The Mysterious Past of Samus Aran

We went to Tallon IV. There, they took me to meet Leh’a, the High Shaman. A huge gathering was immediately arranged, bringing almost all of the Chozo on the planet to it.
Surprisingly, I don’t remember my first meeting with her. When I was older, I looked through the Chozo archives, where everything is recorded. The following is the record of the gathering I downloaded before leaving Tallon IV.
***
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shaman Vi’to Discovers The Hatchling.
Shaman Vi’to speaks to High Shaman Leh’a at the emergency gathering.
“I am not a stranger to the cruelty of the Space Pirates. However, each time I look upon the destruction they create, I am always shocked and sickened by their work.
I, Vi’to, was traveling with my two guards, apprentice, and sister, when our ship’s scanners alerted us to a Space Pirate raiding ship. It was quite far away, and moving farther, but it worried us that it had just left a small human settlement. Immediately, there was a unanimous decision to go and help if we could.
It was a desolate place. A dark gray sky, lit only by the frequent flashes of lightning, stretched as far as the eye could see. The ground was almost the same color as the sky, rubble and debris lay everywhere. And scattered here and there, were bodies. Humans who had been brutally murdered over forty-eight hours ago. Nothing was left. The oxygen and electricity providing Energy Containers had been stolen. The few weapons too, were gone. Even the crops the humans had carefully tended and raised, had been raided. Everything else, that could not be used, had been destroyed by several bombs.
Humans including, for Space Pirates do not keep slaves.
Nothing was left on the asteroid. Not even a single light. No oxygen, no life signs.
Except one!
One small figure knelt in the middle of the wreckage. Despite being tall and mature for her age, she still had the heart of a child. I was surprised later, when she said she was four years of age. Young, especially for a human.
And what she had witnessed and experienced two days ago would chill the heart of even the strongest man.
She sat by her dead mother, but she did not see her. Her legs were horribly cramped from kneeling in the same position, but she felt no pain. Not even from her dislocated shoulder. She did not notice how hard it was getting to breathe, nor hear the warning light inside her small suit, telling her she was low on air. She had not felt hunger or thirst for the past five cycles, she had not even felt tired.
If fact, she was so empty of emotion, I could barely sense her.
When I did, I was horrified at what her mind held. No child should witness what she did. Everything she saw with a child’s simple mind, images and words so cruelly bare in her mind, I knew it would not be possible to erase her memory.
I sent my sister, Sy’at and one of my guards to bring the child to safety. They too, hesitated to talk to the child, whose mind was like an endless void.
She immediately sensed my mind, as it searched for any survivors. That spark of emotion was the only thing that kept me from missing her. Fear, however, was the first thing she felt when she saw us. She feared we were the Space Pirates returning. Yet, it was not the terror ordinary human children feel when they first lay eyes on us. It was a quiet fear, it held acceptance.
She believed she was going to die.
Pain, guilt, sadness. Such traumatizing emotions felt by one young being.
All she saw was blood. All she heard was screams and coarse laughter.
All she felt was death.
The scenario played in her mind.
Again and again and again.
There was nothing else.
Pity tore at my heart brutally, and for the first time in many ages, I felt anger. Had I left her there, I would have sunk to the level of the ones that caused the ghastly carnage. All on my ship decided to bring before you, Leh’a. We trust your judgment with this hatchling.”
High Shaman Leh’a speaks after a long pause: “Shaman Vi'to. What is the name of this she-child?
Shaman Vi'to: “…Samus. Her name is Samus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***

The Shaman council felt that I should stay with the Chozo, especially since they did not wish to explain to humans how they had come to have me. Many were sure that they would not be believed, and had no desire to come face to face with humans at all.
In fact, not a single Chozo even considered that I be put into an eternal sleep. When the Council asked for a volunteer who would care for me, I remember many stood, happy to take me, one of the first humans some had ever seen, under their protection. In the end, all of them would be my family, but Sy’at would be my first guardian. Although some were slightly opposed to the decision, (Sy’at was younger than Vi'to, and both were considered still young) in the end, everyone was pleased with Leh’a’s decision.
Sy’at. None were as keen as her when it came to taking charge of me. She was wise, and had more experience with humans than most. I had already become very attached to her, so I was happy to hear that I would be in her care.
