Chapter 4: Time to Leave
A shower had been exactly what Samus had needed. Stripped of her bio-suit and thin body suit, she stepped into the small shower stall. She had a limited amount of water, to both drink and use for other means. Right now that didn't matter, she just wanted to be clean and relax.
The water was just the right temperature. Samus stood under the facet head, letting it dowse her head and neck. Grabbing the soap she began to lather it in her hands. The soap was just like any other soap, slippery. It slipped out of her hands and thudded on the floor. Stupid soap, she sighed.
When Samus had finished her shower, she got out and wrapped a towel around herself. Walking into her barely used sleeping quarters she began to dry off. She took her time, savoring the feeling of being clean.As she dried offher left arm she noticed the water droplets, perfectly round and clinging to the hair on her arm. Flexing her arm she studied the movement of her muscles. What any amazing thing, the human body. But I'm not completely human, now am I. Her thoughts would have carried her away into memories of how she was so different from her Chozo peers, but they were cut short.
"Samus!" shouted Creto over the ship's intercom.
"What is it Creto?" asked Samus as she put on one of her numerous identical body suits.
"I think it's time we moved on," replied the computer in a nervous voice.
"You're right, I was just thinking of that. We'll leave in a minute," called out Samus as she searched for a hair scrunchy.
"Pardon me Samus, but we need to leave, now!" shouted the near hysterical computer. Oh crap, what now! Thought Samus. Forgetting the scrunchy, she dashed to the cockpit
"Tallon IV's orbit is about to collide with an asteroid field!" cried Creto.
"Well, that's not so bad Creto," said Samus calmly. "I've dealt with plenty of asteroid fields before. Remember our escape from that one belt. What was it? Oh yeah, sector SJ2722."
"I remember all too well my lady," replied Creto as Samus strapped herself in. "If I was human I would have hurled exactly 36 times." Samus merely smiled. "This one is a little different though."
"How different?" asked Samus, losing her smile.
"This one is twice as big. My sensors detect about a 56 percent rise in density, and… I am also detecting numerous unidentified life forms inside the field."
"Well Creto, seems it's time to leave," Samus said.
With that Samus took the controls. Exiting autopilot she switched the thrusters to 3/4 power. Turning the ship so it no longer faced Tallon IV she headed out into space. The ship rumbled and shook throwing Samus around within her seat. Samus firmly applied more pressure to the steering controls as she fought the force of gravity. Feeling the pull of Tallon IV, she powered the thrusters to 4/5 power. That did it. The ship burst out of the planet's gravitational pull and sped on towards the looming asteroid field.
"My lady, is it possible that we could set a course, ah, away from the asteroids?" asked Creto.
"You are such a wimp Creto, you know that don't you?" said Samus. "Yes it's possible but it's not about to happen." She pointed to the fuel meter, "we are running out of fuel and I have no intention of floating in space. Plus I have to restock my inventory. We're headed to Nebulon, it's the nearest fuel station. And that path my friend, takes us through this asteroid field. So buckle up Creto and hold on tight."
As they neared the asteroid field Samus realized that Creto was right, it was huge. Giant chunks of stone and space matter floated haphazardly in the near future. Samus neared a decent sized rock and zipped under it. Continuing down she wove her ship between two close forms of rock. Spiraling upwards she dodged oncoming would-be threats. Samus grinned grimly as she saw the largest chunk headed towards her. Pulling the controls back as far as they would go she skyrocketed over it. Putting the thrusters to full power she broke the surface of the asteroid field.
Shifting the thrusters to a lower power she continued to travel over the majority of the asteroids. She continued on like this for roughly half an hour. Occasionally an asteroid would head their way, but Samus was an excellent pilot. She easily maneuvered around them. Checking her scanners she saw that they were nearing the end of the asteroid field. Samus was slightly disappointed, this hadn't been the challenge Creto had hyped her up about. Settling back into her seat she focused on the last batch of asteroids headed their way.
"Samus," said Creto. "Check the scanners again."
Samus did as she was told. The scanners showed the asteroids, there was one particularly large one coming up, and… 3 unidentified life forms. Well, here's my challenge.
Samus slowed her ship, becoming twice as alert. Placing her thumbs on the control triggers she checked the scanners again. This time the life forms were gone. Great, she thought. Nearing the large asteroid Samus dipped below it. There she saw the first life form, clinging to the bottom of the asteroid.
