxy!” She extended her hand for a shake with a smile on her face. Samus returned the gesture.

“Thank you, but please, there’s no need for that.” Samus spoke. She was never a fan of the names people have given her. They were unnecessary and frankly undeserved. “I was unaware Olympus had gotten a new admiral.”

“Oh, you haven’t heard? A few years ago, the previous admiral unfortunately had to retire early.” She explained he had gotten into a terrible incident on his last mission. She didn’t go into detail but she said he managed to recover, however, his injuries wouldn’t have allowed him to continue commanding this battleship. “I’ve been the head of Olympus ever since.”

Samus was surprised she had never heard of this. She wasn’t friends with the man but he was one of the few people in the Federation she held some respect for. She hoped he was doing well.

”Now,” Miles cleared her throat. “How about that mission report?”

Samus nodded. The bounty hunter began to explain what happened. From the moment she entered ZDR’s atmosphere to when the planet exploded. She told them about Raven Beak, who he was, and that he was the one who hijacked the E.M.M.I.s and sent that transmission. However, she left out some crucial details: his motive and what happened in their final confrontation.

She couldn’t let the Federation know why he specifically took over the E.M.M.I.s and sent that video of the X-Parasite, and thanks to Raven Beak taking over ADAM, it was much easier to hide. Admiral Miles was disappointed to hear Samus couldn’t learn the chozo’s motivation alongside the loss of connection with her AI companion, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do about it.

“Thank you for your report, Samus. I wish it could’ve been more informative but given the situation, I understand why that’s not possible.” Miles spoke in a disappointed tone.

“I apologize.” Samus responded.

“It’s quite alright. The information you’ve provided is still useful to us so I’d still call it a mission success!” Miles gave the hunter a reassuring smile. “If that concludes your report, you’re dismissed, Samus Aran! An officer will hand you your reward on your way out.”

“Thank you, Admiral Miles.” Samus returned the smile and nodded while Miles gave a salute. The hunter in purple left the briefing room and left the battleship. How much the reward was would dictate where she went from here.

Wow. ADAM was right, this reward was not worth the stuff she went through. Still, it should be enough to get her a drink or two. Going to the bar was her little way of celebrating after a successful mission or bounty. If she remembers correctly, there should be one not too far from here. 

Samus reached the bar within a few minutes. Before stepping inside, she dematerialized her suit, revealing blue athletic sportswear underneath. 

The smell of alcohol hit her nose immediately and the sound of the old jukebox entered her ears as she entered. Thankfully it wasn’t too crowded; about half a dozen other patrons were inside. Samus went up to the counter in the back and sat down. She ordered a beverage that wasn’t too strong but just enough to have some kick to it. After some time, her drink was handed to her, she thanked the bartender and took a sip.

To think, that was the first time she’s met living Chozos in years… only for one of them to die right in front of her eyes and the other being her absent third surrogate father who wanted to kill her for her Metroid DNA. The blonde sighed. She could never catch a break, could she? She took another, longer sip of her drink. If he did accomplish in taking the DNA, what then? One of the Metroids’ natural predators is the Mawkin, they would’ve immediately turned against him! Eh, there was no reason to think about that now. Raven Beak was dead and she still had the Metroid DNA, the galaxy was safe, that’s all that mattered. Samus downed the last bit of her beverage and slammed it on the table.

“Bartender, another!” Samus called out.

Hours passed and after a few drinks, Samus finally left. Her tolerance to alcohol was pretty high but she may have had one too many tonight. ADAM didn’t appreciate the condition she came back in but wasn’t surprised, it wasn’t the first time she’s done this. The computer was able to safely get her back home.

Located on a decently populated Earth colony, this was where the bounty hunter resided. She lived in an apartment that was small and pretty basic looking. She was offered somewhere bigger and more populated but turned it down. This was the kind of place she preferred. She opened the door and took a step inside. There wasn’t much in her house besides a queen-sized bed in the center, a small kitchen off to the right, a bathroom in the back, and a workbench that was cluttered with parts and gizmos in the corner. She immediately sat down on her mattress and removed the tie keeping her hair together. She shook her head, allowing her golden locks to flow. Samus looked to the side, on her nightstand was a piece of paper with a number written on it in purple ink. She should call her back one day… For now, she needed to sleep, her head was killing her. She leaned back on her unkempt sheets and closed her eyes, slowly drifting off.

Suddenly, Samus opened her eyes. It was dark and she was freezing, and could only feel herself getting colder. It wasn’t this cold when she fell asleep… She needed to find a way to cool down… Samus got up and walked to the bathroom. She turned on the lights and looked at herself in the mirror. 

There she was, Samus Aran; part-human, part-Chozo, part-Metroid, and part-whatever else she has absorbed or injected in her body. Was she even considered human at this point? Well, aside from the feathers growing in a few places and visible green veins around her face and body, she still looked the part. And yeah, she did fully turn into a Metroid yesterday but that was temporary. She turned on the hot water and began to wash her face, but despite it, her body still felt like it was dropping in temperature… M-Maybe a shower would be more effective…?

