Metroid: Mission Alpha

Episode 21: An Urgent Rescue

Samus had just saved Planet Mek15 from the EnerDrop machine and returned to HQ when a distress signal was detected. Michael looked at the computer screen. "There's an urgent distress signal from the planet Faunora, a planet with a wide variety of flora and fauna," he said, "I have wanted to study the planet, so would it be all right if Eta and I came along this time?"

"Of course," Samus replied, so Michael put on his spacesuit and left HQ with Alpha, Eta, and her.

Some time later, the Gunship came to Faunora, a beautiful planet with plenty of greenery and water. The ship landed in an open field near a town, and its four passengers came onto the grass. The tall grass waved gently in the breeze, and the sky was clear and blue. "It looks so peaceful here," Samus remarked, "What could be the cause of the distress?"

"There's a town nearby," Michael said, "Someone there should be able to tell us."

Samus, Alpha, Michael, and Eta went to the town, where there were many buildings but no inhabitants in sight. "It appears to be deserted!" Samus said, "Or everyone is in hiding."

Just then, a mysterious creature looked out from the door of a large building. He was bipedal with orange and white fur, triangular ears, black eyes, and a thick, curly tail. "Please, can you help our planet?" he said softly.

Michael nodded as the others and he approached the creature. "We're from the Interspace Federation. We received your distress signal."

"Oh, thank you!" the creature led everyone into the building, where an intricate machine could be seen, "My name is Citrine, and I work here at the Electrical Machinery Center. My job is to keep the machinery running smoothly. Suddenly, the machine that sends out electrical waves is losing energy, causing it to malfunction!"

"Losing energy? That sounds like an effect of the EnerDrop!" Michael told Samus, "But I thought you took care of it already."

"I did," Samus replied, "Unless…"

At that moment, two creatures ran into the room. They looked like Citrine, but the male was green and the female was purple. "Citrine, our children are missing!" the purple one cried.

"We must find them! There are wild Voltaursa out there!" the green one said.

"Don't worry, we'll help you," Michael said, "I'm Michael, this is Samus, and that's Alpha and Eta."

"Thank you!" the green creature said, "I'm Emerald, and this is my wife, Amethyst. Our children's names are Sapphire and Ruby. Please help us find them…"

"You'll need to be careful," Citrine added, "There are creatures called Voltaursa on this planet. They are calmed by electric waves, but since our machinery is malfunctioning, they have become very aggressive and dangerous. That's why every Faunoran in town is hiding."

"Eta and I will look for the EnerDrop," Michael said, "Samus, you and Alpha should be able to find the missing children."

"Got it," Samus replied, and Michael, Alpha, Eta, and she left the building.

"Good luck," Citrine called out while Emerald and Amethyst watched hopefully.

After separating from Michael and Eta, Samus and Alpha walked across a field. It wasn't long, though, before they heard soft crying from inside the forest nearby. They ran toward the sound to find two small Faunorans-one blue, one pink-sitting by a tree. They were holding onto one another, trembling with fear. A large, yellow-brown bear-like creature with two arms, four legs, lime green eyes, and small yellow growths on its ear tips was charging at them, growling!

Before the creature could attack, it suddenly became frozen solid, struck by an Ice Beam. Samus, followed by Alpha, ran over to the children, took them in her arms, and ran before the creature could thaw. When she was sure the coast was clear, she stopped and gently set the children on the ground. "Are you all right?" she asked them.

"We're fine," the pink one answered, "Thank you for saving us, nice armored person!"

Beneath her helmet, Samus smiled. "I'm Samus, and this is my friend Alpha. Are you Sapphire and Ruby?"

The young children giggled as Alpha licked them, and they petted him. "Uh-huh," the blue one replied, "I'm Sapphire, and this is my sister Ruby."

"We met your parents back at the town. They're worried about you."

"We're sorry," Ruby said sadly, "We didn't want to worry them. Our pets ran into the forest, and we wanted to find them before a Voltaursa got them! They're a Rabient named Floppy and a Serenine named Rosy."

"They could be in danger! We need to find them," Samus said, "Stay with us, and you'll be safe from any Voltaursa." She lifted the two Faunoran children onto her shoulders, and they held on tight as Alpha and she moved through the forest.

Soon, everyone heard a growl and saw a Voltaursa running at them. Sapphire and Ruby gasped, but Samus and Alpha knew what to do. "Alpha, your Ice ability!" Samus said. Alpha obeyed and shot a beam of ice at the Voltaursa, freezing it. Then Samus and he moved on.

"Alpha is so cool!" Sapphire exclaimed, "Just like Floppy and Rosy."

"He is," Samus replied, "He's helped me out many times on my missions. What special traits do your pets have?"

"Well, Floppy has big ears and little wings, and he likes to fly around in the garden," Ruby said, "Rosy has spots and a fluffy tail, and she loves to play with us!"

Suddenly, Alpha barked and looked back. Samus also looked back to see several Voltaursa not far away! Carefully and quietly, Alpha and she ran away before the creatures could notice them. When they stopped, they saw that they had reached the end of the forest, where there was another large building. They went inside, noticing that no one was there. "What is this place?" Samus wondered.

"We heard about this place from Mom and Dad," Sapphire said, "This is where they keep all the planes and spaceships." He pointed up at the ceiling, which was able to open, and at some airplanes and spaceships in one corner of the room.

"Floppy! Rosy!" Ruby called out, but there was no answer. Tears filled her eyes. "Oh…they weren't in the forest, and they're not here either. What if something bad happened to them?"

Samus set the two saddened children on the ground and knelt down to be more at their level. "I know Floppy and Rosy will be all right," she reassured them, "Alpha and I will make sure of it. Don't worry about a thing."

Sapphire and Ruby hugged Samus and Alpha. "You're awesome!" Sapphire whispered.

At that moment, everyone heard a shout accompanied by a howl. They looked up in alarm. "That sounded like Michael and Eta!" Samus exclaimed. Alpha and she ran toward the sound, with Sapphire and Ruby following. As they ran through the quiet, dimly lit room, they knew one thing: Michael and Eta could be in danger and had to be found.

Can Samus and Alpha find Michael and Eta and help them in time? Will they stop the trouble on Faunora before it's too late? Find out in episode 22!

(Original story from May 2017)