Chapter 9: Dinosaur Planet Part 2

Krystal

I stood frozen, staring at the Chozo and Cernian symbols and artifacts scattered about this ancient room. Even old and dilapidated, I could recognise such familiar iconography from my past. I looked to my side, seeing Samus kneel down and place a hand upon the symbol of a Chozo, silent, but such a gesture was so… telling.

"I… I do not wish to interrupt you," Noxus said, bowing slightly before trying to leave. "This culture… this heritage is not of my own."

"It's alright," I sighed. "I didn't expect this…"

"Elder Blue Feathers the Omniscient…" Samus suddenly said, deciphering the language under the diagram of the Chozo, one arm held up, the other under her breast, palm pointing up. Although faded, she wore an expression of serenity. "The records said she disappeared almost five hundred and twenty years ago…"

I looked at the diagram of the cernian here, my eyes trailing down his mostly exposed body and into the lettering beneath him.

"Chief Lumi of the Christi Tribe…" I read his name aloud and knelt. "He also went missing at that time, during a great exodus, where the spirits led him far… never to return…"

We both looked at each other, the left of the room decorated in beiges and golds, the right side blue and white. We both knelt before the images of Lumi and Blue Feathers, our cultures intersecting in both the past and the present.

"What were they doing here…? All this time ago…" I whispered, taking note of her side of the room.

"What brought them together…?" Samus added. "Chozo liked to document what they've seen… no doubt Blue Feathers has been keeping notes."

"I haven't heard much of Lumi," I stood and examined the area. "But a man like him should have some clues…"

"Do not forget," Noxus commented from the doorway. "Trace is still on our tails. We must be swift."

Samus just stood and examined the room, activating her scan visor and having a look around the area. She was slow, methodical. And precise. The light of her visor lit up the murals and paintings beautifully, her culture writing in sharp and blocky hieroglyphs, lavish and beautifully detailed, while my culture aimed for the abstract with waves, spirals and strange angles in which the figure of Lumi was drawn.

I felt a familiar warmth wash over me, seeing distant remnants of a past long forgotten in this dugout.

"I've found something, an old Chozo message codex," Samus knelt, picking up a strange brass orb. It synchronised with her suit, displaying a life sized hologram of Blue Feathers. Her robes were a gentle blue, yet somewhat imposing paired with large shoulders like my friend. Samus put the device down and stood back.

The hologram lit up the room as the Chozo elder put her hands in her long sleeves.

"Year 1398, Elysian Calendar. Day forty three of the second season," She calmly said, her voice soft as a cloud. "Destiny has brought myself and a Cernian to this distant and remote planet. A whisper. Distant, but loud."

She turned, revealing the holographic appearance of a cernian man, his fur as blue as mine, adorned with beads… and mostly naked. He turned to her, before continuing to build a fire.

"The voice called for him and I in our dreams, but so far, the planet has only succeeded in destroying our ships… and stranding us upon a hostile environment with primitive creatures," She gracefully spoke, not a hint of worry in her voice. "My dreams spoke of the ultimate warrior… Metroid. Does this 'Metroid' reside here?"

Samus seemed to clench her fists at such a word.

"Do you have any understanding of your vision, Lumi?" She turned to my fellow fox.

"The whims of the cosmos is beyond my comprehension, but…" Lumi spoke, his voice powerful, yet, with a hint of a kind gentleness.. much like my own father. "I am not one to deny the call the others were deaf to."

He stood by her, barely coming up to her shoulders.

"We have purpose together, Chozo," he looked up to her and stamped his staff… a staff that bore resemblance to mine. "This planet called for us… and we mustn't deny it."

"Well spoken, my friend…" she looked at the holographic recorder, then up. "Rain fast approaches. We must find refuge."

She then lifted her hand, swiftly ending the recording; leaving Samus and I stood there. Frozen and contemplating the message.

"That can't be right…" Samus whispered. "This was recorded before the creation of Metroids…"

"Do you suspect…" Noxus poked his head in the door. "Whatever brought these two figures to the planet brought Trace here too?"

The Vhoson inquisitor inquired.

"Even if he lacks the foresight of your ancestors?" He continued.

"It may be the case," was all I responded with, seeing the lost message from a cultural leader. "If it brought those two here… whatever it is… we can't let Trace have it."

"I agree," Samus stood up and absorbed what appeared to be a mystical copy of the message into her suit. "If it's to do with an ultimate warrior, he's the last person in this universe that should have it."

"I concur," Noxus nodded and readied his Judicator. "We must make haste… and hopefully find more clues provided by these two. Where one Chozo message was made, more are bound to follow."

"You're right," I nodded, placing my hand upon the mural of my people before retracting it. "We have to stop Trace."

"Agreed, we have to—" Samus froze as her visor blipped. "There's another one of these data spheres nearby, according to what I downloaded… they could be in more hidden shelters."

"Good idea," I nodded and readied my staff. "Hopefully they've made more sanctuaries…"

"Let us proceed, then," Noxus left the room, looking for an exit.