Aran got undressed and turned on the shower head. She allowed the water to get hot and steam up the room. Before she stepped in, Samus looked at herself in the mirror once more. She moved the bangs that were covering her left eye. The blonde froze. Her eye… it had changed. It was replaced with the same red nucleus that was found inside a… Metroid. Then, the left side of her face started to turn a translucent green, revealing her nerves, muscles, bones, and a part of her brain. Aran immediately stepped back as she began to breathe heavily. Suddenly, her canines and nails grew sharp. She looked down at her left hand. It began to glow pink. The hunter started to hyperventilate. “This can’t be happening!” She panicked. She fell to the ground, freezing, and unmoving. 

Suddenly, she heard something.

“You are now a Metroid, Samus Aran.”

Her eyes widened.

“Your very existence poses a grave threat to the galaxy.”

She screamed.

Aran woke up. Light shined into her room. Her breathing was heavy and her heart was beating fast. She… was still in bed? She looked at her left hand, opening and closing it a few times. Nothing happened. She didn’t feel cold either… She got up and went to the bathroom. The blonde stared in the mirror, checking her eye and face multiple times. Again, nothing. It was the same scarred hybrid face she was used to seeing. A sigh left her lips. Seems like it was just one of those realistic-feeling traumatic dreams she has every now and again. At least her headache was gone. Usually after something like this, she’d take a moment to clear her head, and there was a specific place in mind for these occasions…

The woman stepped out of her house wearing a green jacket, black jeans, and beige ankle-high boots. She kept her hair down this time around. Samus made her way to the settlement’s docking area to retrieve her ship. She entered, sitting down on the pilot’s seat, and used her arm cannon to activate the aircraft.

“Greetings, Lady.” A robotic voice spoke. It was ADAM, her helpful guide and “friend”. “You are here earlier than usual. I take it your condition has improved since last night?” The AI asked

“Yep. No more headache here.” Samus responded as she input coordinates. ADAM recognized them immediately.

“Ah. Off to visit your family?” 

“I’m just going to have a little talk with them, explain some things and hopefully clear my head a bit.”

“Very well. I will be on standby if you require my assistance.” And so, the AI went into sleep mode. With the coordinates set, the ship lifted off and flew to its destination.

Samus had reached the location without much delay. The ship slowly descended onto the grassy plains. This was Planet K-2L, once a thriving Earth colony was now abandoned and left to its wildlife. It was also the bounty hunter’s homeworld and this exact spot is where her life changed forever. The woman exited her ship and walked through the field, stopping when she reached four small stone pillars. The ground was covered in flowers, some old and wilted, others fresh and full of life.

“Hey Mom, Dad, Old Bird, Gray Voice. I didn’t bring any flowers this time.” She let out a small chuckle. “I was kind of in a rush to get here.”

She used to hold a lot of emotional baggage for this place but now this was where she went when she needed to take her mind off things. She sat down next to the pillars, looking up to the sky as the wind blew through her hair. She remained silent for a moment before opening her mouth again.

“I would’ve appreciated you guys telling me I had another dad.” She spoke in a different language, the tongue of the Chozo. She turned her head to look at two stone pillars to the right. “Though after meeting him, I kinda understand why you didn’t… He was a major asshole.” That last word was in English. There was no equivalent to the word 'asshole' in Chozo.

Samus stayed like this for a bit, talking to her family and reminiscing about old times: good and bad. It was nice… but unfortunately, she couldn’t stay here forever.

“I think it’s time I get going.” Samus stood up, brushing her legs off from all the dirt and grass. “I’ll see you guys again soon. I love you.” She waved goodbye to the stone pillars and walked off.

The brief talk she had with her family did help her think about other things but most of the unwanted thoughts she had were still present… Everything that came out of that bird’s beak was complete lies and manipulation or a combination of the two. He wasn’t like Ridley or Dark Samus, two people who have messed with her life in irreversible ways. He was just a deadbeat who tried to be a “father” at the last moment. His words shouldn’t hold any weight over her… Yet here she was. She looked down at her hand.

Suddenly, there was an incoming call. It was the Galactic Federation. A little surprised, Samus answered.

“Greetings, Samus Aran. This is Admiral Miles. I am contacting you to ask for your immediate presence at the G.F.S. Olympus.” The woman spoke.

“Again? Is everything alright?” Samus asked.

“E-Everything is alright! We need you down here to verify some things about your report on your mission to ZDR, that’s all.” 

The hunter froze for a moment upon hearing what she said. She took a few seconds to respond.

“Very well. I’ll be there shortly.” The call ended. 

What did she mean by “verify some things”? She told them all she knew… Well, what Samus wanted them to know, but there’s no way they could’ve figured out what she was hiding, right? Aran did notice she seemed a bit nervous on the phone… Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to think about it, they said she was needed immediately. Samus input the coordinates to the battleship and made her way there.

