Now this is a franchise I've wanted to make a chapter with for a while now, but I just couldn't think of a really good scenario until recently. But I finally have now, and with that out of the way, let's begin.
I do not own Halo or Metroid.
The Colonel walked through the halls of the science station, half of his attention on the explanation of the escorting scientists, and the other half on what they were showing off. It was rare for the ringleaders to send him to these types of experiments, but the events on the BSL and the BOTTLE ship proved that closer and more thorough oversight was required.
And he could see why. These 'Flood' as the UNSC so eloquently called them, had the potential to be even more dangerous bioweapons than the Metroids or X-parasites. And with the technological advantages held by the UNSC, Republic and Separatists that made them superior to the Federation, well, the balance of power needed to change and soon.
Federation retrieval teams had been sent to several planets visited by Samus Aran to gather specimens that could be used as test subjects and potential bioweapons. Leftover specimens from the planets Zebes and SR388 were mixed with some of the more dangerous fauna of Tallon IV, Aether and Bryyo.
As the Colonel walked past one containment area, he saw some of the experiments in progress. A control group of Bryyo Warp Hounds were pitted against their sickly green and multi-tendril counterparts. The Flood versions were much more lethal, and had a greater level of control and range over where they teleported.
Fortunately, the Chozo derived energy barriers around the tubes prevented the infected Warp Hounds from escaping. If they could escape, then the facility would be overrun within a matter of minutes.
In another containment area, the Colonel saw another experiment determining what could and couldn't be infected by the Flood. From Tallon IV, Magmoors and Sheegoths had better immunity to the Flood due to the extreme temperatures that made up their bodies.
And yet, even they weren't full immune, as another containment cell held infected versions of Magmoors and Sheegoths, who nevertheless seemed to lack some of the more dangerous abilities of their uninfected counterparts.
"As you can see, when separated, the Flood specimens are extremely vicious and aggressive." The lead scientist, Jack Thompson said. "Apparently, these are in the Feral Stage of their development. Their only real instinct is to effect other life and gather enough biomass to create a central intelligence, thus beginning the Coordinated Stage."
"Can you control these 'Feral' Flood?" The Colonel asked. When the answer was in the negative, he grew confused and annoyed. "Then why not let them grow to their 'Coordinated Stage' and hijack their hive mind from there?"
"Sir, that may not be... the wisest option." Thompson responded. "All research shows the Flood are even more dangerous as they gain more intelligence. Letting them develop to that stage would be a grave mistake."
The Colonel didn't answer for a moment, his mind was working in overdrive as he thought over the possibilities, then with an idea in mind, he spoke again.
"Who's in charge of specimen containment here?"
This drew confused looks from the gathering of scientists before the answer came from somewhere near the back of the group.
"Aurora Unit 343 is in charge of the scientific study and security." One scientist said. "He ensures that none of these Flood can escape."
"Has the Aurora been isolated from the network?" The Colonel asked.
"Not to worry." The scientist replied. "We've cut 343 from the other Auroras. We won't have a repeat of the Phazon Crisis."
The Colonel nodded, feeling some of the tension ebbing away. The Phazon Crisis had been one of the worst times for the Galactic Federation. Dark Samus had taken over the Space Pirates and the planet Phaaze and used both to launch attacks on Federation territory. The Federation had been hard pressed to respond because prior to that happening, the AU network had been infested with a Phazon-based virus, forcing complete network shutdown to keep the virus from spreading. Now, the Aurora Units could work off the grid to keep the same thing from happening again.
Of course, with its isolation, the Aurora could be the key to solving this problem.
"Couldn't 343 be used to subvert the Flood hive mind and take command?" The Colonel demanded. "Surely, that's the most effective solut-"
"With all due respect Colonel," Thompson snarled, with fire in his tone. "You're asking us to break safety procedures at the highest level. This Flood is potentially more dangerous than anything you've seen before!"
"And that's why we need to study it." The Colonel growled. "The Galactic Federation needs to find some way to control these creatures if we are to gain any more progress among the multiverse."
"Let's make one thing clear Colonel. You're not in charge here." The researcher snapped. "This is an extremely delicate operation, and I will not bypass safety procedures because the politicians want to look good, or because you're impatient for a new bioweapon!"
Once his ship had left the base, the Colonel made contact with the rest of the ringleaders.
"I'm afraid the staff aren't willing to speed up the research." The Colonel said, getting right to the point.
"Then we'll have to speed it up for them." A shadowed individual replied. "We'll assign more like-minded scientists to speed up our goals."
"And what about Thompson?" A female asked. "What do we do about him?"
The Colonel smiled. "I'm afraid our dear friend Dr. Thompson will suffer an unfortunate accident."
Several weeks later, things had changed. Jack Thompson, the lead scientist of the Project had been killed in an 'unfortunate lapse of judgement,' when he supposedly let himself enter a quarantined lab without any protective gear. Most of his colleagues didn't buy that for a second, but they couldn't afford to speak up, as several of their number had been replaced with more militaristic operatives.
The small faction within the Galactic Federation hadn't taken Dr. Thompson's warnings about the Flood very seriously. If they had, they might've known better than to let him be infected by the Parasite, while only providing minimal changes to the security procedures.
