Chapter 1

Galactic Slum

"Samus, we're now approaching Planet Vweilu… Samus… Wake up…"

Samus woke groggily. "I was taking a nap, you stupid machine… Wake me up again, and I'll turn your circuitboard into Space Pirate emergency rations…" She yawned, then closed her eyes again. "Wake me up when we crash into the planet."

"Er, Samus… Crashing is a bad idea… SAMUS! WAKE UP! …. Damn these humans and their sleep cycles…"

"Alright, alright, fine… Planet Vweilu, huh? Jeez, why did we come to this backwater cesspool?"

"Because thanks to your incessant urges to destroy things, we've been banished from Federation space. Would you rather go into Space Pirate territory?"

"I could use a couple pirates to take out my anger on right now…" Samus's eyes glazed as she slipped into daydreams, undoubtedly, Adam mused, about turning Space Pirates into tiny, unrecognizable blobs using her Plasma Beam. She was probably assigning the name "Adam" to one she was going to kill particularly painfully.

"Samus, I'm sorry to interrupt your morbid pirate-related fantasies, but we're coming up on the planet. You might want to go get into your suit…"

Samus realized she was still sporting only the blue pilot's uniform she wore under her suit- she usually took the uncomfortable battlesuit off when she was sleeping, at least when there weren't enemies around. "Oh, right. I'll go get ready to blast some space scum… Wouldn't want them to steal the ship."

"Don't blast anything just yet. Remember, these aren't Space Pirates. Ask questions, then shoot. Not the other way around."

"You sound like a worried old Chozo. Just don't crash the ship."

At the sight of the dangerous-looking Federation-designed starship slowly gliding to a halt inside a shoddily erected space garage, the local residents of Vweilu instantly seemed skittish and on guard, some hiding, some drawing weapons, others pulling out communicators and talking into them frantically. A motely assortment of beings greeted Samus as she stepped out of the starship. There were humans, of course, some N'Kren, and one or two Chozo, as well as other assorted races of the galaxy. She thought she even saw a few Space Pirates.

A flustered-looking human, most likely the garage proprietor, stepped forward, eyeing Samus's Arm Cannon nervously. He was obviously used to seeing weapons in a lawless zone such as this, but the Arm Cannon was new, and not in the least friendly-looking. The timid-looking man forced his eyes off of her odd weapon and hesitantly fixed themselves on her visor.

"W-w-welcome to Ferless Space Garage, Miss…" he stared down at his tiny hand-computer, "Exeter. Miss Exeter, is there anything that we can do for you?"

Samus had not used her real name- it was a good idea not to in a place like this.

"Yeah. Refuel the ship. I also need to reload its weapons… Do you carry Forcion X-J impact missiles?"

The small man grimaced, and his eyes flicked over the ship. She detected a glint in his eye. He would undoubtedly try to steal it. Samus smiled. They would never get past Adam's security systems. That she wouldn't mind watching- Adam versus the Space Hooligans. That computer needed a workout anyway; he was getting complacent.

"Yes, ma'am, we do carry Forcions… We will get to work on your ship right away. Do you want a defrag and memory wipe on the system computers?"

Samus almost laughed. "No, that'll be fine. I need a room, too."

"Very well." The man handed her a keycard. "The Starlifter Inn, just outside of this space garage and down the street. Room 289."

"Thanks."

Samus walked to the exit of the garage and looked around outside. The first thing she noticed was that everything on this planet seemed to be either brown or grey. The streets were a gloomy grey. The few airspeeders she saw zooming by were brown. The buildings were brown with spots of grey where the paint had peeled off. Her inn was a ramshackle looking place with a neon light sign hanging haphazardly off the building. The neon bulbs were probably meant to be some exciting color. They had so much dust on them that they were brown.

The second thing she noticed was that the residents were keeping well away from her. This was to be expected, considering that she was in full battle armor and carrying a dangerous-looking weapon. On top of that, full battle armor that wasn't covered in dust. That must be very rare on this planet, she mused. She didn't risk taking her suit off, however. She'd rather take the chance of causing mass panic and chaos then expose her face and lower her defences in such a backwater slum.

Not that there weren't other dangerous characters prowling the streets. Others walked by carrying weapons in plain site, from plasma throwers to quantum assault cannons. She even saw a rather large and well-built alien walk by covered head-to-toe in armor and carrying what looked like a rocket launch system designed for a ship. Some Space Pirates walking by gave Samus a hostile look and one looked ready to attack her, but another held him back with a shake of the head and some whispered commands.

Samus was not welcome here, that much was evident.

"Samus! Wait!"

Adam's comm drone flew out of an alley behind her, almost bowling into a somewhat confused-looking Chozo and haphazardly careening toward Samus. "You think you can leave me behind, do you? I don't trust you to be alone for even a night without you starting a war or something."

"Did fine without you for years."

"And in that time, you destroyed 2 planets, nearly wiped out one alien species, completely wiped out another, and became the mortal enemy of no less than 3 hostile galactic factions."