Once again, Samus made her way through the steel halls of the aircraft. However, things felt different this time… Perhaps it was just her mind playing tricks on her but it felt as if the officers here were all staring at her… and those who usually said something to her were completely silent this time around. She eventually made her way back to the briefing room. The doors opened and inside was Admiral Miles, but this time, she was accompanied by more people. Standing in the back were four Federation Marines, each of their suits glowing a different color: red, blue, green, and yellow. Something about them felt familiar as well but she couldn’t quite place her finger on it.

“Samus! Welcome back!” Miles spoke up, she sounded erratic. She noticed the hunter eyeing the four soldiers in the back. “O-Oh, don’t mind them! I was just giving them a mission briefing before you arrived!” Samus didn’t respond to her attempt at reassurance. Despite Aran being the one called here, Admiral Miles looked like she was more anxious than she was…

“You said you needed me to verify something about my report, correct? What is it?” The blonde was quick to get to the point.

“R-Right! You mentioned in your report that you lost connection with ADAM upon reaching ZDR’s surface and that during your mission, any time you found a Network Station, Raven Beak was the one guiding you, not ADAM. That’s correct, right?”

“That is correct.”.

“You said you were unable to learn his motive but I felt like if we had access to those times he spoke with you, then m-maybe we could dissect his words and come to a conclusion…”

“But wouldn’t that be impossible? ZDR is gone, those stations are destroyed.“

“That’s what I initially thought, too.” Miles looked down. "But a survey team was sent to the blast site of ZDR and surprisingly, we… we managed to recover a few network stations.” 

Samus froze. Admiral Miles continued.

“After taking some time to scan through the files, most came back corrupted or completely damaged. The majority of the ones we recovered were just ADAM, or I suppose Raven Beak giving you instructions on where to go next, but there was one… one in particular that caught our ears. You… You know where this is going, don’t you, Samus…?” Her voice lowered.

Samus didn’t respond.

“We know you’re hiding something. The clip we found proves you weren’t being honest on your report…”

“I…” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I believe the information I’ve withheld is not necessary for the Galactic Federation to know.” Samus spoke.

“Not necessary? How is this information not necessary for us to know?” An audio clip played.

“You… bzztt.. Metroid, Samus. bzzzt… Existence… bzzzzttt… threat to the galaxy…”

It was the distorted sounds of ADAM’s voice but Raven’s Beak words. Even if not fully eligible, she knew exactly what it said. It was the same words she heard in her dream and before her final confrontation with him

“Metroids are considered the deadliest species in the galaxy… If there was one still out there, the Federation should be the first one to know!” She shouted in a confused tone.

“And that’s exactly why I can’t let them know.” The hunter responded defiantly. 

“Samus… Withholding important information like this from the Federation is a federal crime… If you continue like this, it won’t end well…” The four soldiers behind Miles stepped forward. “So, please, tell us before it becomes harder for all of us…”

If Samus didn’t know what the mission briefing was before, she did now. Seeing them all lined up like this, she finally figured out why they were so familiar. This was the squad she helped destroy that Space Pirate battleship years ago. And the reason why she recognized Miles from before was that she was their commander at the time. Unfortunately, this would not be a happy reunion.

Samus remained silent, simply placing her arm on her cannon and prepared herself for what would happen next.

Admiral Miles gritted her teeth and balled up her hand into a fist, shaking it vigorously.

“Federation Force! Your mission begins now!” She moved out of the way and the four soldiers immediately began their assault. 

The soldier in blue shot an ice blast at her which she swiftly dodged. It hit the door behind her, freezing it shut. Samus attempted to shatter the ice with a missile but was quickly interrupted by the soldier in yellow ramming into her. She hit the wall and fell to the ground but quickly got back on her feet. 

Aran activated her phantom cloak. It was a small room, hiding wouldn’t do much but she only needed a few seconds. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to get even that as the soldier in red immediately found where she was and shot a missile at her. The hunter jumped out of the way at the right moment, her cloak vanishing and the missile hitting the ice and breaking it. She responded by shooting a missile back at the soldier, directly at their arm cannon; it made contact and immediately disabled it. With the door open, Aran quickly left the room.

She ran down the long corridor with her assailants right behind her. The blue soldier attempted to hit her with their ice blast while yellow shot normal beams, all of them missed. The soldier in green decided to go at another angle and shot a super missile, but not at Samus. They aimed at the ceiling above the door at the end of the hall. The large blast made the steel plating fall, blocking the hunter’s exit. Samus was stopped in her tracks. She wasn’t going to be able to escape with them on her tail. She needed to take them out.

Aran turned around and aimed her cannon at each of the soldiers. She locked onto them and within seconds, a flurry of missiles came flying towards them. The barrage was enough to knock down the green soldier but the other three were still up. She ran towards the yellow soldier, she used her grapple beam and pulled them towards her. She punched them in the face, shattering their helmet and knocking them out.

