Chapter 7

A Plan... A Trap…

AN: I seriously apologize for not updating this sooner. I was working on a few other fanfics, and to by quite blunt, didn't have a clue what to do with this. But now, without further adue, Here's Chapter 7

Quothos heaved a sigh of relief. He felt his suit shuddering and he felt incredibly weak. A quick look at his energy meter confirmed his feelings. A single hit would have caused his suit to overload, resulting in his death. After collecting some of the energy left behind from the deceased Phantoon, he looked over at Samus. She was standing, looking much better off than himself. She looked over at him and grinned.

"You've saved my skin once again." She said. Quothos blushed furiously behind his helmet and bowed his head. The exited the room and made their way back to the main corridor. Machines were buzzing and short, plain robots were ambling back and forth with no apparent purpose. That is until Samus and Quothos drew near. They turned and opened fire.

"Guard drones. They aren't overly dangerous, but they can't be destroyed by our beam weapons." Samus explained without emotion. She jumped over a few of the shots and landed on one of the drones heads. The drone was unable to fire straight up, so Samus was temporarily safe. Quothos leapt up to the top of another, getting ready to jump again if necessary. Sure enough the drones, seeing only an enemy, opened fire on their own kind. The shots knocked the drones backwards and onto their backs. Their short, stubby legs flailed, trying to get upright. Samus ran at one and, with the air of her speed booster, knocked two more to the ground. A single drone remained standing, so they simply ignored it. They made their way up the ship, dodging the sparking circuits and viral orbs that threatened them. They were halfway up the ship when Quothos sat down to rest. He was still feeling tired from the battle. Samus, aided by her power suit, was feeling no weariness. As long as her suit had power, she was energetic and healthy.

"Hey Samus, if you want, you can go on ahead. I'm just slowing you up right now. If you follow this to the top you can find a few missile packs and the rare gravity suit." Quothos said, breathing heavy. Samus thought for a moment. Quothos could see her hesitation.

"Oh don't worry about me. Besides, to get to the gravity suit, you'll have to use your morphing ball, and it would take me forever to crawl through that area. I'll make my way back to the ship and meet you there." He finished.

"But what about those jumps and the water between this ship and my own?" She asked. Quothos thought about it. He had gained incredible skill fighting on this planet, but he was still concerned about his low energy reading. Samus looked at her arm and pushed one of the glowing energy tank readings. The energy reformed into an energy tank.

"Here, take this one. I'm still good on energy and this will get you back. Just remember, that suit will allow you to breathe under water, but pressure could still crush you." She warned. Quothos nodded and took the tank. It vanished from his touch and a small yellow box appeared on his arm console. He felt somewhat refreshed as well. Maybe his suit helped keep him healthy as well. He watched as she continued her climb up the ship and finally disappeared out of sight. He made his way back to the path they had entered from and started out the door. He backed up and ran as hard as he could. He reached the end of the deck and jumped. He felt himself fly through the air and land heavy on the next platform. He looked behind him. Had he really jumped that far? He was hoping to get some momentum when he hit the water, but instead he had made the platform. He tried to reach the next platform, but his muscles expressed great protest, and he fell short. The cool water surrounded him and he felt himself submerging. Some of the Zebian fish turned on him and started swimming towards him. He opened fire, letting loose a barrage of energy. He took out the two closest to him, but the activity had attracted even more. He turned and fled, but the water slowed him down considerably. He tried to swim but that was even more difficult with the heavy suit. He ran backwards as fast as he could, his cannon still blazing. A small army of fish was advancing on him quickly. He wouldn't escape in time. He leapt, and curled himself into a ball as best he could. The fish passed over him, but quickly turned and renewed their pursuit. He reached down and grabbed two handfuls of sand and threw it around. Soon the visibility in the water was nil. The fish could no longer see him, but he had no idea where they were either. He started for shore once again only to brush by one of them. He felt sharp pain tear up his side. He continued his struggle against the water. His muscles started to scream as they were worked harder than they had ever been. Quothos knew he shouldn't look back, but something in his mind told him he had to. He turned his head and saw one of the fish a few mere inches from him. It was going to tear his head clean off at that speed. He closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable. After a second, he was still standing there. He took a practice breath and realized he was still alive. He dared open an eye and saw the blood of the fish around him. He turned and fled once more, seeing shore only a few feet ahead. He climbed the rock wall and collapsed on the surface. He looked up at the emptiness of space and sighed. He was beat. But why wasn't he dead? He looked around.

"Samus, can you hear me?" He asked. After a few moments, his comm. system crackled to life.

"Is something wrong Quothos?" She asked. She was still in the ship. The interference was proof of that.

"Uh, no I guess. How's you're progress?" He asked. No sense making her worry.

"Well I've got the gravity suit and thanks to my friend, the chozo statue, I also tracked down a reserve tank. I'll be with you shortly." She finished. Quothos looked around. If she hadn't saved him, then who had?

"A question I am sure you would like answered child." Came a voice. Quothos sprang up, his cannon armed.

"Who's there?" He demanded.

"Do not worry young one. I will not hurt you." It said. It was feminine. Quothos tapped his visor and the scanner activated. He could detect no one.

"Show yourself. Who are you?" Quothos said, his anger and fear rising.

"I am you're friend, if you will allow it. I can help you." She responded.

"Enough games, give me some straight answers." He growled.

"As you wish. If you head down the tunnel to you're right you will find me." She cooed. Something wasn't right.

"Why don't you come out and find me?" He asked. He knew that the denizens of Zebes could be tricky, and he only trusted two people. Himself and Samus.

"If that is what is required for your trust, then remain where you are. I shall be there soon. Quothos guard went up even more. He double-checked his energy meter. He still had the tank and over half of normal. He heard a rustling sound from behind the brush and a young woman came out. She didn't appear fully human, but had some similar features.

"You're name is Quothos correct?" She asked. Quothos was stunned.

"How do you know my name?" He asked. She grinned and giggled.

"Silly boy, I know everything about this planet. You'd best be careful. Ridley has been searching for you." She said.

"Well that's a comforting thought." He snorted. There was a roar behind him and his face paled. He knew that sound, and it chilled him to the bone. Ridley had found him. He turned and opened fire. Ridley swooped up and grabbed him in his claws.

"You will make a tasty little snack you annoyance." He said, his eyes swirling red with hatred. He squeezed hard and Quothos gasped. He was being crushed. Behind him, Quothos heard the girl. She was unprotected.

"Whoever you are, run while you can!" He cried. Instead of obeying she came up to him.

"Release this boy, foul creature." She said coldly. She held up her hands and looked at Ridley.

"And why should I listen to such a pathetic creature?" He asked. The next thing he knew, Ridley was sent flying into a stone pillar. Quothos fell to the ground, but he quickly jumped back up. Ridley was retreating, his wing injured.

"I guess I owe you my life." Quothos said sheepishly. "Sorry I doubted you."

"All is forgiven my child. Now let me see that armor of yours." She said and then began to draw near.

"QUOTHOS NO!" Samus cried from inside his helmet. He turned and saw her running towards him.

"Too late Aran! He is MINE!" The woman cried. She grabbed his arm and disappeared. Quothos' eyes glazed over and he could feel his very soul being drained. Then something was replacing it. He looked at Samus, and an evil grin appeared.

"Looks like your plan to beat my master has come to an end. You won't destroy me, and you can not save me. I serve only one being now. That is the supreme Mother Brain!"

AN: Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as for the cliff-hanger, I love em, cuz almost every good book uses them. I'm glad I've got this one up finally. Chapter 8 and 9 are also ready, just have to finish them and post them. Thanks for sticking with me.