"A good portion of that I did recently. With your help."

"Just don't leave like that again. They tried to steal the ship. I had to use the security measures. Which I must admit, was rather fun. Calling in that favor with the Luminoth to have them give us a Quad was an excellent idea, by the way."

Adam tapped into her visor display unit and sent her a videoclip of the odd little garage owner running out of her ship screaming, being chased by a Quad in vortex spin mode. She laughed.

I may not be welcomed by most people, here or in any other part of the galaxy, she thought, but at least I have Adam. And that's more companionship than I've had for most of my life.

General Forcystus was frustrated.

Frustrated and annoyed.

Frustrated that his plans were not working out as they should, and annoyed at Supreme General Ceberus, who was making his job harder then it should be by calling all of these infernal status meetings. Planning an underground rebellion was not an easy thing, and it wasn't made much easier when his immediate superior, who unlike him was still completely loyal to the Mother Brain, was constantly calling seemingly pointless gatherings.

It was the hated meeting that was the disgruntled general's destination as he strode down the metal-clad hallway, swift and businesslike. Tall and broad-shouldered, Forcystus's appearance radiated power. He wore standard Space Pirate general's uniform, grey chest armor and a flowing silver cape emblazoned with his general's crest, a blue chevron. He carried no ranged weapon, only an energy scythe, following the guidelines of what was proper for a general to carry on non-combat business.

"Glory to the Space Pirates, General Forcystus."

Forcystus glanced to his left, locating the speaker immediately.

"And death to all who oppose us, General Xanatos."

Xanatos, a somewhat younger general, was a less imposing figure than Forcystus. He wore a similar uniform, but the crest on his cape was a green delta. Forcystus suspected that the less experienced Xanatos looked up to him and considered him a role model.

If he knew what I was planning, Forcystus thought, what would he think of me?

"General Forcystus, what do you suppose this meeting concerns? Do you think the Supreme General has made a breakthrough on the Omicron project?"

"I believe he has." And that is what I'm worried about, Forcystus added inwardly. I cannot allow that project to succeed.

With that, they came to the doors of the War Room, and stepped inside.

"General Forcystus. General Xanatos. Have a seat. General Dreythiss arrived some time ago, so I, Supreme General Ceberus of the Space Pirate Conglomerate, call this special meeting of the Space Pirate Generals to order."

Forcystus nodded respectfully to General Dreythiss and General Ceberus. Dreythiss returned the nod. Ceberus ignored him.

General Dreythiss was the only female of the Space Pirate Generals. Her physique was sleek and deadly, and Forcystus knew she was a force to be reckoned with. Her skills with an energy scythe were legend among the Pirates. He considered this a definite threat, especially because she still seemed completely loyal to Mother Brain. The crest on her cape was a violet four-pointed star.

Ah, Ceberus. How he loathed the egotistical scumspawn. His crest, a red X, was emblazoned on a gold cape instead of a silver one, signifying the fact that Ceberus was the supreme military officer of the entire Pirate Conglomerate. He made sure everyone remembered that. Constantly giving orders, Ceberus considered the lives of his suboordinants unimportant, as long as his will was carried out. This made Ceberus very dangerous to Forcystus's plans. What made him truly dangerous was that, egotisical as he was, this Pirate was intelligent. And intelligence in one's enemies is very hazardous, especially when one is trying to work behind their backs.

"I have called this meeting, Generals of the Glorious Space Pirates, to report on a very… interesting development in the Omicron project," Ceberus began. "Recon Team Gotha has recently discovered the site of the Seal. General Dreythiss, I believe you are overseeing the Research and Development aspects of this operation, correct?"

"That is correct, Supreme General," Dreythiss replied. Her voice had the texture of poisoned silk.

"I want scans of the Seal to begin immediately. We must have information about the technology used to make the Seal if we are to break it. General Xanatos, you are in command of military deployment during this operation. Begin a troop deployment to the area immediately, and begin construction on a secure base around the perimeter of the Seal, as I am sure that we can expect resistance from the Federation and the hated Hunter fairly soon. This mission must not fail."

"If I may, Supreme General, I have information concerning the Hunter."

"Ah, yes, Forcystus, my Special Operations General. Your commandos are deployed in the area, I assume?"

"That is correct. More importantly, however, I have received an interesting report from my spies in the Federation. The Hunter has been outlawed from Federation territory, on the grounds of the Biologic Space Labs incident. I don't think we can expect any resistance from her."

"Most excellent. Without the Hunter, the Federation has no chance of stopping us. That is all, Generals. You have your orders. Glory to the Space Pirates!" Ceberus cried.

"And death to all who oppose us!" the generals chanted as one voice.

Forcystus was the first to exit the room. As he stepped outside the door, he was immediately flanked by two Space Pirates in Commando uniform, his second and third in command.

"Lieutenant Sephiter."

"Yes, General Forcystus?"

"Ready my ship. We have work to do."

"Affirmative, General."

Forcytstus smiled. The Hunter would interfere in this operation. He, General Forcystus, would make it so.