In the year 2090, Samus Aran, the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter, is still the most wanted person in the Galactic Federation. Five years have past since she betrayed the Federation when she destroyed the Biologic Space Laboratories (B.S.L) along with the Metroid homeworld SR388. By doing so, she had rid the galaxy of both the X Parasites that infested both the station and planet, including the last few Metroids. X Parasites were creatures that had the power to absorb and perfectly replicate any victim it infected.
In her defense, what she had done what was right. Had she not destroyed SR388 and the research station, the X Parasites would have assimilated all life in the galaxy. Possibly even the entire universe.
So far, Samus successfully eluded the law and other bounty hunters. Though information on the Metroid experiments and the X infestation had been silenced, the Federation hunted her down relentlessly. In order to hunt her down by law, they used a cover story. They said Samus went insane and murdered researchers at an ordinary research station. They made the lie stronger by using edited surveillance footage of Samus's X Parasite doppelganger, the SA-X (Samus Aran X), killing the B.S.L researchers as proof of her crimes. They branded her as a traitor to the Federation and a vicious murderer.
Samus did not know where did the Federation even get their hands on such footage. She did not have the time or resources to even find out what lengths did the Federation go to cover up her deeds at the B.S.L station. For five long years she pondered on what the Federation has become. Samus's Chozo foster parent, Old Bird and the former chairman of the Council, Keaton, feared that the increase of military power would corrupt the Federation and make them no different than the Space Pirates. Both did not live long enough to see their fears coming true, but perhaps that is a good thing. Memories of standing by Old Bird on his deathbed and going to Chairman Keaton's funeral weighed heavily on Samus's heart. Samus remembered Chairman Keaton fondly. He was a wise man who always done what was best for all races. She remembered honoring Keaton's final wish to spread his ashes on his home planet. Old Bird and Keaton's last words for her was to be strong, to never give up fighting for what's right.
Even with their encouraging last words, Samus has a difficult time following them. Especially now. She tries not to hurt any officers of the Federation Police Force and she tries not to kill any of the generally good bounty hunters. She rarely goes near Federation territories. When she does, it's only to quickly fill up her fuel tank and ammo reserves for her ship. Plus repairs and or food.
Speaking of food, she is running out. Her fridge is empty and no matter how long she stares at it. There is only the can of pickled zuk fish. She hates the taste of pickled zuk fish. She only bought a can of it, because she was spotted by a Federation Police officer and purchased it in a hurry. Her stomach growls in anger for her good enough to call it a meal, but it will have to do. As she pulls open the can and sours her face from the smell, she ponders on what will she do now.
She is running incredibly low on funds. Her ship only has a quarter worth of fuel left. The ship is still damaged from a battle with a bounty hunter. And her loneliness is almost crippling. If it wasn't for Adam, she would have went mad.
"You are running low of food." says the AI.
Samus leers at the round purple glass that is Adam's camera.
"I know Adam. Don't remind me."
"The ship's fuel reserves are low. You need to find credits."
"I know Adam."
"You need to find a job outside of Federation space, Samus."
"I know Adam! It's not like there's any jobs for a criminal bounty hunter with a moral compass now, is there?"
Adam pauses for a moment to process this. Having the Adam AI with her is not as pleasant as the real Adam. At least it holds onto the original's wisdom.
"I'm afraid no Sa-" Adam pauses for a moment.
"Samus. Hold on. I'm picking up a frequency. Possibly an SOS."
Just like the real Adam, he always tries to watch Samus's back. Her ship's holoscreen turns on and shows a map. A red dot appears near the planet Tallon IV. An old pain in Samus's back. She hasn't been back there since her first encounter with Phazon.
"Best not to drudge up old memories." she thinks to herself as she gets ready.
"The signal is indeed an SOS signal. It will take approximately two hours and forty one minutes upon arrival. Initiating warp drive."
"Wait, Adam I haven't-"
Without warning, the gunship jumps into FTL space. Samus flies towards the wall, but flips to land on it with her feet and stands on the wall in a crouching position. The sudden push of G-Force going into FTL space is strong at first, but after five or eight seconds the ship's gravity stabilizes and allows everyone to walk normally. Once it passes, the ship fixes its gravity and Samus hops back onto the floor.
"What the Hell, Adam!?" shouts Samus. She somewhat regrets having the ship retooled for Adam to pilot it.
"We have no time to waste Samus. We are low on fuel, ammunition, funds, and food. I estimate that you will die of starvation in three weeks at most. I will take command if you're unwilling to do what it takes to survive. Any objections, lady?"
Samus couldn't help, but smile when Adam says that. It brings back good times with the real Adam. Times that she wishes she could go back to. Just as Old Bird said to her, time is more precious than any jewel.
Samus sits back down on her chair and begins playing ancient video games to pass the time. Back in the day, Samus spent nothing, but her time bounty hunting and training. She always managed to find a job from the Federation or whenever Space Pirates attacked something. With her being marked a traitor and with the Space Pirates laying low, she has nothing to do. She never really liked T.V shows or movies and that didn't change one bit. She remembers always catching her old friend Keatz playing with a gaming device. He played with it whenever the academy is doing wargames. After the B.S.L incident, she decided to take Keatz's suggestion and try it. Since then, she's been playing video games to kill time after workouts.
