CHAPTER 11

HUNTER LOG 3862

Lita has been very quiet since we left the lab. She's got something tearing her up inside, and I have a feeling that I'm going to find out what it is. It's almost like she has some precognitive powers or can see the future or something. Maybe she knows the outcome of this conflict…and if she does, then why is she in such a dejected mood?

Samus out…

The trip to the surface seemed incredibly long. Between the rough atmospheric entry and the excruciating silence, time stood still.

Samus broke the silence.

"So I'm guessing that one of us is going to die on this mission,"

"What? What do you mean?" replied Lita.

"You already know what's going to happen, and you evidently aren't in a very good mood about it," Samus said.

"You're catching on, but neither of us will die on this mission. That's not why I'm this way," Lita stated.

"Then why are you so upset?" Samus asked.

"Because after this mission, I have to leave, and after I do, I won't see you for an incredibly long time," Lita said, staring away.

"Why do you have to leave?" Samus inquired.

"I don't belong here. I have to return home after my goal has been accomplished," Lita said.

"Where is home?" Samus asked.

"That's something I can't tell you. It's something you'll eventually find out for yourself," Lita replied.

Samus sat silently, moderately confused.

"Samus, promise me that if anything happens to me on SR-388, you'll bring me back to the ship immediately," Lita said, snapping her head around.

"I don't see that happening, but…" Samus started.

"Promise me!" Lita urged.

"Okay, okay. I'll bring you back. Since you said you wouldn't die, I figured you might make it no matter what. I took you for your word on that. Being psychic, you don't make mistakes like that, right?" Samus replied.

Lita raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not psychic, Samus," she said cracking a small smile.

"Well there goes that theory. I guess we'll have to beat them the old fashioned way, then," Samus said as she checked her arm cannon.

"Ma'am, we're reaching the surface. How close do you want to land to the ship's point of insertion?"

"Where did they land, Grady?" Samus asked.

"Just above the first set of ruins, ma'am,"

"Then you know where to land, Grady. Take us back to the old parking place," Samus said reminiscently.

As Grady took the ship in to land on the ridge, the ground began to quake. Samus and Lita looked out the window as the ground around the ruins cracked and fell in under the flagship's bridge. Out of the chasm, giant glass tanks arose, connecting to the underside of the bridge. Catwalk-like structures rose along with the tanks to serve as walkways. Two staircases extended out from the bridge and connected to the catwalks.

Before long, men dressed in white, escorted by some wearing black, descended the stairs and began inspecting the tanks along the catwalks.

"What is that?" Samus breathed.

"Not good, that's what it is. Marcusson is planning on launching a sort of biological warfare on the Federation. The agent is in those containers," Lita explained.

"Then I suppose we have to destroy it, right?" Samus said, almost as if she were asking for confirmation.

"That particular agent can't be released right now. You would have no defense against it, and neither would I. We would have to dispose of it from far away, which as far as I know, we don't have anything that can do that," Lita explained.

"How far away would we need to be?" Samus asked.

"For a flawless disposal? At least a mile," Lita cited.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Samus asked.

"If you can't destroy the agent, destroy the one who is going to use it," Lita said, raising her nitrogen pistol.

"Then I guess it's party time," Samus remarked.

Samus thought to herself. When was the last time she had gone into battle unaware of what to do?

She remembered. It was during Shattered Ice. She rubbed her forearm as her body acknowledged the thought of the encounter with a mild tingling sensation. She couldn't be careless this time, especially without the company of Adam.

Instead of Adam, she had a wily young woman. One who seemingly had knowledge beyond her years, and a spark of wisdom to go along with it.

Samus couldn't help but remember what Lita had said to Matthew:

"Matthew…it's important that you see the work you've done today as penance. Remember that."

Penance for what?