I probably shouldn't be making more stories when I've already got 3 going on. But when you get ideas, you gotta write them down, you know?
"Metroid" is owned by Nintendo. "Claymore" is owned by Madman Entertainment and Viz Media.
She'd like to say that she was above it. The hunger. The instinct. It was certainly tempting at times. Especially surrounded by all this... flesh.
Maybe that's why she left the federation. Too many bodies. Too much temptation. Plus being alone let her go out to the wilderness which she honestly preferred.
"So, what am I doing back here?" No matter how many times she looked at it, it didn't make sense.
"Come on, you don't need to go. Just walk back out and voila! You're on your way to… anywhere but here."
Nope. She had to do it. She had to see it again. For some reason.
She sighed. You'd think she was above sentimentality after all this time.
She set the ship down and rummaged though the cargo. Needed to walk through town with something a little more appropriate than her Zero suit.
"Home sweet home."
…
K-2L looked a lot different than she remembered. Of course, her memories of it nowadays mostly consisted of the burning, the bodies, and… the monster.
It looked as if it had rebuilt quite a bit since then. The buildings had been rebuilt. The rubble was gone. Almost like the event hadn't happened.
Of course, she knew better. She still felt the burns from then. She actually pinched herself to make sure they were healed.
Still somewhat nervous, she stepped into the bar. Not that she really drank mind you. But what better place for local gossip?
"Excuse me maam. Might I help you?"
"Oh err, yes. I mean. I suppose. I got word that there might be some kind of infestation in this town."
"Infestation? Here? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. We haven't had anything bad happen to this town for 20 years. Not since the massacre."
"So, I've heard."
"Right. Well I don't know what else you've heard about this place. But I assure you, there's no kind of problem here nor has there been since."
"Really? Nothing? Not even any yoma sightings?"
The man laughed. It was an annoying screechy sound that got on her nerves.
"Yoma? Please, lady. That doesn't bother us here. We're not like other settlements. Yoma have no reason to bother us here. We have nothing to offer them."
"Yeah nothing except, I don't know. Food. Aka you."
He paused a moment.
"Something wrong sir? That is what yoma want after all. Not power or prestige. Just sustenance. Which is us."
"Right, of course. We've heard the stories. Well they haven't bothered us here since that massacre. We're about as happy as you can get. We've certainly had our fair share of troubles trying to get this place up and running again. But It's all paid off, as you can see."
His smile bothered. She didn't know why. For some reason, it just looked… how should she put it? Fake. That's the word.
"Huh. That's strange. The rumors I heard suggested a disappearance of several people. That doesn't ring a bell?"
"Oh, I have certainly heard such rumors myself. And true there have been a few disappearances. But from a yoma? As I understand it, they then to not be fussy about leaving bodies for us poor humans to find. I think they like the panic it causes."
"What if this one is different? It could be smarter. It could be a lot more subtle."
"Or it could not be a yoma at all. It's a big galaxy missy. Not everything is due to one single source. More likely than not, we're dealing with a common criminal. Sometimes something mundane is the most likely."
She frowned. "I understand your point. But I have my skepticism all the same."
"Hey free galaxy, right? And if it turns out there really is one of those despicable creatures in our midst, well…. I guess we've always got those silver-eyed witches, right?"
She stiffened.
"Pardon me maam, but why do you wear those shades over your eyes?"
"No reason really. I just have sensitive eyes. I've been in some strange places. They do things to you. I don't mean to be off-putting."
"Not at all! Of course not! Do you plan to stay for some time? K-2L is sort of out of the way of other places. If you've come all this way why not make the most of it?"
"I actually intended to stay in town for a bit. Know of a good inn?"
"Why yes I do actually. Just down the street! Have yourself a good stay! Nothing but happy memories here!"
She snorted at that.
…
"No sign of yoma? Lying coot."
Her yoma visor was already picking up traces of yoma blood around the town. Here and there, she could find bits and pieces. It wasn't a huge amount, but it certainly was enough to prove this town had a problem.
"But why wouldn't they tell me? Are they afraid? Is it possible they could be protecting it?"
This wasn't the first town she'd encountered where that was the case. Now and then, she'd entered a town where the townsfolk had struck some kind of deal with the beast. They'd offer up an occasional morsel in return for the rest of them being spared.
"Damn. Doesn't appear to be any pattern. I need to find one. Who's the bastard hiding as?"
Another problem with hunting yoma. They weren't just mindless beasts. They could hide. Disguise themselves as the deceased and walk amongst the unaware cattle. That wasn't a problem for her visor of course. It could make out the vermin and allow her to blast it to hell. And most of the time, she could just follow the taint from some poor individual, and voila! But not this time.
"Mommy! What's that pretty lady doing?"
"Oh, I'm sure she's just lost. Maam. Pardon me maam. I think you may need some help."