Samus and I looked at each other for only a moment before we followed the Vhoson.

We lay low in the ditch outside this hiding spot, watching as Samus scanned the area for the next refuge. She looked due east and pointed.

"That way," She pointed, her voice barely a whisper. "Their next message is—"

"Oh how, oh how I suffer," Trace taunted from a distance. "Have my targets eluded me?"

I didn't even need my powers to hear the mocking tone in his sharp, insectoid voice. I closed my eyes and sharply inhaled, my extraordinary powers taking form. I saw a vague outline of the world around me.

"He's up on that ridge," I whispered, pointing to our north. "In the foliage."

"Stay close to the trench, and stay behind us," Samus nodded. "We push forward."

"I shall cover the rear," Noxus said. "Samus, your armour is the most sturdy of all of us."

"If you don't mind being walking cover…" I sighed, sticking close to her back."

"Better I get shot than you…" she looked behind to me. "

"You would all do well not to cover your weapons in glowy bits!" Trace yelled from the distance. "I don't need a clear shot to off fools such as you!"

Overhead, the distinctive red trail of the Imperialist flew, striking one of the cliffs. Immediately, I gasped and put up a small barrier in front of Samus, recoiling in horror as it shattered upon the Red Terror's ricocheted shot. Hadn't it been for me, her head would have been struck.

Within seconds, Noxus constructed an icy roof over our heads and practically pulled me and Samus to the ground. Imperialist bolts immediately started pounding our barrier. My heart raced in my chest, breath visible due to the Vhoson's frozen protection.

"Quick on the draw!" Trace mocked, keeping his barrage true. "Lucky you had your two friends to protect you Samus! This planet is sooooo much better for visibility than that oh so dreary Alimbic Cluster!"

"Just keep moving!" Samus hissed and pointed in the direction of the next Chozo artifact. "Stay low!"

I felt like a rat in a cage, scrambling in and out of a malicious scientist's maze. I kept my head low, head thumping, ears popping at the sound of his Imperialist. Every inch of my body exploded with pure adrenaline, pushing me forward through this hell of Trace's making.

I reminded myself to push forward and keep myself alive, for Star Fox. I flinched as his Imperialist shots hit the ice barrier at nearly impossible angles and at horrific speeds.

"How does he do this?!" I hissed, practically crawling, glancing back at the general direction and which he shot. "What is he?"

"I; The Grand Inquisitor," Noxus responded, reinforcing his roof of ice. "Was dispatched personally to neutralise him. And yet, despite my years of perfect training, the insect remains… intimidating."

"What do we do… I…?" I froze and peered towards his position. I sensed enemy reptiles encroaching his position. They seemed to be out for vengeance. "He'll be under attack in… 3…"

"Your ice and cover will not protect you forever!" Trace yelled, bolting imperialistic shots across the rainy and jungled mountain range. "It's only a matter of time until you die. Until I take the shots that will extinguish your flames."

"…2…"

Another shot struck the ice, cracking it.

"And I will return to Krikera with your heads," Trace continued. "And deliver them to the empress! A warrior of the Chozo… the High Inquisitor of the Vho… and whatever you are, blue furry one. I will be a champion!"

"…1… get ready to shoot," I whispered and pointed. Samus and Noxus readied their weapons.

"And my name will be revered across the cosmos!" The Kriken boasted, continuing to shoot. The ice shattered and he likely took aim at us. "All shall know of Trace! The— gah!"

From up on the ridge, two tall lizard warriors jumped Trace, both attacking him at once. They attacked with axes and spears. Jumping from the bushes, the two reptiles were immediately put on the defensive as Trace began assaulting them at close range, swerving in and out of his attacks.

Judicator and plasma beams were launched up in Trace's general direction as we jumped out of our cover and into the open, darting forward and following the position of the artifact logged by Samus' suit. It was risky, but we had to.

"Away from me, vile beasts!" Trace yelled as he fought off the reptilian attackers. I couldn't see much of him, but from what I did, he was a strange creature… vile, perhaps. Spindly, blood red and with a floating teardrop shaped head. He weaved under and around their hatchet attacks. He turned his head to us and fired a warning shot and avoided Samus and Noxus' attacks.

His trailed shot narrowly missed me and destroyed a rock.

Without much hesitation, Samus grabbed me and fired another shot or two near him, dragging me into the bushes as Noxus constructed a wall of ice in between Trace and us. Thunder boomed in the sky as Samus picked me up in one hand, jumping over a small ravine and into the brush.

The rain intensified as she landed on her feet, scanning her surroundings. In the distance, we heard the dying screams of a lizard warrior as they were struck down by the kriken assassin, cries echoing in the rainy evening. Lightning flashed as I sensed the lizard warrior was impaled upon Trace's mandible. I sensed his gaze turning to our general direction, any life essence around him fading.

Before he could take another shot, an icy wall went behind and over us.

"A cave!" Noxus yelled and rushed by, making sure to stand in front of me as Samus covered my back.