The ringleaders had underestimated the Flood's intelligence, despite witnessing the attacks it had made during the current war. They had assumed that the Flood was a biological weapon, like the Metroids. Something that could actually be tamed and controlled.
That mistake was going to cost the lives of everyone on the station.
The first sign of the Flood's true intelligence was when they broke free using access codes that only Jack Thompson had known. For many of the researchers, it would also be the last sign of intelligence they would ever see... while uninfected.
The resulting rampage of Flood infected specimens was much worse than the outbreaks on the BOTTLE Ship and BSL combined. Energy blasts were hurled everywhere as the Parasite tidal wave swept through the halls of the station, slaughtering everyone it touched.
Infected Aetherian War wasps fired energy blasts from their stingers, while Sheegoths and Magmoors could no longer use their ice or fire breath respectively, they more than made up for that with increased strength.
Against all odds, some researchers and security guards managed to get to safe zones, possibly due to the fact that the vast majority of the specimens didn't have much intelligence for the Flood to grow. Despite that, they had more than enough bodies to drown the remaining researchers in a sea of green and yellow. Some of the automated turrets helped them hold out, but eventually they were overwhelmed by the ocean of bodies.
Just when the few survivors thought their situation couldn't get any worse, the Parasite managed to breach the Aurora Unit chamber.
"Alert!" 343 said, the calmness in its voice a distinct contrast to the chaos around them. "Infected life signs are attempted to remove this unit from our tank. Alert, Parasitical forms have breached our exterior shell! Bio signs-cor-cor-corrupted..."
There was silence before 343's voice broke over the speaker system again. But there was something horribly wrong.
"All containment fields deactivated." The Aurora said. "All personnel are to submit to mandatory infection. There is peace in subjugation."
The infected AU's voice had become more distorted, but also much more threatening with an extremely malicious tone, and it had begun occasionally speaking in the first person. It was clear now that AU 343 had become a mouthpiece for the Flood.
Desperately, the survivors fought on, but with the Aurora Unit infected by the Parasite, the odds of survival were getting increasingly slim. The Flood opened doors, shut off venting systems, reprogrammed the auto-turrets to target the survivors and generally turned the station against them. Through it all, the Aurora kept taunting them, it's voice becoming increasingly distorted as a rasping baritone voice replaced it.
"The Forerunners could not stop us." The voice growled. "The Chozo could not halt us. What chance do you have?"
Slowly, the pockets of survivors dwindled, until only three large groups remained. Heading to the hanger bays, they used the few available combat ships to fight off the horde of Flood that followed them in. Unfortunately, with the Flood in control of the station, the hanger doors were in lockdown, meaning no one could escape.
"You persist to delay your own fate." The Aurora stated. "I will unleash your greatest fear. Your end is inevitable."
The screeching noise, mixed with the bloodcurdling howl of the Flood, echoed through the vents, causing panic in everyone. They knew that sound. It was the creature everyone feared, one who had given even the great Samus Aran a very difficult fight.
It was Nightmare.
Several hours later, a fleet of Galactic Federation warships converged on the Flood research station. Led by several Olympus-class battleships, all weapons targeted the station, just as a swarm of smaller ships emerged from the infested hanger bays.
"Destroy the station!" The commanding Admiral ordered. "All Griffins and Stilletos, make sure that no Flood escapes!"
All the ships moved to their assigned roles, the fighters and frigates tearing apart the smaller infected ships as they tried to escape. Meanwhile, the battleships focused all their weapons on the research station, with missiles and energy beams tearing through metal like a hot knife through butter.
The military might of the Galactic Federation had proven itself once again, however it was not a complete victory: A dozen infected ships were able to slip through the cracks in the defenses, with no gravity well to keep them from jumping to FTL.
More worryingly, as salvage operations were conducting in the remains of the station, the Federation noticed that the Aurora Unit was missing, as was Nightmare. A shiver ran up the Admiral's spine as the implications ran through his head.
If the infected AU 343 got reconnected to the Aurora Network, it could severely hinder if not completely cripple the Federation's military and government. And if Nightmare had become infected by the Flood... he shuddered at the thought.
Once the salvage teams were done, the fleet gathered what they could and retreated back to the Federation HQ on Daiban, leaving nothing but scattered metal drifting through the void.
Ok, now I'm guessing people are wondering why I had the Galactic Federation in the place of the mad scientists instead of, oh say, Space Pirate Science Team.
Well, part of the reason is that in my story multiverse, the Pirates have joined with the Separatists (and therefore are actually more intelligent and successful) but mainly because when you look at Metroid Fusion and Other M, the Federation aren't really much better.
I mean making an army of nigh-uncontrollable Metroids and removing their only weakness before trying to domesticate them was a really stupid idea, as was trying to harness the X-Parasites. Frankly, when it comes to scientific study, it almost seems like the Federation has more vapor for brains than the Space Pirates!
Now, onto another aspect: why did I tease a Flood-infected Nightmare, yet fail to show him? Well, I have a plan for him to show up in a later chapter of this collection, and I didn't really want to waste him something like this.
Regardless, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and reviews are always welcome.