Samus's Theatre (pt.1): On the Surface of Tallon IV
Now we'll see what Miss Aran and her group are about to encounter on the abandoned planet of Tallon IV. There won't be civilian casualties, but there will still be danger afoot. Let's get this show on the road…
The truth is not always pleasant…
In stark contrast to the most positive of ideals, factual evidence can be very ugly to even the most mentally stable of persons…
When exposed to the dark truth after living in a world filled with peaceful make-believe, the resulting effects on a person are often drastic…
Existing beliefs and relationships can be altered or shattered completely…
Thoughts of anger, resentment, and even violent intent can arise in the most severe cases…
What may appear as a red rose can, in reality, be its corrupted, black-tinted counterpart…
"Are you guys okay back there?" Samus, now piloting her gunship through a portal, asked. She was now clad in her high-tech Power Suit, which was colored with shades of red and metallic orange. The shoulders were rounded in appearance, something that would not be noticed on an ordinary person's body, and the right forearm was outfitted with a powerful, green-colored cannon that could fire energy beams and missiles. The helmet was mostly red, but the visor was a light shade of green. The glow that resonated from the glass-made screen was bright enough to obscure the huntress's face almost entirely.
"This portal is making my head dizzy," Fox moaned. The headset-wearing vulpine was clothed in his standard uniform, which consisted of a white jacket, red-black boots, green trousers, dark gloves, a red scarf wrapped gently around the neck, and a dark green undershirt. His reflector, a hexagonal device that was primarily used for defense, was hanging off his belt, and on his right leg was a holster that housed his personal blaster.
"For once, I actually agree with you, McCloud," Wolf complimented. Like his rival, he felt an uncomfortable wave of sickening dizziness wash over his mind, though his greater resilience ensured that he was further away from the point of vomiting his breakfast. But even so, the shaking was still more than what he had bargained for.
Whoosh…
"And we're finally at Tallon IV," Samus sighed. Now that the gunship was free from the portal's erratic shaking, there was now an endless torrent of rain splashing against the windshield. The severity of the current weather made it difficult for the passengers on-board to notice the damp surface below, although this problem was not as apparent to Samus due to her closer position. A faint layer of foliage coated the surface below, its greenish coloring overshadowing all other features except for the small bodies of water. The lighting of the area was very dim thanks to a combination of dark clouds and the sun's weaker influence at this current moment in time. From a distant view like the one currently being shown, Tallon appeared to be unaltered in Samus's eyes despite the years that passed since her initial adventure. Even though Phazon's removal from the environment had brought beneficial changes to the ecosystem, such changes were currently not visible.
"Pikachu…" Pikachu quietly chirped upon noticing the breathtaking scenery. The Mouse Pokémon was recognizable by its yellow fur and lightning bolt-shaped tail, with the latter indicating its ability to absorb large amounts of electricity. The tips of the ears were coated with black fur, and its back was marked with horizontal stripes of brown. Completing its appearance were its beady eyes and red cheeks, which formed an image of alluring innocence when combined when its other traits.
"Looks pretty peaceful down there," Fox quipped. "Of course, there may be some Lords lingering in the area…"
"That certainly seems possible," Samus replied. "Now, once we disembark from this ship, we better keep our guards up at all times. The Lords are enemies that we've never faced before, so we don't know their full potential."
"From what that Lillian lady showed us, they don't look too strong," Wolf grunted, displaying his high confidence. "Our weapons should off them in seconds."
"Do not be overconfident, Wolf," Meta Knight warned. As he spoke, the gunship entered the very same landing site that was used for the bounty hunter's first mission on Tallon IV. "We must take Samus's advice to heart and exercise extreme caution."
"Whatever you say, dark knight." As soon as the gunship reached its landing spot, the lift to the top lowered itself down to the floor that the Smashers were standing on. Since the area of said lift was only enough to carry one person at a time, it was only natural that some time would be consumed before the entire group was exposed to the soaking rain. Reactions to the water beating down on skin and clothing were generally those of discomfort and even disgust; the three plant-like Pikmin accompanying Captain Olimar were the exceptions to this, as they felt comfort and strength from absorbing water.