"Ah fuck!" I hissed suddenly as a burning sensation exploded in my shoulder, knocking me down to the dirt below.

As we rushed in, before Noxus could even put a wall down, a shot grazed my other shoulder, obliterating the shoulderpad. I gasped for oxygen, letting a few tears out. While not directly hit, my shoulder fur was singed off, smoking from where it was struck. Samus picked me up and ran deeper into the cave, kneeling down to examine it.

"No penetration…" she grunted and scanned around.

"Struggle not," Noxus said, placing his arm on the shoulder. I winced at first, however, the hunter's icy powers began seeping into the wound, numbing it. Samus, meanwhile, seemed to loosen up, instead reaching down and squeezing my hand. Noxus made soothing noises in his own tongue. "Sunatha… telrak insama yeyt."

While not understanding such a gesture or language… I felt… soothed. The ice eased me.

"T-thanks…" I sighed, slowly standing up, getting helped by the .

Samus looked at him, then to me, her tense pose loosening.

"The next codex should be in here…" she sighed and shook her head, scanning around. "We should be quick. He's likely closing in."

Her blue lights lit up the dim cave, revealing now particularly tall this one was. Deeper in the cavern of moss was a floor much like that of the last one. It led to what seemed to be a lab. Makeshift equipment and technology lay strewn about, surrounding a clump of deep blue stone… a stone that looked like a tumour upon the very earth of the planet.

Across the walls were chozo hieroglyphs and my people's runes. This place looked thoroughly used in the time it's occupants inhabited it. The notes in my language suggested something about a purification technique developed by Chief Lumi and Elder Blue Feathers. One of the pictures showed a glowing hand plunged into the depth of an equally glowing blue substance.

The tall huntress read the hieroglyphics on the stone walls, eyeing them from behind a glowing visor. She then looked to the table in front of her, picking up yet another piece of Chozo technology. The codex. Once more, the holograph appeared in the center of the room, illuminating it.

"Day Seventy-three of the second season," Blue Feathers said, recording as she seemed to prod at the same glowing blue substance from the image, her hands protected by a glove built into a glass box. "This strange cancer has infected this planet. While the signs suggest its approach is early… it is still a dire situation."

She retreated her hand from her test box and turned to Lumi, who was chanting as he meditated. Chants of purity and clarity.

"The cancer threatens all life across the cosmos… and I do not feel like we are equipped to face such a threat on such a large scale," Blue Feathers sighed, her glowing green eyes looking down solemnly. She turned back to the container of Phazon. "And even so… it seeps into this world, into her very roots."

Lumi opened his eyes.

"Why has the universe called to us? To stand in a dying world… waiting for this so-called Metroid?" He frowned and joined her. "Even if we can only save but one planet in the cosmos… it will be worth it."

The Chozo elder checked her readings, eyes widening.

"Continue that mantra, I'm detecting sudden energy drops in the material…."

Lumi closed his eyes and continued his chant. Although I couldn't make out the exact readings, her reactions seemed to be positive.

"Your abilities are extraordinary," the Chozo remarked and continued to research. "When you are ready, my friend, we must push toward the leviathan without delay. I wish to study your powers, though… I am curious."

I watched intently as the Cernian chief smiled subtly as he examined the same substance as she did.

"Perhaps," he responded. "I dedicate my powers to this planet… for we have no method or returning to ours for the time being. I have sensed the spirits of this planet crying in agony, just to the north. Even one planet cleansed of this filth is enough to soothe my soul."

"Indeed… I wonder what this 'Metroid' is like, and why our souls have been pointed this way, to them," Blue Feathers rubbed the bottom of her beak. "Regardless, we must cleanse this planet."

Without much else, she ended the recording, leaving the three of us in a now silent cave. Samus knelt at the extinguished phazon mass.

"Radioactivity…" she whispered. "Zero percent. This phazon is completely extinguished… and its half life is typically… millions of years."

Samus stood up and looked at me.

"That chieftain… exterminated it. Do you have any idea about what his power was?"

"No, I've… never seen anything like it…"

Samus sighed and shook her head.

"Whatever it is, we must keep moving," she said and looked to the cave entrance and scowled, activating one of her many visors. "I detect a small hole in the wall, just a metre across. I think it leads outside."

"If the winds bless us, the Crimson Hunter will not spot us," Noxus quietly spoke and knelt at the ground, neatly tucked away in the former of the room was a small hole, exactly as Samus described. "I will scout ahead, I shall return and inform you of what I find."

Curling down into his strange spinning top form, the vhoscythe, the icy hunter zoomed into the hole, leaving Samus and I just standing there, alone. The tall human looked down at me, her visor dimming to reveal her worried green eyes. I could only meet her eyes with my own.

"Krystal," She knelt. "Do you want to stay here? You're in no position to withstand attacks from him, from Trace."

I frowned and looked at my shoulder, holding it, wincing at how the sniper successfully eliminated both of my armoured shoulders. Regardless, I sucked in air and stared Samus down.