With their ranged weapon gone, Red attempted a physical assault. Samus was quick to react and countered, raising her arm cannon to push them back. She raised her leg and sent it crashing down directly on the soldier's head, causing them to drop to the ground and fall unconscious.

The last one remaining was blue. She would’ve hoped they would surrender after seeing what happened to their allies, but unfortunately, they weren’t backing down. Blue began to shoot at Samus. The hunter avoided the shots. She threw a punch at the soldier but they managed to dodge. Blue punched Aran in the gut, causing her to step back. The hunter went invisible to plan her next attack. 

She expected to land her attack but to her surprise, the soldier predicted her moves and managed to counter by shooting her with a missile. She fell back.

Their skills compared to their peers was telling Samus they must’ve been the leader of the group. She needed to play this more carefully. 

She had to distract them. Samus quickly stood up and aimed her cannon, locking on and shooting another missile barrage. As they blocked the incoming attack, Aran used her grapple beam once more to pull them forward, breaking their defenses. She returned the favor from before and punched them in the gut, then grabbed their arm and slammed them to the ground. With that, Blue fell unconscious. The Federation Force was down.

The bounty hunter let out an exasperated sigh. This wasn’t how she wanted it to go but there wasn’t much else she could do. Luckily, her attacks should’ve only put them down for a bit, enough time to get out of here.

She continued her escape. Samus removed the debris with a missile and left the hallway, and what she saw behind the door was to be expected; several Galactic Federation Soldiers waiting with their weapons drawn. The hunter didn’t want to cause any more damage than she’d already done but she couldn’t get captured either. She needed to run.

Sirens blared through the battleship. The intercom repeated the same message: “Apprehend Samus Aran.”

Unfortunately, she was not making it easy for them. She used her abilities to outmaneuver the crew of the Olympus. Many shot at her with beams, others with missiles. None of them managed to hit the speeding bounty hunter. Some even tried to block off her exits but it proved futile. The few soldiers who attempted to fight her were all easily taken down. 

Eventually, Samus reached the docking station, and her ship was in sight. She was only a few inches away when unexpectedly, she felt something cold pierce her side.

Samus fell to the ground. She looked down, her eyes widened. For the first time, her suit had been damaged. H-How… W-What did they shoot her with…? Her body was freezing, she couldn’t move… 

“Stand down, Samus!” Admiral Miles' voice played over the intercom. “I told you we didn’t want to use force! ” 

Suddenly, the Federation troops crowded her.

“We have you surrounded. Give up now and put an end to this!” The woman shouted.

No… She needed to get up. She… she couldn’t let them capture her. If they found out what she was hiding, what she’s become, no… no… No! 

Suddenly, her eyes shot wide open. Her hand began to glow a bright pink.

Even with her body freezing from the inside, she began to get up.

“W-What?! N-No…! That should’ve been able to stop you! Samus, stand down!” She shouted but the bounty hunter didn’t listen. “Again! F-Fire another!” Miles commanded. Another piercing ice beam was shot at Samus, this time, hitting her shoulder, breaking a piece off her armor. Her body began to freeze even more but she still attempted to rise, the glow on her hand rising in intensity.

“A-Again!!!” Another shot was fired. It was a direct hit to the hunter’s chest, completely shattering her left side. She fell back and hit the ground. Samus couldn’t move or feel her fingers. In fact, she couldn’t feel any part of her at all. The glow had vanished.

It was cold, really cold. What… What did they do to…

Samus Aran froze.

Chapter Text

Samus slowly opened her eyes and was immediately greeted by a bright light hanging above her. Her power suit was gone and she was in her Zero Suit. She felt weak and sluggish. She must’ve still been dealing with the aftermath of those ice shots. 

Just what were they? They managed to pierce through her suit but not her skin. It definitely made contact with her flesh; she could feel her insides getting colder with every shot that hit her. With how effective they were against her, Samus had a feeling what the purpose of them were but she had no way to prove that was the case.

Eventually, the woman’s attention was brought to her wrists, something tight was keeping her hands together. She was handcuffed. They were thick and made out of extremely durable metal; they were used on criminals the Federation knew would be able to break out of normal cuffs. It was no surprise to her she was getting that treatment. She also felt something around her neck. Samus couldn’t pinpoint what it was but unlike the cuffs, it felt… strange.

Nonetheless, if she’s been detained, she could only be here for one reason: interrogation.

The bare room, the long table with two chairs on either side, and of course, the camera in the corner watching her. This room was an interrogation room if she’s ever seen one. 

As expected, someone entered the room. They were in complete Federation armor and held a clipboard in their hand.

“You’re finally awake.” His voice was deep and rather imposing. “You’ve been out for quite some time, we almost began to worry.” Yet, his words appeared gentle. He took a seat across Samus, meanwhile the bounty hunter glared at him, not saying a word.

“I think you know why you’re here, but in case you don’t, allow me to refresh your memory.”