"I really wish there was some dry area nearby," Snake moaned. His gray stealth suit was already beginning to feel damp against his skin, which was the main root of the unpleasant stimuli overtaking him. His brown hair and bandanna also took the full brunt of the weather. The only things that were spared were his equipment, safely contained inside durable cases and, in the case of his handgun, a holster.
"There is," Samus responded. "It's right over-" But the sentence ended abruptly when the bounty hunter noticed something different about the entryway into a nearby cave. There was originally a high-tech door that denied access without the help of an energized weapon, any of Samus's signature Beams to be more exact, but this obstruction was now gone for the most part. A melted outer frame, which had since been cooled down by the rain, was all that remained, and that alone was enough to force a belief into the huntress's mind.
"Someone has been here recently," she muttered under her breath. "I hope I can find out as to who did this, but at least this will save my group some trouble."
"Well, what are we waitin' for?" Wolf spat, frustrated that his body was being soaked. "Let's find a dry spot." On cue, Samus led her group past the decimated doorway and into the drier cave. The cave itself was moderately small, covering only a few meters in all three dimensions, and parched compared to the outside environment. Dark walls of stone coated the sides, and lighter-colored sand dotted the floor, bringing about a juxtaposition that truly heightened the contrast between each feature's color-related properties. Glowing fungi in the form of mushrooms were present on one wall.
"Man, this place is really caught in one hell of a storm," Fox sighed while drying off his fur. "Does it always have bad weather?"
"As far as my knowledge is concerned, the Overworld does have heavy rainfall on a frequent basis," Samus answered. "Rarely does this area get any dry periods."
The vulpine's face cringed slightly at the huntress's comment. If the search for the staff piece was going to be set entirely within this soaked region, then he and most of the others would be plagued by misery stemming from being uncomfortably soaked. Hopefully, he believed, he was wrong… dead wrong.
"So, we're gonna search for the piece in the middle of a serious downpour. Go figure."
"No," Samus rebutted. "There are other regions of Tallon that we'll explore. We're heading over to the Chozo Ruins first. And trust me; things will be much drier there."
"Okay then…" Without anything else to say, Fox and his fellow Smashers strolled into a small hallway that led into the cave's exiting area, which was marked by a melted frame that was nearly identical to what was witnessed earlier. Up ahead was a small canyon that extended several meters deep into the earth, complete with strange sacs placed at random locations on the wall and a small stream fueled by a shallow pond, itself supplied by a waterfall. Although it was hard to discern due to the low lighting, strange creatures were seen crawling on elevated platforms.
"The transport is on the other side," Samus muttered. Passing through the tropical realm of discomfort, it was realized by the other Smashers that the crawling organisms possessed spikes along their hardened shells, complete with a grayish coloring; the spikes were sharp enough to presumably inflict cuts upon anything that was below a certain degree of hardness. In addition, there were what appeared to be pincers and red, translucent eyes that peaked out from underneath the safety of the shell. Only Samus could recognize these creatures as Zoomers; the other Smashers either did not care about them or were unable to figure out their identity. On the other side of the canyon was an entryway marked by ancient, Chozo-esque architecture and moss growing on the stone walls. The travel through the canyon was nothing of considerable interest, until…
CRACK!
"What the hell?!" Fox shouted, nearly stumbling at the sight of a small dirt explosion. Hopping out of a newly-formed hole in the ground was a multi-legged Beetle, an aggressive insect capable of digging through the earth with relative ease. The creature's skin was mostly a dark blue, although the mouth area, which consisted of jaws powerful to cut through most objects, was a brighter orange. Wing-like structures were present on the sides, and the back ended with a sharp point that hanged over the Beetle's head. But perhaps the most distinctive feature was the color of its multitude of eyes; juxtaposing with the rest of the body, the eyes were a bright green and harbored a faint light that was still noticeable in the jungle's dark environment.
"That's a mean-lookin' sucker right there," Wolf quipped. As he spoke, he prepared to draw his blaster out.