"No. This place is important to me, if we need to save it, then, if I die, so be it, I…" I silenced myself when I felt something in Samus, the way her heart sank. She looked away, obviously in pain. I stepped towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What is wrong?"

Her visor became opaque again as she looked away.

"It's nothing," Samus whispered, lying through her teeth. I tightened my eyes and stared at her, peering into where her eyes were on the tall woman. "Ngh…"

I went closer to her, wrapping an arm around her body. Even despite the suit of armour around her person, I felt her loosen up; a looseness she tried to cover up.

"What's wrong, Samus?"

"I… I don't want him to take you from us…" she quietly responded. "I… I've lost too many people I couldn't save recently… fellow bounty hunters, federation troopers… I don't want that to happen to you."

I frowned and got closer to her.

"Samus, I will be fine, regardless of what happens on this planet today," I whispered. "So will you. From the tales I've heard, you are more than capable of protecting me. As great as Fox is, he would not be able to face this sniper as well as you or Noxus. I trust in you."

Samus looked down at me, quiet, still, yet, undeniably grateful from behind her Gravity Suit's searing blue visor. She nodded and pressed a few buttons on her gun.

"Right… we must press on when he returns."

I nodded and gave her a bit of a squeeze.

"Just think, we'll get some time off, maybe a ladies night with Miyu and Fay," I smiled, trying not to shiver. "That'd be good… or maybe you'd prefer to hang out with Falco."

"H-heh.." Samus nodded. "That's would be—"

Noxus poked his head out from the hole, beckoning us.

"The path is clear!" The Vhoson warrior said. "We must make haste before the marksman finds our position!"

Samus and I looked at each other, giving a confirming nod to one another before pressing onward, through that small hole in the wall.

Samus Aran

Travelling through a dark thicket of the jungle, covered by a dense canopy, the tree of us moved, swiftly and quietly. Our eyes were peeled, senses on high alert. I knew Trace was about. He had to be. His appearances here and in the Alimbic Cluster had cemented themselves in my head, ever since encountering him upon the frozen surface of Arcterra locked in combat with Noxus, he was a nightmare of an opponent.

Whatever hell he emerged from, I would send him back in pieces if I could. I froze for a moment. His bounty was listed as higher than even a space pirate commander such as Weavel and even the known terrorist, Sylux. What actions had this Kriken taken to land himself such a high bounty of four million credits, I wondered. I gazed at Noxus and tightened my eyes, remembering our 70/30% deal for said four million.

"Your gaze is uneasy, huntress," Noxus peered over his shoulder. "Do you doubt your ability?"

"No," I responded and shook my head, letting my suit point us towards our destination, a destination that was now extremely close. Just beyond one of the tall hills. "The next codex should be close now. Less than a klick away. Get ready. This area has no cover by my scans."

"Let's hope he isn't nearby…" Krystal shuddered, sticking close to me.

Hadn't it been for Falco, Krystal would have been the one to peer deepest into myself. I grimaced. I would have fought this war alone if it meant taking risk off of Star Fox and the Federation. Yet… it was impossible. I looked down and thought about my parents, the Chozo Ian Malkovich, the hunters and troopers who fell during the destruction of Phaaze. Were those close to me destined to die early? Was my presence unlucky?

I pondered this for a moment, squinting in regret as I could not kill my dark shadow upon Tallon, Aether or Phaaze. Or even this maroon monster currently stalking us.

I wondered… What would be my final mission?

I flinched as I felt Krystal's paw touch my bicep, giving it a supportive stroke. I winced, appreciating such a gesture, even if it was brief.

After a moment of travelling, we cut through the brush, and into a large open area. In the centre, surrounded by many mountains and jungles, was a deep, circular lake. Dotting the middle of the body of water was a strange landmass, tall, made of a darker, bluish rock. It seemed to be crumbling away from years of erosion.

I scanned the tall formation, my visor picking out an area of burned grass in a particular shape. I eyed the area, it seemed to be an LZ. No doubt for Trace's ship.

Further scans indicated an entrance on the side of the mound, an entrance where the codex beacon pointed directly into. I looked at my two companions.

"That's where we're going," I said, pointing towards our destination. "Noxus, could you build a—"

Before I could finish my sentence, try signature sound of the imperialist sounded, striking what remained of Krystal's staff. Without hesitation I grabbed the blue fox and jumped into the lake, attempting to use it as cover. Without surprise, I began to sink like a rock, letting her go to swim. I even saw Noxus dive in.

"Scurry, insects! Scurry!"

Trace called out, firing off several shots into the water, causing a clean line of air around the shots from how superheated they were. They narrowly missed me as I sank. I caught more glimpses of extinguished phazon all across the walls of the lake. My heart sank as said walls were too steep to be naturally formed, the lake too deep. The shape of the mound was sharp, pointing down deep in the water.

This was no lake or island.

This was a crater.

A leviathan crater.

