60Samus wiped off the beaded blood with a scrap of cloth, streaking across her visor to remove the liquid that concealed half of her sight.
She walked through the hotel door, the green eyed clerk gone, replaced by a tired looking woman. She walked through the freshly painted beige halls, into her room. Samus removed her helmet.
Her head hurt. She grabbed her forehead as the sharp points of pain drilled into her skull. Samus stepped into the shower, her suit still on with helmet in hand, opening the spray to wash away the traces of gore, the dirt, and to mingle with the tears that spilled so freely. She wanted to clean off all the filth.
Stepping out, Samus removed the rest of her armor, lying down on the single bed, letting her eyes drift shut.
She was back in the darkness. She couldn't see, it was thick, and she breathed in the blackness, filling her lungs. She couldn't move her hands.
Samus was terrified. She knew what was to come.
The light hit her with a force unsurpassed. Her face was set on fire, flowing into her mouth as she screamed, charring away at her insides, setting her soul aflame. It hurt so much. She sobbed in pain as her head exploded inwards, and her mind was crushed in on itself.
She dropped to the hard white ground, looking up and blinking rapidly. The Light was everywhere, and so bright she couldn't see her hands, but felt cool and level.
*
Samus snapped open her eyes, looking around slowly. She felt calm, and it was the strangest feeling she had ever felt.
*
Armstrong Huston ordered another beer. The friendly barmaid looked at him with concern.
"Hon', are you all right?"
Huston looked up. "It's not me that not all right."
The barmaid cocked an eyebrow. "Sugar, I think you've had a bit too much to drink"
"I'd have to disagree"
She shook her head, walking to tend to another customer.
Huston wasn't sure what to make of Samus. He was disgusted, intrigued, curious, and sorry for her. But he still wasn't sure what was the right emotion.
Samus was a woman
That in itself was a startling discovery, but what he saw of the woman that cried in all that blood made his heart ache.
She was insane. She was a mystery. He wanted to help her.
When Huston had called in the federation to the Spencing's home, most every cop had reacted exactly as he had by vomiting. Huston knew who did the murders, but just couldn't bring himself to turn her in. He still didn't know what he felt.
Huston thought he heard clunky footsteps, and someone sit at the stool next to him.
"I doubt getting drunk is going to help any." A warped mechanical voice pulled Huston out of his musings.
Samus sat next to him in her suited glory.
Huston blinked. "You know," he began, "Space pirates are becoming a real problem lately."
Samus tilted her head.
"There's this whole frenzy going on about a particular group that they need the best bounty hunter for."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Huston shrugged. "Not sure." He turned to look at what he guessed were her eyes, "I'm not sure what to make of you."
"Neither am I."
Huston took a sip of his beer. He turned to face her again. "Ever hear of Metroids?"