The officer began to recount the events that lead up to where they are now which apparently happened a day ago, meaning she’s been unconscious for a full 24 hours. The man spoke clearly, his words were quick and to the point, a clear indication that he had experience in this field. Aran simply listened.

“We detained you because we are willing to give you another chance to tell us what you’re hiding.”

He put the clipboard down and put his hand together. 

“We don’t want to escalate this situation more than it already has. Even with the injuries and destruction you’ve caused, if you tell us what we want to know, no punishment will come your way.”

However, regardless of how caring or sympathetic his words came off as, Samus remained quiet. The officer sighed.

“Very well. Perhaps you need more time to think this over; clear your head and recover from your injuries. I’ll see you again soon, Samus.” The officer grabbed the clipboard, got up and left the room, leaving Samus alone in the room. 

Shortly after, another officer entered, this one was equipped with a weapon. They walked up to her and spoke.

“I am here to escort you to your cell. Please stand.” Said the officer. Not having much of a choice, Samus got up and followed after them. They eventually reached the penitentiary wing of the Olympus. This is where they held prisoners temporarily before taking them to Federation HQ. There were only about a dozen cells but each one could hold about 5 people, assuming they were the size of an average human male. Most of the cells were filled to capacity, but there was one that was empty. That’s where Samus would be staying. 

Before putting her inside, the officer removed her cuffs but seemed to have forgotten something…

“What about this?” Samus pointed to the cuff around her neck.

“I was told not to remove that.” The officer responded,

“Why not? What is it?”

“I can’t answer that.” Samus didn’t bother to press him. She allowed him to bring down the cell’s force field and walked in. “We’ll be back for you later for your next session. Get some rest in the meantime.” The shield went back up and the officer walked off.

Aran would say she never expected herself to be in this position, but that would be a lie. Her defiance towards the Federation and their actions was going to come back to bite her eventually… However, it did take longer than she expected it to.

The officer said she should get some rest. Before that, she wanted to check something. Alongside a bed, a small room to the side was inside the cell, this was the bathroom. Samus walked inside and looked in the mirror. She examined herself closely and at first glance, it looked like nothing had changed, but eventually she noticed something. It was subtle but the green veins on the left side of her face had gotten bigger. The longest one only reached the side of her nose before, now it was on the bridge.

It wasn’t as quick of a process as it was in her dream but it was clear that her body was changing. Aran untied her hair, letting her bangs cover the right side of her face. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do. There wasn’t a cure for this, sooner or later, she’ll turn back into a Metroid. What’ll happen then? 

Samus couldn’t say…

For now, she’ll listen to what the officer said and rest. Samus went to lay down in the bed. Thankfully, it was comfortable, surprisingly more than her actual bed back home. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

She was woken up to the sound of someone’s voice coming through a speaker, they were telling her it was time for another session. Samus sat up. She didn’t know how long she slept but it must’ve been enough as she felt more energized than before. She stood up and walked up to the shield keeping her inside. The Federation officer who was standing outside her cell turned it off, allowing her to walk out. Samus was immediately put back in cuffs and was then told by the officer to follow him.

As they walked through the halls of the Olympus, the bounty hunter noticed the countless eyes staring at her. Some looked away the moment they were spotted, while others continued to stare, even whispering to their fellow crewmates. It was a strange sight to see; the “Legendary Bounty Hunter, Samus Aran” in handcuffs being led to an interrogation room like a lowly criminal. It made sense for them to stare and talk, yet, Samus didn’t care. Public approval or adoration wasn’t something she ever looked for or wanted, it was something that simply came with the job.

“Uhhh… Ms. A-Aran?” The officer beside her spoke. “I… uhh, I just wanted to s-say it’s an honor to m-meet you. I… I’m a big fan…!” He let out an awkward chuckle. Samus didn’t say a word, only turning to look in his direction, her expression completely unchanging.

"R-Right! S-Sorry!” The rest of the walk continued in silence until they reached the room. The officer opened the door for her and she stepped inside. A Federation officer was already present inside the room, she could only assume it was the same man from earlier.

“Welcome back, Samus. I hope you’re feeling better after your rest.” Samus took a seat, placing her bound hands on the table. “I see you changed your hairstyle, it looks good on you.” 

No response from the bounty hunter which the officer expected. 

“So, have you given this situation a little more thought?” He asked. There was a short pause before Samus answered.

“No."

“Oh? How come?”

“I don’t need to think about anything. I had already made up my mind when I decided to run.” Samus stared directly into the man’s eyes. A sigh left his lips as he leaned back into his seat.

“Samus…” He leaned forward and the visor of his helmet opened up, revealing his face. Caucasian, he wore glasses, and looked to be in his late forties. There was a noticeable scar under his right eye. “We know it’s about Metroids. It’s a species you know that, if still alive, presents a danger to the galaxy. Why would you hide information like that from us?”

Samus stayed quiet, but the man continued.