I felt a certain relief at how it's life was over, yet my mind immediately focused elsewhere, on Krystal and Noxus, how they narrowly avoided shots from Trace. The water seemed to be interfering with his shots. Like me, the Vho inquisitor sank, protected by his spacetight suit. I felt a twinge of worry for Krystal, but noticed a psychic bubble around her head. With my gravity suit functioning properly, I could feel the resistance of the water diminishing; allowing me to move as if this crater was empty.

My first act was to boost over to Krystal, making sure she was safe. The blue fox gave me a knowing nod before I initiated my Grapple Beam, aiming it towards the inquisitor among us. With a beam of less lethal energy, I launched it towards him, pulling the large warrior to me. With quick thinking, and a deactivation of screw attack, I began to space jump through the water in unpredictable patterns, staying low to avoid appearing in Trace's crosshair. A few shots only barely scathed us as we got close to the dead leviathan.

After a moment, we broke the surface, at the entrance of the meteor! I landed and turned, watching Noxus create a wall of ice to block us from him, however… I heard the hum of a spacecraft nearby. I turned on my x ray visor and saw Trace fire off a shot at the bottom of his own ship, causing the red bolt of plasma to ricochet off, striking the Vho in the abdomen.

He was pierced completely by the beam, wound cauterising immediately. His arms dropped, followed by him collapsing. No…

"N-Noxus!" Krystal cried and jumped over to him, a weak shield immediately protecting her from another shot. She dragged him back to me, where I lifted him up over my shoulders. "My god, you—"

"My…" he coughed with an awful wheeze. "My intestines have been punctured… I will not survive without treatment…"

He gasped as I pulled him deeper inside.

"Don't speak like that!" I grunted as we approached what would have been the central chamber back on Tallon IV's meteor. I grunted at the sheer weight of the Vho bounty hunter.

I looked at the large chamber around us, finding it somewhat similar to the one I encountered the Fission Metroids in. The floor's phazon had long ceased glowing, the burning radiation extinguished. There was a certain calmness to the room. How could a place once so cursed wind up so… calming?

I looked to my side, watching Krystal attempt to treat Noxus' wounds, with little success. I stepped over to the duo, scanning his Injury with my X-Ray visor, wincing at the damage I saw. His lower abdomen was messed up from the shot, severely burned. He hacked and coughed.

"K-Krystal, I... " he weakly said. "Was that your name…?"

She just nodded sadly.

"I… I thank you for being here… in my final moments…" He then peered at me. "You as well, Huntress…"

"D-don't say that, Noxus…" Krystal whimpered. "I can help you…"

I grimaced. She couldn't.

"At least… you numb the pain…" He reached up, holding her hand, bringing it to his helmet. "Remove this… if you please… I wish… to simply stare at the world."

She complied as he led her hand to two buttons on the side of his cheek armour. Pressing them, a hiss sounded as the pressure in his suit was released, his four eye visors turning off as his helm was removed. He squinted in the light as we gasped. His body was covered in a dense white fur, his four eyes bright blue with large pupils. His W shaped mouth was connected to a small, button-like nose. Lastly, he possessed a pair of long, rabbit ears. I… I didn't expect that…

"I… I know I'm not quite what one would expect…" He gave a pained smile, his eyes all looking away from us. "We wear armour for the colder-"

"His injuries are severe," I flinched at the distinct new voice, swiftly turning. Her voice was soft, alien… and so familiar. "Do not fear."

From the shadows, green eyes lit up, before her figure stepped into the light. She was tall, larger than even I. Her body, at least the parts not covered by gray robes, was covered in a thin layer of blue feathers, around her eyes, a red plumage. It couldn't have been… The Chozo held her right hand to her chest and bowed.

"You have entered the hell that befell the sky eons ago, young ones…" She spoke in her language of Chozodian and walked forward, towering over us. She knelt by Noxus, placing a hand upon his head. Immediately, he was asleep. "A hell since devoid of the cancer that threatened to kill all life on this world. A cancer has since been cured. I am Beshkai Mkhan of the Lmbacho Tribe."

Impossible… her name… this was Blue Feathers?!

Krystal and I stared at her in awe, watching as she picked Noxus up with ease like a bride.

"You must come, Child of the Thoha Tribe," Blue Feathers calmly spoke. "As must you, Daughter of Cernia. His life weigns. If we act swiftly, he may be saved."

She proceeded deep into the dead leviathan, light on her talons. Krystal and I looked at each other, eyes wide. I stood, following the mysterious Chozo.

"I have waited many days," Blue Feathers said, approaching the ventricle of the Meteor. "For a blessing. For the message that led us to this distant planet. The instruction to wait for Metroid. One of you must be Metroid."

"You must be mistaken," I shook my head, speaking in her tongue. "I am Samus Aran, and this is Krystal of Star Fox."

"And this injured one?"

"Noxus, of the Vhoson,"

"I see…" She tilted her head. "Curious, we woke up today, only mere hours ago after eons of hibernation."

"We?"

"A friend…" Blue Feathers spoke softly. "It is nice… to see friendly faces after so long, a Fledgling of the Chozo, and a Kit of the Cernians."