Samus barrel rolled out of the creature's way. She recognized it as a mutated parasite from the Space Pirate Frigate. Gross and deformed, it was about a fourth the size of her gunship. It was clothed in some strange exoskeleton, and Samus wondered how it had adapted to live with no air. I'm curious, but not enough to let this thing live.
Flipping front over back, she faced it and let loose a round of blasts form her ship's guns. The parasite cried out soundlessly as it was destroyed. They're not very strong, Samus reflected.
Suddenly something hit the ship. Samus was thrown against the harness as her ship tumbled sideways. Regaining control, Samus steadied the ship. Glancing at her scanners, she saw that this second thing, also a parasite, had attached itself to her ship. She also saw that a third parasite was approaching; she knew it was there when her ship was again thrown sideways. I really don't like these things, she thought while steering the ship to a stop.
"Creto?" Samus asked as she powered down the thrusters.
"Yes Samus?" replied Creto.
"I'm going out," said Samus, and then she unbuckled her harness.
"What? Why?" asked Creto.
"Listen Creto,' said Samus as she pointed to the ceiling. There was a grating noise, and the sound of tearing metal followed. "They're ripping my ship apart. I'm putting on my suit and going out there. You, keep the ship stationary. I'll be using my magnet boots upgrade, but if I do get separated just fly the ship under me. Okay?"
"Yes my lady, and please be careful," said the computer.
Samus ran to the back of her ship. She opened the storage container where she always put her bio-suit. The main suit piece was held up by a strange assortment of wires, while the helmet was placed separately on a shelf. The helmet stared back at her, the blank visor reminding her of her dream. Last thing I need to think of right now. Opening her suit she stepped in and voiced a verbal command.
"Suit power up and close."
The suit instantly came to life. It closed itself around Samus, whowinced as the suit inserted itself into her nerve system. The small amount of pain though, was immediately followed by a feeling of power. She was at her best in this suit. It felt like the closest thing to home.
"Storage disengage," she said. The wires fell limp, and Samus stepped out of the container. Grabbing her helmet, she regretted that she hadn't found a scrunchy. Helmet hair, worse, wet helmet hair. Ugh. None the less she put her helmet on.
Samus headed to her ship's exit, only the thought of battle running through her mind. She stepped onto the platform and pressed a green button. The platform sealed itself and rose. Samus activated her suit's oxygen's supply, she had roughly 3 hours worth. But this isn't going to take 3 hours.
Samus activated her magnetic boots as the platform brought her onto the top of her ship. She set it to a level where she wouldn't fall into space but could also jump. The platform stopped and Samus stepped off it. Looking around she could see asteroids and the parasites. The parasites had done a considerable amount of damage. There was now a gapping hole in the side of her ship. Exposed circuits and vents could be seen. What have you done to my ship? You'll pay for that, thought the Hunter.
Parasite number 2 saw her. It peered at her, clicking it's mouth noiselessly. It tilted its head as if thinking. It must have decided Samus was prey because it quickly pounced on her.
Samus rolled to the left and fired a charged power beam shot into the side of its head.Then the third and final parasite saw the action and joined in. This parasite was a little different though, because unlike the second it had a large scythe on each arm.
Samus saw number 3 charge and switched into morph ball mode. Loosing the magnetic boots, she floated up and over the scythe slashes, while setting a half dozen bombs. The bombs exploded, stunning the parasite.
Switching out of morph ball, she was pulled back down to the ship's surface. Dodging a lunge from number 2, she knocked it unconscious with a swipe of her arm cannon to its head. She turned to the stunned third parasite and pumped 6 missiles into it, then jumped back as it exploded. Looking at the remaining parasite with disgust, she pumped a further 6 missiles into this one. Easily disposed of, thought Samus. Waving the fragments of parasite away with her left arm, she headed back to the platform.
Samus strode out of the platform and went to the cockpit. Sitting in the cockpit chair, she adjusted the straps to her increased size.
"How did it go?" asked Creto.
"Oh, not bad. They weren't very hard to defeat, but they torn quite a hole in the ship," she replied. "We need to get to Nebulon quickly."
With that Samus put the thrusters to full power and set a course to Nebulon.