“I know it may not seem like it but we are trying to help you. If you continue to withhold this from us, we’ll be forced to send you to prison and who knows what will happen to you next. The Federation has always turned a blind eye to your crimes and transgressions, but if they know you’re refusing to let go of information regarding the galaxy’s greatest threat…”

His voice lowered as he trailed off.

“Is this really what you— No, is this really what the “Protector of the Galaxy” wants?”

“I never claimed that title…” Samus spoke. “I am not a protector.” 

The officer sat in silence for a moment before exhaling heavily.

“If that’s your response, so be it.” He put his visor back down and stood up. “We’ll be taking you back to headquarters first thing in the morning. There, they’ll figure out what to do with you.” He began to leave the room. He put a hand on the scanning pad but before he left, he looked back at Samus.

“Starting tomorrow, the name “Samus Aran” may invoke a different feeling than hope…” The officer left the room.

Samus was alone once again. This time, her escort didn’t come in right after her interrogator. This gave her a moment to reflect. 

She knew hiding what happened was a fool’s task. Sooner or later, the Federation will figure it out. Either through fully recovering Raven Beak’s message, someone running back a camera moments before she was taken down or just closely looking at her face. The information she held could’ve been found out in many ways but regardless, her lips remained sealed. If she has the ability to keep this information hidden, she’ll do it until her dying breath.

Eventually, her escort arrived and she was taken back to her room. Prepared for the next day, Samus quickly went to bed.

The next day came.

The G.F.S. Olympus had docked. All the prisoners inside were lined up, prepared to walk into the Federation Headquarters. There were prisoners of all kinds: humans, Space Pirates, cyborgs, etc. Whenever the Olympus came back to HQ, it was always an event, it was known for capturing the baddest of the bad in the galaxy, after all. Cameras, reporters, journalists, and more were all present to see. The ship door opened, the crowd waiting with baited breath as one question flooded all their heads:

What criminal did they bring in this time?

Chapter Text

It didn’t take long for news to spread.

“Legendary Space Bounty Hunter Detained?!”, “No Longer Protector of the Galaxy, Now Destroyer?!”, “Samus Aran: The Truth.”

And headlines of the like were plastered everywhere. Unless you lived in an unknown solar system, there wasn’t any way you wouldn’t have known. Of course, the Galactic Federation was questioned about this sudden development, specifically, the head of the Olympus, Alex Miles. She withheld making any comments or statements. Some even attempted to get an answer from the bounty hunter herself in which the outcome was the same. Not a single person had any idea what the reason could be. However, that didn’t stop the public from theorizing.

“I heard it was for blowing up a planet.”

“Samus Aran? Isn’t that guy a myth?”

“She was framed! Samus would never do anything to harm the galaxy!”

“I think he’s working with that guy who attacked all those Federation bases years ago. He was a bounty hunter too, right?”

“I thought Samus was a robot the Federation made…”

That was just a small portion of what everyone was saying.

In a week’s time, it was announced that Samus would be having a trial. Although, it wouldn’t be like your average court trial. Instead of being held by a court, it would be held by the Galactic Federation Council and televised for the world to see. This treatment was mainly given to the worst of the worst. Seeing criminals punished gives the people peace of mind, but what happens when you show the punishment of someone considered the symbol of hope by many?

Leading up to the trial date, two sides began to form. One who believed in Aran’s innocence and the other who believed she had wronged the Federation and deserved whatever came to her. Of course, neither side knew what the bounty hunter had done but that didn’t stop them from believing in what they wanted to. As time passed, each group continuously grew. Posters went up, meetups were planned, and eventually, protests were held. When it was only a handful of people, the Federation turned a blind eye, but as they grew larger and counter-protest started to appear, they began to pay more attention to them. The majority of protests remained peaceful; most that occurred was one side saying some unsavory things to the other. There were times bottles or other pieces of trash got thrown but usually, it never escalated further than that. Keyword, usually.

A member of the anti-Samus Aran provoked someone on the opposing side. It led to an altercation and then a fight. The pro-Samus Aran group attempted to break apart the two but unfortunately, it quickly devolved into a mass brawl. The Federation was forced to step in and subdue both sides. Many were detained while some were left with minor injuries. Ever since that day, the Federation made sure to be present at every protest, no matter how small the group was or how peaceful they appeared. 

The rallies continued in the weeks leading up to Aran’s trial. In time, the day finally arrived. Both sides now triple in size. Outside the Galactic Federation Council building were two massive crowds of people. No one was allowed inside aside from those a part of the Federation. Everyone else watched from their homes or on the street. Everywhere was broadcasting the trial.

“It’s time, Samus.” An officer spoke. 

The woman stood up. After being stuck in this room for weeks, her fate would soon be decided. She stretched, hands still bound by metal. She began following the officer. Before leaving the building, a few more Federation soldiers joined them. One of them carrying a nano-tech powered shield.

