"Dealing with domestic matters," he replied, "It's been a long time since I was home last." He continued on, to the surprise of Samus. "Gaid, will have told you the purpose of the Triforce, I take it?"
"Some sort of database. It can answer questions and such, right?"
"Yes, it can, but the major purpose is twofold: One, to determine the fate of Hyrule, and two, it grants wishes."
"Wishes?" Why was she not surprised? It shouldn't work at all based on logic, but her time with Link had taught her not taking him seriously could be a fatal mistake.
"Yes, wishes, so long as it is complete."
"So, we're done? You wished the Anti-Metroids away? Good job, now I'll help you with Ga—"
"If it is complete. Ganon took a piece of the Triforce of Power, much as I took a shard of the Triforce of Courage. Neither of us can use it without fighting the other. But the Triforce speaks still. It says we must be ready for an attack at any moment."
"By Ganon?" Samus was impressed, it was more than Link usually said in three days.
"No. Old enemies of yours, it said."
At that moment, the light on the ship indicated visitors, so Samus, Gaid, and the Links turned around, and one of the scientists opened the door. As it slid open, Samus saw distinctive green clothing. "There you are," Samus said, "Just in time for the fight too." But when the door finished opening, the body fell inward onto the floor. Before anyone could check for a pulse, however, the wounds on his face and hole in his chest vanished and he was back on his feet.
He didn't even bother to say anything, just pointed directly out the door. Samus gasped. An army of Space Pirates surrounded them, but more than that: they all appeared to be wearing Power Suits. Another advancement, she assumed, a new set of difficulties. She activated her Scan Visor as, to her surprise, Gaid flew over and began hovering around one of the Pirates and shouting things back.
Mimic Space Pirate: With an unknown technology beyond their apparent level of knowledge, these Space Pirates have duplicated all beam weapon functions including charge and draw, the ability to use ballistic weapons, Power Bombs, and enhanced defensive capabilities.
"They've gotten some unnatural capabilities from Ganon, and a lot of similar suit functions to the one Samus is wearing," Gaid reported. "There's also about seventy of them, and five of you, so we may want to consider escaping."
"No," said Samus and Link at the same time. "There are innocent people down there," Link explained. Samus just glared out the door at the army surrounding them.
"I'll take thirty of them, you get the rest," Samus said to the four Links standing on the ship, they nodded in unison. Then the five of them turned in unison at a loud sound. Two of the Space Pirates were on the ground, and a third was staggering and missing an arm.
"We'll help too," one of the scientists said. Samus surveyed the shot critically. It done a lot of damage, but that could have been skill or luck – with the massive amounts of soldiers surrounding them, not hitting anything would take a special kind of skill. But it didn't matter, cover fire would be useful in any case, and the chances even random shots would hit them were unlikely.
"There are only three gun-stations," she said to them. "The other one can find a laser pistol under the desk." She flipped out the hatch onto the roof, nailing two Pirates on her way up. She had a replenishable inventory here, even to the point where she could manufacture weapons on board, but it would take away needed power from the guns. Still, she had enough Super Missiles to make a good-sized dent in them, and the old tactics would hold after that.
The first Link placed a shield in his other hand and rushed into the fray, killing a Space Pirate before it had time to react. The others, however, took this as a signal to start the barrages of deadly lasers. Samus watched them bounce off the ship harmlessly, this at least she had long been prepared for. They couldn't expect her own weapons to work against her at her home base, could they?
The red Link drew a second sword and launched himself out of it spinning. The Pirates nearest him were cut in half, she didn't know how and didn't have time to wonder. The next one threw the cutting tool she had heard him call a boomerang and tossed it through their ranks, stunning them, then leapt out and got to work with his sword. It returned to his hand, and he threw it again. The fourth merely drew a bow and started sniping. Samus watched in fascination, each one he hit died almost instantly.
She, meanwhile, had blown quite a lot away, as many as twenty, but was running out of Super Missiles. She switched to the old freeze and shatter attack – one hit froze them, a missile finished them.
The scientists at the gun-stations had killed at least three each, from luck or skill she was still unsure. She had been joking about the pistol, but one female scientist had picked it up was managing to stun a large number enemies, though actual damage was low.
The Space Pirates were dropping like flies, but they retaliated quickly, each one dropping a power bomb. Three of the Links collapsed in the explosion, but other than a few gems that had flown off of them, stood up after several seconds, apparently unharmed. They resumed tearing into the Pirates, oblivious to what were usually Samus's own attacks.
For her part, while on the ship, as long as she could duck inside for a few seconds, they stood no chance of doing lasting damage. She fired with ruthless precision, eager to kill every last one of them. They had no right to take her adopted people's technology.