Spire exitted the Avalanche and walked cautiously, staring around. Why had he felt the need to come here? What was the purpose of coming to the most feared system in the universe, the Kriken Empire being a close second?
Spire kept his Magmaul out, ready for an attack he felt certain was coming. From the moon, he could see Abyss, a planet so shrouded in darkness the starless sky around it seemed bright.
You love darkness, don't you Diamont? a voice in his head mocked. Spire shook his head, trying to clear it. Embrace the darkness...the power, your opposition's fear...savor the taste...Spire let out a yell, breaking from the thoughts. He staggered backwards, eyes searching wildly for any source of danger.
Nothing. The moon was deserted, no sign of anything ever having been there in years. Spire felt frustrated. He had come a long way on instinct, but nothing had surfaced yet.
"You should be careful..." a cold voice whispered from behind Spire. Spire turned quickly, ready to fight. Kanden stood, leaning on his ship, Poison.
"What do you want?" Spire demanded. Kanden smiled.
"Simply curious why you came here. You already escaped death at the Empire, why risk it again?" Kanden asked sarcastically. Spire scowled.
"Why'd you follow if it's so risky?" Spire retorted. Kanden laughed.
"I'm the strongest hunter, what do I have to fear?" Kanden hissed. Spire barely concealed his grin.
"How pathetic..." sneered a third voice, and Kanden raised his Volt Driver, charging it. Spire charged his Magmaul and they aimed their weapons at the newcomer, who was nearly invisible in the shadows.
"Who are you?" Spire asked. The shadow smirked and vanished, appearing a second later behind Kanden, slashing him with its claws. Kanden grunted, releasing the charge. The shadow shrieked, and in the brief light of the explosion, Kanden saw the gleam of black.
"Great! Dark Armor!" Kanden snickered, slamming his fist into the disorientated shadow. Spire fired the magmaul burst, and the shadow shrieked again, falling to the ground, writhing.
"Talk!" Kanden snapped.
"The Dark One will arise, fools! There's no stopping the Dark League!" the shadow cackled and vanished. Spire shrugged, but Kanden looked mortified.
"What?" Spire asked, silently laughing at Kanden's look of fear.
"The Dark League?" Kanden whispered.
Inside the throne room, the skeletal figure waited, deep in thought.
"Master..." the shadow whispered.
"Yes, Pawn?" the master whispered.
"The message has been delivered! Who's next?" Pawn asked.
"None other than the legendary Samus Aran. She's on the first moon, and is cleverer than the others. She herself knows not why she came here. It's a personal mission, with no objectives!" the master replied. Pawn nodded and vanished again.
Samus landed on Abyss' moon and walked away from her ship, studying the area. Other than some rocks, there seemed to be nothing of interest. She activated her scan visor, searching for a clue. Why had she been instructed to come here?
Let your frustration go...Samus. You'll be stronger then...Samus immediately blocked that thought. There was a reason, and she'd figure it out.
"Die Samus!" screeched Weavel, firing Battlehammer bolts while descending, having leapt from his ship. Samus, alerted by his shout, leapt out of range of the green energy explosions.
"What now?" Samus called.
"I still haven't killed you!" Weavel yelled, firing rapid fire shots. Samus returned fire with missiles, and Weavel roared in imitation of Ridley. Samus flinched, giving Weavel enough time to fire more Battlehammer bursts, which missed, but the splash from the explosions knocked Samus aside.
"Don't make me do this, Weavel!" Samus warned, raising the Omega Cannon she recovered from Trace. Weavel didn't hesitate, but divided into Half-turret, his upper half retreating behind a rock. Samus grunted as a few turrets shots hit her, but she escaped the blasts long enough to fire the Omega Cannon. As the orb approached the turret, Weavel retracted his turret and laughed.
"Missed it!" he gloated. There was a flash of light, and in the glow of the blast, they saw a dark shadow.
"What the...?" Weavel yelled, firing at the shadow, who raised its arms and blocked each bolt, grunting as each struck it.
"Who are you?" Samus demanded, aiming her arm cannon.
"Check your ammo!" the shadow mocked and Samus hesitated.
"I have 49 missiles, so?" she replied.
"Are you really that thick?" the shadow sneered. Weavel shrugged.
"I'm confused." he admitted.
"Samus...did you change your weapon?" the shadow asked. Samus looked bewildered.
"No. Why?" she asked. Weavel groaned as he realized where this was going.
"You just used the Omega Cannon!" he screamed. Samus stared at her arm cannon and looked around frantically.
"Here's my message: You can't stop what's meant to be!" the shadow said quietly and vanished. Weavel and Samus stared at each other, rivalry forgotten.
"How did Trace keep the Cannon?" Weavel muttered.
"Worse...that thing was wearing Dark Armor." Samus whispered. Weavel's eyes lit up a moment, unseen by Samus. He signaled his ship and flew away. Samus stared at where the shadow had vanished. "Stop what?" she whispered.
There was another huge hint in this chapter. Did you catch it? This hint ties a hint from last chapter. It won't be explained for a few chapters.