“You’ve acquired quite a lot of “fans” since being brought in. How many good, how many bad, who’s to say. Just watch out for any flying trash.” The group walked out the building and was greeted with about a hundred people standing outside. The cacophonous sound of everyone shouting made her ears ring slightly. The Federation members shouted and pushed back those who attempted to get close. Through the yelling and screaming, Samus could make out a few things people were saying. Some people called her a hero, some, a criminal. Some said she was guilty, others said innocent. Regardless of which side made more noise, the bounty hunter tuned it all out. Nobody here had all the information to form a cohesive opinion on what was currently happening. Each side was merely going off assumptions. That’s not what Samus wanted. 

Hopefully once this day is over, they’ll have enough info to choose their side. 

She entered the car she was escorted to. Two officers tagged alongside her while the others stayed behind. The shutter closed, muffling the noises from the outside. Samus sat in the back while the soldiers sat in front. They started the engine and drove off. The woman leaned back into her steel seat in an attempt to get comfortable and rest her eyes. Unfortunately, it didn’t prove to be working. Nevertheless, she closed her eyes still and waited until they reached their destination.

The car eventually came to a halt, signifying their arrival. Samus quickly noticed there were sounds coming from the outside. They were muffled but it sounded almost identical to how it did back at HQ. except this time, it was exceptionally louder. The officers stepped out and opened the shutter door, allowing her to clearly hear the noise playing outside. Aran walked out and this time, she was greeted by thousands of people gathered around. Aside from the usual abundance of noise, cameras were constantly flashing and some held up signs, ranging from encouraging to insulting messages. A few Federation officers were already at the scene as the two soldiers present with her led her into the building. Once again, people pushed and shoved, attempting to get close to the woman of the hour, and once again, the officers pushed back. One managed to slip through the cracks, however, getting close enough to Samus for her to hear what she had to say.

“Ms. Aran! There are rumors going around that you've been secretly working with the bounty hunter known as Sylux this entire time. Do you have anything to say to that?”

Right, that was one rumor she heard about. It was one that had little to no backing, the only information people went off of was that they were both bounty hunters and both had some connection to the Galactic Federation. Yet, people still ran with it. Hell, some soldiers started to believe it too last she heard. Anyway, Samus didn’t give an answer, but that didn’t stop the reporter from asking another question.

“There are also rumors saying you blew up a planet or killed an entire Federation squad!” Again, no response. Samus simply tuned it out. The Federation officers pushed her back but the woman got out one last statement.

“Some are even saying you’ve encountered a Metroid on your last mission!”

Aran stopped in her tracks. That… that was the first time she’s heard that one. Where did— Before she could give the woman’s comment any thought, she was pushed forward by an officer and the reporter was moved back into the crowd.

They rode the elevator up to the top floor. It felt almost familiar to her, as if she was on her way to make the final confrontation. And in some way, she was. Though, despite her stone-faced and calm demeanor, Samus felt a subtle tremble deep inside. Unlike all her other final confrontations, she knew she could win, but this? The outcome could be seen from a mile away. Even if she was seen as a hero by many or people believed she was innocent, the Federation had a precedent to uphold: No matter who you are, if you disobeyed their rules, you get punished. Yet, regardless of the fear the bounty hunter felt building up deep inside, the decision she made remained unchanged and her belief unwavering.

The elevator door opened. One of the officers who was beside her gave her a slight push. Understanding the gesture, Samus walked out, the doors closing behind her as the lift descended.

The room was dark. The few sources of light that were present were a light that shone down onto the middle of the room, the seats of the Federation Council, and the glow of the Federation troops' armor scattered around. And while it was faint, she could make out a bit of an audience in the back. She couldn’t say how many there were but for such an occasion, she had no doubt it was over the hundreds.

“Samus Aran,” A voice echoed throughout the barely lit room. It was the human representative of the Federation Council; Alexander Aflora. His family was one of the founding members of the Galactic Federatrion. A rare material was even named after them. “Please step up to the podium.”

Samus walked up to the stand. The platform beneath her began to glow, then it slowly levitated off the ground.

“I never expected to see the Samus Aran standing in front of us in such an uncharacteristic state.” 

Alexander was a young man; younger than the rest of his fellow council members. Standing tall with silver hair, he took the position of human representative after his father passed away of old age. Unlike his predecessor, Samus had never met him until now. She could see the resemblance in him appearance wise, but his voice did not give off the same familiarity. 

“But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You’ve broken our laws and went against our jurisdiction multiple times already. Only now have you been prosecuted for it.”

He sounded pompous and egotistical, a stark contrast to his father’s humble and modest tone.

“However, your previous crimes aren’t why you’re here today. You are here under the suspicion that you are conspiring against the Galactic Federation. What do you say to that?” 

The audience began to make noise amongst themselves. Eventually, the woman in the spotlight spoke.

“I deny the accusation that I am conspiring against the Federation.” Her words were calm and straight forward.