She taught me many things. I learned quickly how the Chozo speak in a different way, and how to speak that way without their help (for Chozo rarely speak using their vocal chords). All humans could, it was only a forgotten language. I learned how to write and read, first Chozo script and then the letters of humans. Sy’at soon realized that I was gifted, beyond the abilities of a normal human child. She supplied me with numerous Chozo manuscripts to fill out my knowledge of their kind, and my own.
But, I never considered myself human. The Chozo were my family. I was happy, truly happy to be with them. I loved their simple way of life in harmony with nature, wondering why humans had to surround themselves with so much technology.
Happy. Yes, I was happy. To some, I seemed to have not a care in the world.
But many Chozo, older Chozo, knew better. Even though I had gone through those traumatic events at a very young age, and had them gently sealed away, they knew when I would mature, the seal would break. They estimated that around the age of twelve, I would develop problems. Though, the Chozo were confident that they would be able to handle the problems when the time came.
Once again, I surprised them all with my maturity. An unpleasant, no, horrific surprise. On a cool, windy day in autumn, I at the age of eight, went missing.
The Chozo looked everywhere, using their psychic abilities to try to find me. There were no human entities. Nothing. Emptiness, like I had simply left the planet. They were worried, and mystified. Where had I gone? I, usually such a loud laughing child, that could be heard from a distance, had completely vanished.
Then, Vi'to found me.
He had left his search party to relax in a tended, but rarely visited garden. Opening his mind, he once again searched the area for a trace of the missing ‘hatchling’, as I was fondly called. He was astonished to find a flicker of my conscious, not three feet from him.
Robbed of sight since he himself was a young hatchling, Vi’to moved slowly forward, knowing the layout of the garden by heart, but not wanting to stumble over the tiny human. He mentally called out to me, wondering what kind of game I was playing, and how I had been able to diminish my thoughts to almost nothing.
He stopped as he stepped in something wet. It was a large puddle, yet there had been no rain for the past few days, and the stream that naturally watered this garden was farther to the south. Vi'to knelt and touched the liquid with his hand, confused for a moment at it’s fading warmth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sy’at was searching in a nearby archive for her adopted hatchling, hoping to see her small form attentively reading a book, or carefully unrolling a scroll. Then the psychic cry of her precious brother cut across her mind and had her using all her power to reach him faster. She found him surrounded by blood, running his clawed, but sensitive hands over her hatchling’s face. Gentle hands, but now panicking as he continued to realize that the human hatchling was not responding, that it was blood, her blood that he knelt in.
The hatchling. Her hatchling. Sy’at couldn’t sense her, yet was seeing her right in front of her.
Her hatchling was dead.
Sy’at fell to her knees and gave a chilling wail. It was a high-pitched and agonized scream, tearing its way out of her unused throat. A scream of anguish that all heard. Many hurried to give aid, yet Sy’at’s scream went on. All could hear her psychic scream as well.
“My hatchling is dead! My hatchling is dead!!”
The sky darkened as storm clouds swept in, bringing lightning and rain. A Chozo is one with nature, thus nature can feel as a Chozo. And the building storm did nothing but reflect the turmoil in Sy’at’s heart.
“…No.”
Sy’at ceased her lament and turned.
Leh’a stood there, her consort by her side. “She has not yet left this realm. We can still save the hatchling.”
Vi'to felt like a child as he unsteadily stood. “How? How could she of hurt herself so badly?”
Leh’a’s consort, a dark shelled male named On’va walked over to the human child and carefully picked her up. The Hatchling’s thin shift was soaked in the red liquid and it dripped while he held her. “These wounds were not from any accident.” He said sadly. “She has matured far beyond our knowledge…to do this act of evil against nature.”
“We must hurry to the sanatorium if we are to even attempt to save her.” Said Leh’a, leading away from the bloody scene, glancing only once at the sharp stone the hatchling had used to spill her life blood.
“Stop.”
They all looked to Sy’at.
“I will carry her.”
On’va willingly handed over the hatchling, only murmuring that they needed to hurry. Sy’at, Vi’to, Leh’a and On’va all quickly, but sedately walked to the sanatorium. They were joined by two others, Pa’cu and his companion Nu’tari. A Chozo architect and an archive keeper who had also been looking for the hatchling.
In the center of a clearing, they placed her under the shelter of a stone structure. Rain poured down from the sky as the group of Chozo gathered around the table where the human hatchling had been placed.
Leh‘a looked at them with her serene gold eyes. “You all know what is required to save this child. Is one here that would refuse?”