After a small walk, we entered a chamber, once the deepest room of the meteor, the Seed's Incubator; a room like where I encountered Metroid Prime for the first time. Inside was a makeshift lab/living quarter, decorated with several roomwide works of art. My eyes widened at the Hieroglyphs on the wall. One in the middle showed a remarkable chozo battlesuit, clad in gold, white and blue, holding a spear high, around them an aura of phazon being extinguished. By their side, a blue chozo and a cernian warrior. Was that Lumi and Blue Feathers… with this ultimate warrior, 'Metroid…?'

"Lumi," Blue Feathers urgently said, placing Noxus down upon an altar. "We have an injured young one, I must heal him…"

Piece by piece, she removed his upper armour, until he was shirtless.

Sat in another corner, on his knees was a man bearing a striking resemblance to Krystal, tall and muscular. He opened an eye and stood, picking up a grander and more decorated staff, stamping it.

"Warrior of the Chozo," He said, overlooking me, then looking at Krystal, saying something in their tongue, before addressing me. "Destiny has finally revealed the form of she we waited for, Metroid."

Lumi walked methodically to the wall, staring up at the painting. He held his hands behind his back, tail swishing.

"Eons we have awaited for you two… Metroid of the Thoha, and Krystal… no… that is not your name, is it?" He turned around, staring at me. "Your name is Samus, isn't it?"

"How did you…?"

"I felt it within this young one,"

Lumi responded, walking over to Krystal, placing a paw on her shoulder. The taller blue fox smiled at the shorter one, his face soft, hers full of sheer awe. He whispered something in his tongue to her, giving her a confirming nod. My friend looked at Noxus and Blue Feathers for a moment before looking at me.

"He wants me to help heal Noxus… and he wishes to give you a trial…" Krystal said, eyes filled with conflicting emotions. "I never thought I'd see one of my own again… He reminds me of my father…"

"I can imagine," I sadly responded. "That Chozo reminds me of someone."

"Strange, I see a comrade in her, too," Krystal looked over to Blue Feathers. "Yet… her demeanour is more calm."

I had a stray thought of Falco before shaking my head. It was only their colour.

Watching my fox friend leave to tend to Noxus, I turned to Lumi, letting his green eyes examine me. Even despite his shorter height, his build was quite muscular and toned. He looked my gravity suit up and down with a slight curiosity.

"You won't need that for your trial," He said, and walked, placing a hand on my chest. Before I could even react, his hand glowed blue, and in an instant and a flash, my suit was gone, leaving me in just my Zero Suit. I grunted and just looked at him, feeling a tad exposed thanks to the cold chill within. "You are ready."

I just looked at him, then at everyone else in the room. Even though I felt the most exposed, I was technically covered the second most, behind Blue Feathers. I gave a look at Noxus, how overwhelmingly fluffy and white he was, almost as much so as Fay…

"What is my trial?"

I looked at him as he passed his staff onto me. It was a tad small for me, but I would have had to make do. I looked at Chieftain Lumi with intent.

"A trial of Combat," He bluntly responded, quickly pulling my emergency pistol out of my holster. I lowered my stance and pointed my staff at him. He examined my gun, tilting his head, his green eyes shifting to me. He smiled. "Not with me, Metroid."

He quickly pointed up above me and squeezed the trigger. His shot hit an unseen target skulking in a hole in the roof, causing a scream as it fell out. A red beam narrowly missed my head. It couldn't have been…

"But instead, this intruder!" Lumi quickly barked.

On the ground, still stunned, was a slender, crimson red insectoid, body sparking from the electric attack he was just hit by

Krystal gasped, Blue Feathers turned, a hand over her beak. Lumi walked by Trace and squinted, kneeling by the Kriken and placed a hand on the sharp, organic Imperialist cannon, frying it.

The glowing red lights on his weapon turned off.

"What?!" Trace stood up quickly, pointing his weapon directly at Lumi's head and pulling the trigger multiple times, met only with a resounding click. "What trickery?!"

From the Kriken assassin's left hand, a glowing red blade extended, which he used to attempt a stab upon Lumi's chest. In response, my staff met his blade, stopping it right in front of the Cernian chief's heart.

I saw Krystal and Blue Feathers about to approach, but were stopped when the chief held his hand up.

"Tend to his wounds, he will surely perish without your treatment," Lumi stepped back and activated a shield around the Kriken and me, casually watching and sitting. "Proceed."

"So… you are Samus Aran?" Trace said and disengaged me, starting to circle me with his blade out, his singular red eye peering into my soul. "What a large creature."

I squinted. He was no taller than Falco.

"Perhaps you're just small," I said and tightened my grip on the staff.

"All the better to strike at your miserable heart," He lunged at me, attempting to stab me. I acted quickly, meeting his blade with Lumi's spear with red sparks flying, parrying his superheated sword out of the way. As he was vulnerable; and with no bladed weapons to stab him with, I scrunched my hand and struck his floating teardrop head with the back of my fist. Gah! You vile—!"