"Why yes. I could use some help, actually. What's the latest individual to have disappeared? Do either of you remember? Time, date, and exact name would be most helpful."
The woman and her daughter stared strangely at the woman's odd request. She rubbed her head with her hands. She wasn't used to this much talking.
"Ok. Have there been disappearances or deaths of people recently?"
"Oh no deaths! Some disappearances but no deaths. I assure you. Why I'm sure they're in a happier place right now."
It took all of the hunter's self-control to keep her eyes from widening in shock.
"I… I'm sorry. That makes no sense."
"There's nothing to worry about dearie. Nothing here at all. Except of course your sense of direction. What brings you to this old hellhole? Here to honor the dead or something?"
Looking up, her eyes did widen this time. To anyone else, the demolished house would be just another eyesore. But to her…
"What… What is this place?"
"A memorial to the tragic event that occurred here 20 years ago. When the beasts came and devoured our whole town. It was decided that this one place would stand as a reminder of the terrible price we paid."
"Why? Why this house? Why?" She felt herself trembling all over. It couldn't be a coincidence could it? No of course not. Someone was playing with her, weren't they? WEREN'T THEY?
"Maam? Are you all right? You look shaken."
"I... Can I have a moment? Is it all right to go in?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Well technically no one is allowed but…"
"Of course. I understand. Thank you."
"Excuse me? Maam, do you need help? Where are you going?"
She ran into a nearby alley and huddled down. In the darkness where no one could see,
No one except a very small figure who had been following her for some time.
"Huh? What? What do you want girl?"
The girl did not respond. She just looked at the hunter with a curious look.
"What's wrong? I got something on my face? What gives?"
The girl stepped closer and looked her in the face. She stumbled a little bit while doing so. Her green eyes looked her all over, eventually settling on the shades covering her eyes.
"Seriously kid. Do you need something? Where are your parents?"
The girl tried to speak, but for some reason couldn't seem to utter the words. The hunter began to feel both nervous and concerned for the child's safety.
"You look like you're limping a bit there. Are you injured?"
She made a move toward the child. When she didn't pull away, she took her hand in her own and looked it over.
"Damn. These are some serious scars. Who gave these to you?"
The girl seemed to shake her head at this and refused to answer.
"All right. I guess I can't just leave you by yourself. Let's go find your parents."
But half an hour later, she was no closer to doing that than when she started. No one knew who the girl's parents were. They just saw her around town now and again and apparently didn't think much of it. Didn't help that the girl couldn't or wouldn't talk.
"Ok look. I'm kind of on a time limit here. I'm trying to help you out, but I can't do that if you don't help me too. Can you please show me where you live?"
The girl looked at her with eyes that seemed almost… sad. But she nodded and ushered her along.
She didn't know where she was being led but she had a good idea it wasn't somewhere pleasant. She'd already used her visor on the girl.
Traces of yoma.
…
"Under the streets? Girl this is no place for anyone to live."
The girl didn't respond but instead walked forward. She could see her shaking a bit with each step.
She sighed. No doubt where this was going.
Eventually the path ended in a fairly large room. A large heater lay on the other side, supplying warmth. A refrigeration unit was stacked in a corner.
Her visor picked up the scent all around her. Yoma.
"So, let me guess. This is your idea of a trap? You're their… what? Their errand girl? Leading innocents down here to be a snack?"
The girl looked up with fear. Still unable to speak.
"I must say, they chose the right pick for the job. Innocent little girl. Is that even your real form? Did you just take it to make your food lower their guard?"
The girl raised her hands and shook them in denial. As she did, a soft growl could be heard around the chamber.
The hunter closed her eyes and breathed in deep. Focus on the aura. The energy. Release your true self.
She removed her shades as her true flesh took shape. Steel intertwined with blood melded over her human form.
Finally, the helmet materialized over her head, and her true self came out.
From behind the visor, she looked at the girl. She couldn't help but chuckle a little at her expression of shock and awe.
"Impressive suit. I'll have to keep it as a trophy."
The hunter turned to the source of the voice. Her eyes widened.
The creature was quite a bit larger than her usual catch. It had two massive arms, four wing-like appendages, six crab legs, and a lengthy tail that slammed the ground with immense force, causing the whole room to shake.
So, this was a voracious eater. Shit. Something she'd been lucky to avoid up to this point.
"Quite the catch you've made girl. I haven't had the time to stretch my legs. Or have real recreation for some time now." She turned to her prey, salivating.
"I've had many a warrior down here. But none with your… attire. Do try to put up a halfway decent fight please." With no further warning, the beast lunged.
Most yoma were surprised to see the bulky hunter was in fact not at all slow. As the beast launched herself forward, the hunter backflipped and extended her right arm forward. Now a cannon.
A light flared from within and hit the beast's hide… With no effect as the monster dodged.
Her eyes widened from behind the visor. The beast gave a malicious grin.