“Oh, really? Then how do you explain the rumors that you are working with Slyux? He too was a bounty hunter and had a vendetta against the Federation.”

“They are just that, rumors. The last time I crossed paths with Slyux was many years ago. We clashed, I won, and what became of him is unknown to me.”

“Very well… Then explain to us why you refuse to give the full story of your last mission? I’ll spare you the details but reports say something was mentioned by your assailant… that something being a Metroid.”

The audience grew even louder. Some even began to scream and shout when they heard the once greatest threat of the galaxy be mentioned. They were extinct, they should all be gone. Yet here was the one responsible for their extinction being accused of hiding their possible return. Samus put her head down. She took a deep breath. She looked up at the council.

“I withhold that information because I believe that the Galactic Federation cannot be trusted with it.”

The entire audience went into an uproar. They began calling her a traitor, terrorist, defector, and other words of the like. Yet Samus remained collected.

“Can’t be trusted? Who are you to decide that?! You’re just a lowly bounty hunter! Our mission is to protect this galaxy from all threats! We do everything in our power to ensure this nebula’s safety, and you believe we can’t be trusted with information about the galaxy’s biggest threat!?” Alexander’s voice got louder and harsher.

“Yes, that’s what I believe. I’ve seen what the Federation does to galaxy-level threats once they get their hands on them… You clone them, use it to power your military, and even try to “tame” them to have it fight for you. You always say it’s for the betterment of the galaxy but I’ve seen firsthand what these threats are capable of. If the Federation ever got their hands on any of them, this galaxy would’ve ended a long time ago.”

Some of the shouting from the audience began to die down. Some began to question the validity of what Aran was saying.

“How dare you! After everything the Federation has given you, this is how you repay them? With… With this slander? I shouldn’t even bother with the rest of this trial, I should just give you your sentence right n-”

“Hold it.” 

Another voice interrupted the man. It was another council member, the one representing the Chozo; Ancient Talon. He was a semi-recent addition to the council, only joining a few years ago. Chozos were notoriously known for being hard to track down as their race dwindled, only popping up in the far corners of the galaxy or as she’s seen, on unidentified planets. Unexpectedly, one decided to come out of hiding and offer his aid as a member of the council. He was old, quite old in fact. 

She always wanted to meet him. It’s unfortunate this had to be how it happened.

“Before judgment is cast, may I speak to her?” His voice was weak and his words came out slow.

“…Fine. Go ahead.” Alexander crossed his arms. Ancient Talon turned his head to look at the bounty hunter.

“Samus…” His first word was in English. “… You are a Metroid, aren’t you?” The rest of his sentence was in Chozo.

Her eyes widened. Of course he’d be able to tell… but he didn’t say that to expose her. He said it in Chozo for a reason. She felt like smiling but she couldn't make Talon’s words known. 

“Yes, I am the Ultimate Warrior.” 

Samus responded back in the same ancient language, carrying the same tone as her previous statements.”

“A translation would be appreciated.” Aflora suddenly spoke up.

“O-Oh! My apologies.” Ancient Talon turned to Alexander and bowed. “I spoke to her in Chozo in hopes of connecting with her to have her tell me what she's hiding. Unfortunately, her will seems to be unbreakable.” The old Chozo explained. 

“Of course it is! This is Samus Aran we’re talking about! The “Protector of the Galaxy”, the “Legendary Bounty Hunter”, and so many other names she doesn’t deserve! So, instead of prolonging this trial any further, I say we get this over with…” 

Before any of the other two council members could say anything, their seats were moved to the side and Alexander took center stage. He hovered over the bounty hunter, looking down on her with a smug grin.

Whatever happened, Samus was prepared.

“Samus Aran. For withholding information about the potential revival of the galaxy’s greatest threat, you are hereby sentenced to life in prison!”

The audience was filled with a mix of emotions. Shock, relief, and disappointment. Some believed the verdict was too harsh, others, not harsh enough. Others believed she didn’t deserve it at all after hearing what she said. Unfortunately, the verdict was not negotiable. The decision was made.

“I would’ve preferred a much more humiliating punishment but I’ll take what I can get. Today will be your last day of freedom. Tomorrow, you’ll be sent to planet RX 338 to serve out your sentence for the rest of your days. Godspeed, Samus Aran.”

Throughout it all, Samus remained silent. She said everything she wanted to say. As she said before, losing was the only outcome here. Life behind bars wasn’t the ending she expected but if it meant doing the right thing and sticking to her beliefs, perhaps this was the most fitting ending for her. The platform descended back to the ground as two Federation soldiers awaited her. She could hear the sound of the audience screaming and shouting. There wasn’t much to note being said than what she’s already pointed out. The two officers walked her to the elevator. They stepped inside. The doors closed.

The light Samus Aran held dimmed that day.

Meanwhile across the galaxy…

“Keh, keh… Have you finally turned your back on those morons, Sammy? Or was it they who turned their back on you? Keh… I suppose I’ll have to change the arrangements of our reunion!”