I grunted as he began a quick assault of quick slashes and stabs at me. I managed to block his first volley of attacks, but found myself cut on the stomach, hissing as it tore through my rubber Zero Suit as if it was nothing, burning my abdomen. I held my stomach, watching as a drop of blood dropped below.

His speed was unmatched, simply unparalleled.

"It'll only be a time before my imperialist is online again," Trace cruelly said, another flurry of slashes aimed directly at me. I was only able to barely block his swift attacks. "And when it does, you die."

His eye looked into mine, brightening cruelly.

"Then your little girlfriend, then the bird," He shouted, his attacks heavier as he almost parried the staff from my hands, passing a glance over to Lumi. "Then I'll make that loincloth wearing savage suffer."

I grunted, attempting to strike him with a heavy strike to his side. He simply sidestepped away from it.

"And then, I will finish the job with that oh so fluffy white creature Noxus!" Trace said, his voice oozing with venom. "Then I will return to Krikera, victorious, slayer of Samus… you will single handedly make my name the greatest in History."

His words struck sharper than his attacks. I felt an anxiety well up in my heart as he cruelly taunted me. I knew his game… I knew he was trying to get under my skin, he was succeeding. With a war cry, I trusted my weapon at him like a spear, striking his gut with the crystalline structure at the top of the staff. A blue light shone as he was knocked back by a psychic force coming from within, sending him crashing into the shield behind.

"Cheap tricks…" he hissed, avoiding my attempt to smash his head in with a downward thrust by rolling out the way. "Cmon, open that bitch mouth of yours, beg for your parents… oh wait…"

He laughed.

"I forgot they became space food for that flying beast!"

This… waste of dna!

I roared and began a beastial assault of brutal swings and stabs at him, attempting to shatter his exoskeleton like it was a fucking egg. However, in his enraged state, he just danced between my attacks and got cheap, easy stabs in. First a slash to the shoulder, exposing more skin. Next, I found myself tumbling, shrieking as his fiery sword found itself in my hip, burning it with an agonising fire. I was on the ground, grunting as he walked closer to me. I tried to get back up, but he simply twisted the blade in my leg.

"So predictable," Trace cooed and knelt by me. "Haha… so much for the reputable Samus Aran…. Without that suit, you are nothing. Zero."

I grunted, trying to move, but he grabbed the back of my head. I looked up and saw Lumi watching with an adamant gaze. Did he… set me up to die…?

My eyes went to his side, where a distraught Krystal was begging him to open the shield in her language, tears running down her face, arms around his bicep . He did not budge. He just stared at me with an almost… confident stare.

"You are nothing without your armour, Aran," Trace cruelly said, his head floating by mine. "All that training and strength is all superficial. Without that weapon upon your arm, you are nothing. And now you die, my Imperialist is back online…"

I saw his strangely floating head ever so slightly in my vision.

"I do wonder…" I felt the edge of his gun on my back. "What is the most vital part of a human's body?"

I felt heat welling up, my heart began racing. This was not where I would die. My mind raced, if only for a moment…

To the headfast Fox, the infinite potential of Slippy, the aged wisdom Peppy had… I grit my teeth. Krystal's kind nature, the blossoming relationship between the recruits, Miyu and Fay… and

I thought about Falco… his kind words, how well he was able to understand me…

With one last roar, I grabbed his head with the last of my strength, taking him by the point of his oddly teardrop shaped head; I slammed it into the floor, taking his whole body with it. He was light as a feather. I saw him shoot, but his shots missed, striking the ceiling of the room. He couldn't even make a noise before he hit the ground.

I quickly pinned him down, holding his imperialist arm with my leg, my left hand on his blade arm. Without hesitation, I began beating the ever living hell out of him, for what he did to me… all the potshots he took at Krystal, nearly killing her on several occasions… and…

I gave him a few for Noxus.

I pounded and pounded until my hands were bruised black, I kept going until the lights on his eye and suit faded. When all was said and done, Trace was taken out of combat.

I grunted, panting heavily as the Kriken was out for the count. I fell back off him, on my back, where Krystal immediately jumped away from Lumi and clung to me. While exhausted, I wrapped an arm around her, letting her tears fall onto me. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"You are the ultimate warrior, Metroid," Lumi gasped and knelt by me. "I have faith, then…"

I shot him a glare, still staying silent as Krystal began giving him a piece of her mind. I was glad I couldn't understand her, because she was really going off on him. I turned my head, watching Blue Feathers approach, letting the Chozo pick me up in her arms. I felt a hint of nostalgia, of days long gone by as her talons gripped me, like the Chozo warrior who saved me on K2L, when my parents were killed.

"Samus… you are injured… I will heal your injuries…" she said, the glowing green eyes in the red plumage surrounding her eyes glowing in a soothing manner. "Your friend, Noxus of the Vhoson… he lives and is stable, thanks to the healing technique I passed on from myself to Krystal."