Two hours later, Samus stops playing and did her stretches. Once she's done, she summons her Fusion Suit. The complicated, sleek, orange and yellow Fusion Suit digitally wraps her body as the blades on her left arm emerges. It has been a while since Samus summoned it. She felt very comfortable in it, almost as if someone has her back. She touches the blades. It was sensitive when she touches it, but can tell that it's still razor sharp. Though she never uses it, it's perfect in case an enemy gets up and personal. Samus remembers how her Fusion Suit was originally blue and yellow. This version of the Fusion Suit was far stronger than the previous one. It has no name, so she called it the Fusion Power Suit. It's strongly reminiscent of her original Power Suit, long before the X Parasite infected her. She spends the last thirty minutes doing a clear and thorough maintenance check for any abnormalities in the suit and her body.
"Arriving in t-minus five, four, three, two, one."
The gunship slows down and the area has come into view. There stood the brown, scarred planet Talon IV with a space station orbiting around it. Nothing, but bad memories of the Phazon and the Metroid Prime. Seeing the head of the Metroid Prime's core on the head of her older doppelganger, Dark Samus, still brings chills down her spine. Good thing it's dead now and traces of Phazon were no longer found on Talon IV.
The research station that orbits Talon IV looks so similar to the B.S.L. station. Only larger and without the sectors. Despite the heavy damages this station received, the label B.S.F can be seen on it. The ship pulls up scans of the station. This particular one is a Bio Supervision Facility. It was meant to care and supervise animals and plants that have been affected by alien dangers. Samus opens her coms and tries to make contact.
"This is the hunter Samus Aran. I have received your SOS signal. Is there anyone there? Please respond. Over."
No response. Samus gives a look of worry at Adam for a moment and repeats her message. Still no response. Possibilities on what happened raced in Samus's mind. Could there be an experiment they were conducting that went wrong? Could it be a Space Pirates raid? Maybe someone is intercepting her call?
"Adam. Put what I said on loop in case someone didn't hear. Can you scan the station for life while your at it?"
"Already done. Severe damages can be found inside the station more than the outside. Number of casualties unknown. Number of survivors is inconclusive."
"Could we be too late?"
"Whether or not it is, we have no choice, but to dock. We should check in case of survivors. If there are none, we can at least gather any supplies the station might have."
"Are we scavengers now, Adam?"
"Do need to repeat myself on the why, lady?"
With a weary sigh, Samus grabs the controls and head closer towards the station. Adam left the coms on just incase someone tries to contact her. She surveyed the area before she gets close. The damages on the ship were abnormal. The big holes on the ship were large enough to put her gunship in. There are no scorch marks in the entries, so no beam weapon was used. It looks as if something tore through the station. Samus knew that there is something incredibly dangerous inside and she must be ready.
"Is…..so….this is…..." a staticky voice came through the gunship computer's coms. Samus calmly turns on her communications.
"This is Samus Aran, the bounty hunter. I intercepted your SOS signal and came as quickly as I could. Who are you and how many survivors are there with you? Over."
The coms continues to give off static. Samus waited in hopes that the response wasn't a pre-recorded message on repeat. Samus steels herself if that were the case and the people there really are dead.
"Good evening, Ms. Aran." said a calm, deep, raspy, yet sophisticated voice. "I have received your message loud and clear. Do you read me? Over."
"I-I hear you loud and clear. How many survivors are there with you? Over."
"Oh they are here in a way. In technicality, I am the only survivor. One has been injured and in a rather deep coma. Another has become broken in fear. Pray tell, where are you my dear? Over."
Samus is somewhat off put by how calm and casual this man is. She has a gut feeling that something is suspicious. Out of concern for the survivors, she then tells him his coordinates.
"Ahh, I see you now my dear. Hover down two hundred feet and turn twenty degrees to your left. You will see the docking bay. All systems are disabled, so you must enter without a guide. I myself shall guide your way upon entry."
Samus questions how can this man see her. The likely explanation is that he must be at a security console. All cameras would be connected to a security console. She does as she says and her ship lowers. She put her voice on mute on the coms and looks at Adam.
"Don't you think that this man is acting strange?"
"Yes, but for now, do as he says. Remember to be on your guard. Who knows what traps could be waiting? Or if this man is friend or foe."
Samus nods as she drives to the docking bay. So much debris floated around the bay. In all of Samus's career, she has never seen so much damage. Adam scansthe docking bay and reported that the debris are from not only the bay, but ships as well. Someone decided to do battle inside the bay and destroyed the ships while they're at it.
No lights were on inside. Only the light reflecting off Talon IV can illuminate the area. With careful piloting, Samus docked her ship. After tying her hair into a ponytail, she head towards the elevator. She takes a deep breath and activates it.
"Good luck lady. Watch your back." Adam says as the elevator lowers. Samus gives the AI a salute before she's out of sight.