Prologue
Unidentified distress beacon has been tracked to a derelict space vessel in orbit above Tallon IV.
Samus Aran looked around at the seemingly deserted frigate Orpheon. At least the docking bay was deserted. Samus had yet to check out the rest of the vessel, which was what she was about to do.
After deactivating a force field, she noticed that the next set of force field controls were offline. Turning on her new Scan Visor, she scanned a panel nearby. Force field activation switches are now online.
Samus deactivated the second force field and walked up the ramp. She opened the door at the top and went into the access corridor. There were holographic icons on the left wall that she could scan. One of them was flashing. She scanned the first two and they said, Deck Gamma. Reactor core and propulsion. Current status: environment normal. And Deck Beta. Biotech research. Current status: environment normal. When she scanned the one that was flashing, it said, Deck Alpha. Emergency evacuation area. Current status: environment unstable. Samus realized something was definitely going on there.
She opened the door to the air lock, where bits of metal and a couple of parasite carcasses were floating around. Samus scanned the nearby panel to repressurize the airlock. The ship's air flooded into the room and the bits of metal and parasites clattered to the floor as the artificial gravity kicked in. Samus moved on to the Deck Alpha access corridor and shot open the door to the emergency evacuation area.
Samus stared in shock at what she saw. A huge creature was lying dead on the floor, wreathed in flame. Parasites scuttled here and there, and everywhere there were dead Space Pirates. Samus scanned one. Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: death caused by a severing of the spinal cord. The scan of another dead Pirate said: Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: death caused by acidic burns to body. Chemical type unknown. Another scan said: Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: death caused by severe flame damage to exoskeleton. Samus then scanned the big thing that lay dead in the center of the room, starting with its body. Morphology: Unknown. Info High levels of radiation detected. Samus scanned the creature's head next. Analysis shows incredibly large muscle structures surrounding the jaw area. Fluid sacs containing acid are also detected. Scans of the tail yielded similar results. Tail section possesses a mouthlike orifice. Most likely used for birthing offspring.
Samus scanned one of several hexagonal shaped portholes in the far wall. Escape pod entrance. The vessel has already been jettisoned. Evacuation occurred six hours prior to your arrival.
Samus went thru the door on the far side and found the corridor blocked by rubble, which she destroyed with her Charge Beam. She then scanned a corpse underneath. Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: Death caused by excessive blunt trauma to cranium. Samus chuckled. "Well I should say so!"
After downloading the map of the ship, she continued on. When she came to the biotech research area 2, she saw that two of the three huge stasis tanks built to house Parasite Queen specimens were broken open and their contents were nowhere to be seen. Obviously one of them was the same one she saw dead on the floor of the emergency evacuation area, but what about the other one?
Samus soon arrived at the biohazard containment room. In a stasis tank was another Parasite Queen. Samus scanned it. Morphology: Unknown. Info This specimen has been horribly mutated. There are no life readings. Samus scanned a computer nearby and got the first Pirate Data entry in her quest.
Zebes has fallen. All ground personnel are presumed dead, either killed by the Hunter clad in metal or in the subsequent destruction of the underground facilities. Our research frigates Orpheon, Siracus, and Vol Paragon were in orbit at zero hour and managed to retreat. Frigate Orpheon is now docked at vortex outpost. Orpheon's cargo appears to have a 100% survival rate; Metroids are healthy but on restricted feeding schedules due to uncertain supply status. We are ready to begin research on the Metroids and other promising life forms. Security status remains at Code Blue; no signs of pursuit from the Hunter.
Samus traveled thru the ship until she reached Reactor Access. There she found more bodies. Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: Dead. This creature looks like it struggled to get thru this door.
Morphology: Space Pirate. Status: Death caused by severe lacerations. Subject looks like it has been partially eaten.
In the Reactor Core, Samus found more bodies. Analysis detects large amounts of blood missing from the carcasses. These bodies may have been used for nourishment. Pattern consistent with predator behavior.
Samus approached the reactor. Suddenly she heard a clamoring sound. She looked up and saw something huge enter the reactor field. It was without question the second Parasite Queen.
Morphology: Parasite Queen: Parasite female, genetically enhanced by unknown means. A weak spot has been detected in this creature's mouth: use your auto-targeting to acquire this new target! Scans indicate the presence of a potent mutagen, origins unknown. Creature exhibits the ability to fire weapon-grade blasts of energy from its mouth, a trait not present in the standard Parasite genome. It appears that the Space Pirates have begun a bioengineering program, with considerable results.
The Queen was less resilient than she seemed. After blasting it for a few minutes, the metal plate beneath it gave way, and it got sucked into the reactor. An explosion followed by tendrils of energy was the result. An electronic voice said, "Evacuate immediately. Evacuate immediately." A message on Samus's visor said, Reactor core critical! Evacuate immediately!
Samus hightailed it out of there, escaping thru the ventilation shafts, until she reached Biotech Research Area 2. There, Samus heard a familiar sound and looked up. "Ridley. So you are alive. Well I'll soon change that." Ridley stared down at her with a smug expression on his face, then broke thru the ceiling and flew out of sight. Samus swung across the gap with her Grapple Beam, then scanned a nearby panel. Subject: Meta Ridley. Begin umbilical retraction. "So he's Meta Ridley now, is he?" Samus said to herself.
Samus scanned the elevator to take her to the air lock, but a noise caused her to stop. She turned around just in time to see several huge pieces of metal slam into her, hurling her against the wall and destroying her Varia Suit. As Samus went up the elevator, a message appeared on her visor. Varia Suit malfunction. Morph Ball Bomb malfunction. Charge beam malfunction. Missile malfunction. Morph Ball Malfunction. Grapple Beam malfunction. Samus realized to her horror that she now had only the Power Suit, Power Beam, Combat Visor and Scan Visor, making her virtually defenseless!
The Power Suit
Upon arrival at the Docking bay, Samus jumped into her ship and saw Meta Ridley flying out. Samus pursued him and together they descended towards Tallon IV.
Tracking on enemy target has been lost. Ground-based recon required. Begin landing sequence.