All of the Chozo shook their heads slowly. Even On’va, more reserved than most Chozo, did not back down.
“Then we shall begin. Sy’at, On’va, you shall go first, followed by Nu’tari and Pa’cu. Vi’to and I will go last.”
On’va drew forth a small elegant blade from a sheath at his arm. With a flicking motion, he drew it across his own wrist. Blood quickly welled from the cut, an orange color compared to human blood. Sy’at drew her own blade and did the same, if a bit harsher. Putting their blades away, they picked up the Hatchling’s limp arms and brought their cut wrists to her own.
Leh’a and Vi’to began to sing in an ancient language, sounding more like whales than bird-like. It echoed in the dome ceiling and spread over the land. Chozo all around raised their heads from their work and gazed in the direction of the song. They bowed their heads and gave a prayer, for they knew the song, and knew what was taking place. Many Shamans joined in, even those on the other side of Tallon IV. Even though they could not hear the source, they heard it in they hearts, souls, and psychically as well. Chozo around the globe awoke and listened, Shamans stopped ceremonies and bowed their heads, even those present at a Joining, where two companions became consorts, halted and prayed without a moment of hesitation.
All listened, prayed…and waited.
As soon as Sy’at and On’va began to grow numb, they stepped back and let Pa’cu and Nu’tari take their place. Just like the warriors before them, The architect and archive keeper let their lifeblood flow from their wrists. Leh’a and Vi’to’s song became stronger, and almost seemed to resonate in their bones. Quickly wrapping up the cuts on their wrists, Sy’at and On’va weakly joined in, creating a soft background. A crowd had gathered around the tall stone structure, though none dared to enter it for shelter from the rain. They stood calmly as it poured, singing softly…and waited.
After a short time, Nu’tari stumbled back, gasping weakly. Pa’cu quickly withdrew and went to his companion’s side.
Then, the Shamans stepped forward. They used no blade to bring forth their blood, for a Shaman’s psychic power is greater than any other Chozo’s. Blood spilled from their wrists simultaneously as their voice rose. It was a wild song now, great and terrible. The very earth trembled with the power and the skies flashed warningly. Not long after they had placed their wrists against the human child’s, Samus screamed. A fierce, pain filled scream, layered in agony. But the Shamans gripped her firmly and did not draw away. Then, right before their eyes, the Hatching began to change. Her back arched with the pain as all saw how her arms and legs seemed to lengthen. Even her fingers grew unusually long. Silence held for a moment as she relaxed, before pain once again ripped through her body. Many Chozo flinched at the sound, for it seemed like the Hatchling, their beloved Hatchling was being tortured. Vi’to whimpered. With his psychic eyesight now diminished while he focused on the Hatchling, his hearing was all he had. Her throat almost seemed as if it would tear with screams as they heard a cracking sound. Her torso lengthened in a few brutal snaps. Her pain was so great, few Chozo noticed the other changes.
Her dark hair was turning to a bright gold, blue eyes becoming a rich azure while turning glassy and unnaturally reflective.
Silence fell and Leh’a and Vi’to finally pulled away as the young girls contortions finally stopped. A murmur of awe flowed through the crowd, for the Hatchling looked much older now, so different. So…
…Inhuman.
Without a word, Sy’at gently picked the girl up and walked slowly towards her quarters, followed by Vi’to.
Sun broke through the clouds as the Chozo began to disperse. All that remained were Leh’a and On’va.
“Will the Hatchling survive?” The male asked solemnly.
“…Yes. But, this has changed her greatly. She may not be as we remember.” Said Leh’a softly. “The Hatchling, is no more.”
On’va sighed tiredly and gave his hand to his mate. “Has it all been for naught then?”
Leh’a walked out into the sunlight, bathing in it’s warmth. “Oh no, my love. There was an outcome, but it is up to Samus what to decide whether it is bad or good. The Hatchling is gone, yes. But…
Leh’a opened her golden eyes to watch the sun slowly emerge from behind the gray. “The Newborn has taken her place.”


**Yup, if you paid any attention, both Hatchling and Newborn were used by the Chozo to describe Samus in Metroid Prime. I liked the two different names, so I sorta set the story around them.
WAAAHHHHH!! Nobody likes this story! (If they did, they would rate it...or review it.) I'm mean, 90 hits and no reviews?! I'm not working on a story that no one cares about, so you can forget future chapters until ratings and reviews pop up. Angel Lich**