"An impressive weapon. On some simple yoma, it could indeed prove quite the problem. But to me…" She just smiled before punching back into the hunter's chest.
She struggled back to her feet but in the blink of an eye, the beast grabbed her by the throat.
"A formidable effort. But did you really think you could take a number one? You don't even have a sword!" A monstrous laugh emanated from the beast's mouth.
The hunter didn't have a sword, true. But she did have other tricks up her sleeve. She clenched herself up into a round sphere and slipped through the beast's grip.
"What the hell!? What an adorable little technique!"
She swung her tail yet again, forcing the hunter to duck and relaunch another attack from her cannon. This time a missile struck the monster in the head. With a roar, the monster retaliated faster than she could blink and got her with her tail.
The visor was shattered and the hunter's face shone clearly, No shades. No glass to hide her eye color. Just two grey orbs stared back with no sign of fear.
"What!? You… You have our eyes. So, you are one of us after all! What a catch you made girl!"
The girl just stared at the hunter with wide shocked eyes. She had seen a silver-eyed witch or two before. But never one like this.
"But you don't dress like us! I've never seen a sister with your… fashion sense. Not that I'm complaining mind you! But I wasn't aware of any such sisters during my time! Are you another of the organization's experiments? Are they done with swords?"
The hunter couldn't help but smile.
"No. There's no one like me. I'm alone."
The smile meant no ill will. But the monster clearly took it that way.
"That smile…. I hate that smile… It brings back memories…. Bad memories… It makes me so… so sick!"
The monster lashed out again in every direction. The hunter was used to speed. Yoma were notorious for it. But this being, clearly a voracious eater, was on a whole other level above her usual skill level, and all her acrobatics couldn't help her dodge this time.
Pinned up against the wall, she raised her arm to launch another missile, but the monster had caught on and pinned both arms against the wall.
"Who taught you how to do this? It was her, wasn't it? That bitch! She always was a monster. Who's to say she couldn't do something like this? Bet you learned that smile from her too, huh!?"
The hunter tried to struggle free. She eventually resumed her ball mode and slipped through, but not before getting hit again by another claw. The eater didn't seem to be paying too much attention to her. Rather ranting with a distant gaze.
"Damn her! She took everything from me! My pride! My purpose! My life! I'll kill her! I'll kill you too! Send her your head as a gift!"
"That may prove difficult."
The arm was quickly shredded to pieces before the eater or the hunter had any chance to respond. They both just stared at the lump where it had once been with distant gazes.
"You… What did you do? What did you do!?"
"She didn't do anything. She was foolish to come down here alone, knowing the danger that awaited."
From the darkness, a long-haired woman emerged. Like the hunter, her eyes were silver. But her attire was very different.
The hunter gasped and felt her heart bet fast. It was one of them. Here?
"Ah a proper sister! Why aren't you dressed up like your friend here? Isn't this the organization's new thing?"
"She has never been a member of the organization. Never truly been one of us. If she were, perhaps she would put up a better performance right now."
The hunter felt her cheeks flush. She opened her mouth to retort but the newcomer beat her to it.
"Rosemary. Former number 2 of the organization. Under order-"
"Former number 2!? It's number 1! It's always number 1, you hear me!? I don't care what that bitch can do! I will always be the real number 1!"
She attacked but hit thin air. The silver-eyed woman retaliated and chopped at her other arm with a flurry of sword strikes so fast the hunter couldn't follow.
"Well, well! Pretty good! I suppose you must be in the single digits. Tell me. How's the smiling bitch? Is she still-"
She didn't get to ask about the smiling bitch as something slashed her across the throat before she could blink. Her head tilted dangerously on its axis as she turned to see the short-haired newcomer.
"Ha! Love that look on your face girl! You should see it!"
"Another… How dare you? I am the true number 1! You make sure and tell-"
She didn't get to finish as yet another witch jumped onto her back and with mighty kick knocked her head from her body.
"Please, stop blathering. It's repulsive to see something as disgusting as you move your lips."
"Well, all brute force and no style. Typical Sophia."
"At least I get the job done. Quick and pragmatic. No wasting time with unnecessary acrobatics."
"Bitch, are you messing with me? I'm warning you."
"Quite both of you. We have more important business to attend to." The first to arrive finally turned her attention to the hunter. The other two turned their heads as well.
"So that's her huh? I see the eyes all right. But what's with that get up? Why doesn't she wear this sick outfit?"
"Ilena explained everything on the way, you idiot. Didn't you listen?"
"First of all, her name is Irene. Second, of course I was listening! I just found myself enthralled with your sloppiness!"
"Silence, both of you. As I said before, she does not dress like us as she is not truly one of us. And it shows in her sloppiness. Wouldn't you agree, Samus?"
The hunter felt her face blush from the savage insult, and the savage grins of the other two. The mute girl continued to stare. Not with fear. With awe.