Chapter 12
"Shit! Get away from me damn it!" Quothos cried, fleeing from the metroid. He had figured Samus would have cleared them all out, but she had left one. On purpose or by mistake he wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to stick around and find out. He leapt over another pool of lava and shot out the door. Running as fast as he could, he jumped through the door, seeing it close just behind him. A frustrated metroid slammed itself repeatedly against the door, but it wouldn't budge. It started crying out and Quothos shivered.
"Sorry about that, but I'm no ones meal." He smirked, continuing on his path to find Samus. He had heard her encounted with the hatchling, and heaved a sigh of relief when she survived. She had found the recharge station and was on the last hall to the Brain's chamber. He had been through so much with her. She had saved his life multiple times, for which he doubted he could ever repay her. Then again, maybe he'd be able to help after all. He blasted open the next door and continued on.
* * *
Samus stood in awe at Mother Brain's chamber. She sat floating in her glass container, lifeless. Samus loaded a missile and fired it. The glass surrounding her chamber slightly cracked, but not much more.
"I see you've protected yourself better. Not that it'll make a difference to me you vile creature." Samus growled, firing off a string of missiles. The glass finally exploded leaving Mother Brain unprotected further. A regular missile to Mother Brain's soft brain tissue caused an odd effect. An unholy wail waifted through the room and the power seemed to flicker. Samus loaded a super missile and prepared to finish this once and for all.
"Samusssssssssssssssssssssssss." Came an evil hiss. It seemed to come from all around her. Samus looked around, focusing back on the Brain. Her eyes were wide open and staring at her. A mock grin crossed her lips.
"It's been a long time Samus. But much has changed since our last encounter. I will not be so easy to defeat this time around." She said. Suddenly there was a sharp rumbling, and Samus had to brace herself against one of the metal pillars to keep from falling into the lava beneath her. When the rumbling receeded, Samus jumped down to the dry floor and looked around. Mother Brain just lay there. Then another rumbling started and Mother Brain started to rise from the ground. Samus stood in shock as she watched Mother Brain's new bio-mechanic body was revealed from beneath the floor. Mother Brain cackled with laughter as she watched Samus' reaction. Then the battle began. Mother Brain's large jaw opened and fired beam after beam of energy at Samus. Samus dodged with all her skill, but a few shots still found their mark. A charged ice beam smacked into Mother Brain's head and she cried out in agony. It didn't freeze her, but it still had a decent effect.
"What's the matter Brain? Got 'brain freeze'?" Samus chuckled, firing another beam. Mother Brain growled and fired a fire missile at Samus. Samus managed to dodge, but the explosion from the impact sent her flying. In the distance, Quothos was drawing nearer. He could see the two combatants holding nothing back. He watched as a missile found its place in one of Mother Brain's arms, blowing off part of it. The unholy wail that he heard made him cringe in fear, and he almost ran, but he had to help. He was here now and he wouldn't run away.
"It would seem you can't win Mother Brain. Even your new body isn't strong enough to defeat me." Samus called, breathing heavy.
"You are very wrong Samus. I've just been saving something extra special until now." She countered. Mother Brain's eyes closed, and the lights started to flicker. Mother Brain's brain started to glow softly and Samus stood in awe. Then a beam exploded from Mother Brain's eyes and enveloped Samus. Quothos could hear her cries of anguish as the beam sucked her dry of energy. He saw Samus activate her reserve tanks when something dawned on him. Unlike the game, the brain was going to finish her off. The worst part was, he was still too far away to lend any assistance. He saw the Brain's body kick Samus across the room, lowering her energy further. He went as fast as he could, but the narrow passageways made him crawl and squeeze through slowly, and he was taking much too long. Then he heard the familiar cry as he saw the hatchling hovering over him. Not only was he not going to save Samus, but was about to become the hatchlings last meal. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
"Hatchling, I don't know if you can understand me, but your mother needs your help badly. She's dying and you have to help her." He thought to himself. The hatchling started to descend on him, it's claws rippling with the preparation of its meal. But when the hatchling latched on to him, he felt no pain. It lifted him off the ground and hurled itself towards the battle, smashing through pipes and pillars. It release Quothos just before entering the room. Mother Brain had just started to charge her beam when the hatchling latched onto Mother Brain's head. Quothos would never forget her cries from that day. Such pain and anguish. He saw Samus lying there, breathing softly, and he started to make his way over to her. The hatchling disengaged itself from the Brain, and proceeded to recharge Samus. Quothos grinned, then felt his stomach turned. The hatchling was about to die. He could already see Mother Brain's body start to regenerate not only itself, but the Brain as well. He looked at his meager cannon, and he felt his rage build as he realized his powerlessness. The Brain had started it's attack on the hatchling, Samus trying to shoo it away so that she could attack. Quothos clenched his fist and a tear rolled down his cheek.
"You vile creature. Leave them alone." Quothos cried to himself. Then he felt something materialize in his hand. His arm plate read '04' now and he felt something circular in his hand. He opened it to see a power-bomb. It started to spin and he knew that it was getting ready to blow up. He then got an idea. Running at full speed, he cocked his arm and called out,
"Hey Mother BITCH! Suck on this!" With all his might he hurled the bomb towards her. The Brain turned at the sound of someone else's voice and caught the bomb right in the mouth. An explosion of light erupted from the Brain's mouth and a loud scream could be heard. Samus looked over at him as the hatchling flew off to recover.
"Quothos, what are you doing here?" She called. Since their comm. system was still down, he gave her the thumbs up, and got ready to attack again. They both looked up to see a badly injured Mother Brain. She snarled at them, nearly half her head missing.
"Give it up you waste of brain tissue. You've lost." Quothos smirked. The brain responded with a fire missile, which Quothos barely dodged. A charged ice beam reminded Mother Brain of her other opponent. Quothos started to run and dodge between Mother Brain's feet, preventing her from getting a good shot off at him. He formed another power-bomb and planted it on Mother Brain's left leg. An explosion and a howl of anger and pain left the brain toppling to one side.
"How dare you. I'll destroy you all. I won't be defeated again!" She cried.
"You want a piece of me brainy? Come and get it. Why don't you just frickin EAT ME!" Quothos called, laughing out loud. But his laughter was cut short as Mother Brain's one good arm grabbed him around the waist.
"Why not? Sounds like a good idea to me." She said, raising him to her mouth.
"Oh shit." Was all he could squeak out.
AN: Oh don't you just HATE cliff-hangers? Don't worry. Chapter 13 is maybe a day away, but I had to make you suffer a little bit don't I? I am extremely greatful to everyone who's been reading and leaving reviews. Without you guys I would have never finished this. It would have sat and died. Only one (maybe two) chapters to go. Hang in there.