~Chapter 2: A Mystery~
Samus stepped down onto a smoldering boulder in the ruined grove. The pirates turned their heads to look at her majestic form. The mysterious figure chuckled under his breath and beckoned the space pirates to evacuate. They went for the exits. Samus stared the figure in the face. He stared back. It was she and he. Samus breathed nervously. Did he wield magnificent weapons that could rip through her instantly?
After about two minutes, the man spoke finally. "I am Dragon Hawk," he announced. "I know who you are, if legend serves so. You are the Hunter, the missing link in our master plan. I have long wanted to meet you…" Samus gripped her helmet. He could feel his presence in her mind. He knew she had seen him before… She knew he was someone she had fought and, until now, defeated…
"Newborn they call you," the man said, "Newborn, the Hatchling, the Hunter, Samus Aran… I met you many years ago. You thought you defeated me… foolish you truly are…" Samus had had enough. This man spoke but did not fight. He was probably as weak as Tangle Weed. Samus chuckled at her analogy, but did not dwell on it. She jumped into the air and landed next to him. The Hunter swung her fist at him, but missed. The man had disappeared. No, he had not disappeared, he was behind her!
Samus jumped at him, but he dodged her with unmatched speed. He continued to dodge her swings and jumps until Samus became exhausted. He then activated some buttons on his wrists, and two laser blades flickered into life on his hands. Dragon Hawk chuckled.
"You are no match for me. I could kill you now, but I think I will spare you. According to the fates, you are the prime key to our grand plan, the one that will shake the very foundations of the galaxy…" Dragon hawk laughed. The laugh was evil, and was like a thousand needles in the Hunter's own heart. Dragon Hawk disappeared in a bubble of static. She climbed into her ship, where she found a gallery of familiar equipment on the wall. The Power Beam, along with the Wave Beam hung on the wall of her ship. She fitted them onto her suit.
This won't be good, she thought. Dragon Hawk is a formidable opponent. Samus shut her ship's hatch and lifted off. A decent landing site would be nice. She did not look long until she found the ruins of the Artifact Chamber. They had mysteriously been sleeked down into a smooth black ash, almost like rock. Samus set down on top of the glassy rock. She knew that something strange was going on. The Hunter dove off the Chamber into the Impact Crater below.
She landed safely on her feet, as is her custom, and continued forward. The Phazon being sucked out of the Core had damaged it incredibly. She hopped up the platforms into the Subchambers. Perhaps the Lair of Metroid Prime himself would bring some answers… as she drew nearer, voices began calling her name. Samus! Samus, you are doomed… The Hunter dismissed the voices.
As she entered the Lair itself, the voices were now evident. The place was even more frightening now than it was with Metroid Prime in it. The voices began rising above whispers. Aran became nervous, and she screamed. She yelled out, "What the hell do you want!!" The voice chuckled. It was deeper now and more evil sounding. You are cursed, Samus. You have walked into Hell itself.
"Well, yeah, with the voices and all I kinda figured that." The voice made a deep, melodious chuckle. You do not understand, Samus Aran. Seek the Frozen Pass, in the east of the Phendrana Mountains… Samus… Samus yelled again and ran from the Lair. She fired her ship up and returned to the mountain range again… she had no choice now… the voice held an iron grip over her soul…
If only she knew what she was about to embark on……