I looked over, watching Lumi take all amounts of verbal abuse from Krystal. I would have done the same, given the chance. Blue Feathers sat me down by the sleeping Noxus, beginning to heal the injuries across my body, starting with my hip. I couldn't help but examine the Vhoson as he slept. I never truly knew of their fluffy body and long ears… he resembled a rabbit. I supposed, in a universe with talking foxes, birds and apes, a talking four eyed ice rabbit wasn't off the table.

"Samus," Blue Feathers looked me in the eye. "I believe I should explain what my visions showed. Long ago, after my only son eloped to a distant planet, near Lylat, I found myself in a low state… that's when the visions came. Visions leading me here, where I would meet my friend, Lumi… and then, Metroid. It was my duty to help this ultimate warrior; they we call Metroid."

I felt my injuries soothing as she worked her magic.

"You are the Universe's last chance against the all encompassing cancer that threatens all who reside in it," She explained, a tinge of sorrow in her eyes. "Even now, today, I saw that fighting spirit in you as you saved this world from him. To get what we were protecting, he would have spilled much blood if he found the entrance before you."

I felt my heart sink. Again, the weight of the Universe was placed upon my shoulders.

"Samus Aran, a darkness looms over you. Ever present. Ever changing," she closed her eyes. "And yet, I feel confident in your ability. Even despite it all, I feel as if… you have the skills to take on this new darkness. Not alone. But… together, with her, with everyone who stands behind you."

She looked at Krystal, then to the large mural on the wall, of myself in that strange armour, the mural that likely represented my Cernian friend, and the mystery bird that accompanied us.

"Strange… I expected the third one from my vision, my distant descendant, but…" she shook her head. "Regardless… this gift I have for you… you will need it. The power the assassin likely coveted."

From her chest, she displayed a small blue gemstone, diamond shaped.

"This talisman will be your guide to success," she softly spoke, placing the gemstone within my hand. "When the time comes, wear this."

She then looked over at Lumi, who graciously handed his staff over to Krystal; who's rage subsided to sheer, unimaginable awe. She held the new staff, then looked at him, continuing to converse.

"With the amulet and staff delivered to you too, a hope remains," she sadly said. "Our long wait is over, our deliveries made… so many centuries in hibernation…"

She gave a sigh of relief as the two cernians joined us.

"Samus, I believe it is time for you two to carry on," he looked at Krystal with soft eyes. "The amulet and staff in your hands… you may be the two who will cure this cancer forever."

I looked at Krystal, amulet in hand. I held it tightly.

"I will cure it," I simply said and stood, letting my suit rematerialise around my body. However, on the chest, between the two lights, was a new slot, small, and diamond shaped. Perfectly shaped for the talisman. "…we will cure it, don't worry."

I installed the talisman, but… nothing happened. I felt no new abilities or powers. Strange… I supposed I would have to wait for the 'right moment.'

I looked at Krystal, who gave an affirming nod.

Before Lumi or Blue Feathers could speak, I felt four eyes upon us. Stirring and feeling his stomach was Noxus, he looked at Krystal and the chozo with her, eyes filling with gratitude. He then looked at an unconscious Trace, four eyes widening.

"Krystal, Samus… you…" he quietly said before letting his w-shaped mouth smile. Just slightly. "I am alive… and… you've restrained him… I…"

He closed his eyes and placed a hand upon his chest, bowing, a Chozo gesture. He then looked at Krystal and tilted his head, ears flopping.

"I do not know how to express it in your language, but…" Noxus bowed. "I am eternally grateful…"

"Here, this is how we express gratitude…" Krystal walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his larger body, pressing herself against him as gently as she could. His cheeks went a tad rosey as he returned the hug. "I hope it's to your people's liking."

"It is…"

He then looked at me with wide eyes.

"I suppose you claim the…?"

"No. Keep it." I just looked away from him, readying my ship remotely after receiving a report that Trace's went down shortly after its owner's defeat. "You almost died."

"I see… your generosity is most respectable…" He bowed as Krystal let go. "I feel as if… Lylat's largest battle nears. A battle not just for the system. But for more. But I bear no anxiety. For with you two… you will both do well. I… I will stay with these two until I recover."

I nodded at him, then looked at Krystal.

"We should be going," Krystal said. "Thank you, Noxus, for leading us here."

"My pleasure."

"Until light shines on us once more," Blue Feathers bowed as she gave a farewell. "Wind lift your wings."

Lumi said something to Krystal, before we turned and left.

My friend leaned into me and sighed.

"I'm exhausted… I want to lie down…" she closed her eyes. "Thanks, Sam… for being here…"

"I'm only doing what's needed of me."

She smiled and wrapped an arm around mine.

"Let's… let's visit Tricky before leaving, he'll be glad we saved his world."

"Mm…" I simply said. "What did Lumi teach you?"

"The phazon extinguishing mantra… I think we have a chance to win this now…" her face became serious. "To defeat the dark you."

I nodded in agreement as we neared the exit.

One thing that bothered me…

Who was her descendant?

I began trying to solve this puzzle as we left the leviathan, to return to square one…

End of Chapter