Chapter 10:
"LET GO OF ME!" Antlia yelled at the dragon as they neared what looked like a large pirate base surrounded in Phazon. Huh? I didn't think there was this much more Phazon left on this planet.. unless...
The massive dragon soared through an opening in the roof of the base with Antlia screaming and trashing in it's claws. "I SAID, LET...GO OF...ME!" She demanded. The dragon's mouth formed into a sneer. "Gladly.." he said in a shrill, sinister voice, swooping into the next room and dropping her unceremoniously into a cell. The cell had four walls, that were made of a clear plastic-like material.
Her armor began to dissolve around her. "Huh? What?" She said aloud. This cell must neutralize my armor... she thought. "Dammit."
"Ridley!"
There was that cold voice again.
The Dark Samus hologram materialized in front of her, and several Pirates, including Weavel, entered the room.
"I should trust you to be more... gentle with the Subject, Commander."
"I apologize Great One, it won't happen again."
"For your sake it better not."
Antlia began banging on the walls of her cell. "Let me out! I'm NOT going to be your puppet! What did you do with Rundas!?"
The Dark Samus hologram hissed angrily. "How did she find out about that?"
One of the Pirates spoke up, "Er.. I'm sorry Great One.. it seems she has um... found a way to hack into our mainframe."
"WHAT!?"
The Pirates all seemed to shrink with fear.
"USELESS! ALL OF YOU!" Dark Samus raged, motioning to Ridley. Ridley opened his mouth, and a large, orange ball of energy began forming inside. The Pirates scrambled for the door, but were not fast enough, for Ridley let loose a massive orange beam of energy, completely obliterating them.
"Just can't seem to find good minions anymore." Weavel snickered.
"Quiet Weavel."
Weavel crossed his arms and seemed to pout at the hologram. "Never cuts me a break.." he muttered.
Antlia had had enough. "Why do you want me!? Why my body!? Where's Rundas!? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"
The Dark Samus hologram sighed. "Very well then, send him in."
Another group of Pirates entered the room dragging an unconscious Rundas. All of them looking extremely alarmed that all that was left of the previous group of Pirates were small piles of ashes. Rundas was thrown into another cell across the room from Antlia's, where he lay, unmoving.
Antlia became enraged. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!?" She banged harder on the walls of her cell. "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"
"SILENCE!" The hologram shouted, filling Antlia with fear. Antlia collapsed to her knees and tears started flowing down her face. "Please.. just don't hurt him.. what do you want with me?"
Dark Samus snickered. "Well since you asked so nicely and you won't remember any of this anyway, I guess I can tell you. Three years ago before my take over of the Pirates and Phaaze, I decided to develop... a plan B just in case I should be destroyed somehow, however unlikely it seemed at the time. I implanted some of my DNA into a host.. in case my body should be destroyed.. to possess and use as my own. I had decided to abandon the plan after my take over of Phaaze, because it seemed I couldn't be stopped... until that insolent little pest Samus Aran came along and destroyed Phaaze, wiping out the source of Phazon, leaving me without nearly enough to reconstruct my original body."
"And I am this host?" Antlia asked.
"Yes. Haven't you ever wondered why the color of your arm cannon's beam is blue? Or why your hair seems to grow blue streaks? That's your body's way of getting rid of the Phazon that could compromise it's structure."
"But why me?"
"Because your training and expertise is similar to that of Samus'... and mine. You grew up with the machines built by the Chozo. They designed your armor similar to hers. I figured since I could not corrupt Samus.. that you would be the next best thing. But enough talk.. are you going to let me do this the easy way, or are you going to attempt a futile little struggle?"
Antlia looked over at Rundas. "Do you promise not to hurt him?" She asked the hologram.
"Hmmm? Oh the other... Very well then. If that's what it takes for you to comply with my demands easily." She turned to the group of Pirates, "Take the other hunter back to his ship." She barked.
A weak smile formed on Antlia's face. Well at least he'll be alright.. I hope..
The hologram turned into a cloud of smoke with that same triangular-shaped blue visor. The cloud penetrated the walls of Antlia's cell and dissolved into her body. She could feel the struggle for control within her. Blackness surrounded her as she lost control. Dark Samus was in control now.. but Antlia could still feel herself.. trapped within her own body.
I'm still alive...