Spire returned to the tablets he had left behind, and nearly forgot about after the encounter with the cruelty of his rivals. He was staring at the wall with the 7 marks when it happened. One of them abruptly glowed green. Startled, Spire stepped back. The mark faded, but seconds later glowed again. Apparently, locks disengaged when the key was in the vicinity, and not actually placed. He turned, hoping to see Samus walking towards the gate, but he saw no one. He was gripped with a fear he could not explain. He wasn't supposed to fear...he hadn't been afraid last time he was here. Perhaps the effects of the Shock Coil was affecting him still. Having energy drained gave the feeling of weakness, and weakness created fear. He glanced at the glowing lock again, and that's when he saw the movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned, but a beam of light had already been fired, and it struck him in the chest. Still weak from the relentless Shock Coil attack, he passed out without resistance. He heard laughter, identical to the laugh Noxus had heard.

Sylux landed the Delano 7 at the entrance to the Gem Ruins. He had wasted enough time searching for Samus, rather than wait somewhere she'd have to show up eventually. In order to gain clues to the True Power, she would have to bring the keys to the Gem Shrine Gate. Grinning to himself, he entered the cavern. First thing he noticed as he approached the gate was Spire on the ground, clearly unconscious. The undersized boulder must of bugged another hunter...but wait...all the hunters were somewhere else! Noxus was still at the Crystal Graves. Samus wouldn't have attacked Spire, Weavel and Kanden were still under the grave, so who else was here? That was all 6...oh no. Sylux realized his error. He forgot that 6 corresponded not to total hunters, but rivals. As he realized this, a red beam of light lanced out from near the Shrine gate, striking him in the head. As he fell, all consciousness leaving him, he knew who it was...and realized the mission was harder than he thought. How could he have forgotten...?

Trace snickered to himself as Sylux collapsed without a twitch. Such fools to think they didn't have to worry. That should teach them to be confident. His Imperialist would snipe all adversaries. He returned his gaze to the tablet and flipped it over and inserted the key he had stolen. Earned being the preferred term, for he was there first. He had deactivated the forcefield and been in the elevator when Samus had entered, reactivating the field. He had quickly transformed into Triskelion and darted into the chamber, invisible. When Samus deactivated the field again, it was simple to take it, since no new person entered the room. Tablet #1 glowed yellow, and the ancient text under the first clue became English.

"The keys must unite to open the door to True Power. That's not all that's in the Gem Shrine. Only one may take the Power, and none can proceed until one remains. The Nebula holds the secrets..." Trace read, disappointed. No concrete clue. The key dropped out of the tablet, but the English text remained. Trace tried to put the key into Tablet 2, but it was rejected. Scowling, Trace left the area, careful to step on Sylux's face. He would be back, and the True Power would belong to him, and the Kriken Empire would honor him as the greatest Kriken in the universe!

Samus entered the Gem Ruins, and saw Spire unconscious. What the...? She also saw the glowing key mark, which faded a moment later. Momentarily confused, she saw the tablet and read the new English text.

"Nebula...that's so familiar..." she whispered. She activated a command to her ship to research all files for something called "The Nebula."

"File found. Return to ship!" was the response a minute later. Surprised, she trekked up the mountain to the cave where she had landed her ship.

"The file?" she asked, pressing a few keys. A holograph image appeared.

"The Nebula is a space station orbitting the Gem Ruins. It has been inoperative for over 4000 years, but all systems are operational. It is rumored to hold several treasures, but no one knew of these rumors aside from the Federation." the computer reported.

Samus nodded and set a course for the station. Someone got the first key, but she could get the second one. She landed minutes later on a docking bay and exitted. The station was small, and seemed straight forward, but she wasn't one to let her guard down in hostile territory. She finished stocking missiles and energy and proceeded through the first door. The Nebula holds the secrets...

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