"That is a Beetle," Samus sighed. "It isn't too difficult to take care of." Within seconds, she fired several shots from her cannon to defeat and dismember the hostile insect. On the final blow, portions of the Beetle spattered the ground and, to a lesser extent, Fox with green innards that harbored a sickening appearance to the group. Predictably, the vulpine immediately cringed and proceeded to wipe himself clean, with the heavy rain acting as assistance.
"Why me…?" he moaned.
"Hey, that'll be the least of your worries when we go up against the Lords," Wolf grunted. "Besides, I've seen things much more disgusting than bug guts or, hell, even Andross's bioweapons."
Fox's face tensed out of growing anger. "And where's your proof on-"
"That's enough, guys," Snake interrupted. "We don't have time to talk about small crap. Right now, we just to focus on the mission, and then we can talk about disgusting things later, though I can't guarantee that."
"Fine…" Wolf sighed, albeit with a slight snarl. While the two opposing mercenaries from Lylat kept a good distance from each other, the entire group entered a stone-forged hallway filled with the same organic sacs from earlier and cracks along the foundation. It was at this point that, aside from the occasional booming of thunder, the storm's noises began to fade away, leaving an eerie silence that was broken only by footsteps. The hallway's air felt cold to all Smashers except for Samus and Olimar, whose suits isolated them from the outside environment, and the fact that they were soaking wet from the rain only exacerbated the uncomfortable sensation. However, the efforts to dry off did not take place until the group entered the room containing an elevator-like structure at the very center.
"Pika," Pikachu sighed as it shook off the water in its yellow fur. Tiny droplets stained the dry floor, resulting in dark spots that provided a slight contrast to the lighter, unaffected areas.
"So, is this the transport into the ancient Chozo stronghold?" Snake asked.
"It is," the bounty hunter replied. "Once we reach the Chozo Ruins, we have to search for any clues as to the staff piece's whereabouts."
The ex-FOXHOUND operative proceeded to remove a cigarette from one of his pockets before lighting it up. "I hope we don't run into any Lords while we do so."
"It seems unlikely. Besides, I have a reason to believe that they may be the ones responsible for melting down the doors we've seen so far. In my last exploration of this planet, there were doors that prevented access without the use of my Beams."
"Pika-pika?" Pikachu asked, hoping to find the reason behind Samus's earlier statement.
"I can't think of any other group that would be scavenging the planet right now; the last time I checked, the Galactic Federation didn't have any plans to explore Tallon. But regardless of who we're dealing with, we just need to approach this mission with extreme caution."
"I definitely agree with you on that," Fox sighed. Wasting no time, the Smashers boarded the transport, with Samus stepping onto the holographic representation of said transport. A downward pull tugged on the travelers' bodies as the platform, constructed long ago by the Chozo, ascended into the dry assortment of ruins. For a few seconds, nothing was said between the fighters due to a lack of interesting topics to speak about. However, there was but one thought that possessed the strength to linger inside their minds for an extended moment; with one of Fox's earlier comments in consideration, it was indeed possible that the Lords were hiding somewhere on Tallon IV, and they could just as easily be waiting for unlucky passerby to venture right into their traps. The lack of any advanced information on the dark cultists only strengthened this belief, as there was no surefire way for the Smashers to prepare for ambushes of any sort. Unless…
"Maybe we should ask Lillian about the Lords," Samus muttered, her voice partially muffled by her helmet.
"And for what reason?" Meta Knight questioned, his voice filled with interest.
As the huntress prepared to answer, the elevator finally reached its supposedly deserted destination. "We need to get some greater insight on the Lords, just in case we have the misfortune of running into them."
"It's better to be prepared than dead," Olimar squeaked. The Hocotatian was a more unique character among all the Smashers; he was much shorter in comparison, surpassing only a few in height, and his facial features gave rise to an original complexion. Pointed ears, constantly closed eyelids, a hilariously larger nose, and few strands of pointed hair were the primary indicators of his existence, though his suit was also a standout compared to the attire worn by other Smashers. His suit was a pale yellow, save for the red gloves and the white undersides of the boots, and it was equipped with a helmet to prevent oxygen, toxic to Hocotatian life, from entering his nostrils. The helmet itself was recognizable by a glowing antenna at the top and a whistle at the mouth area.
"Well, someone has to contact her," Snake demanded. While the former operative then placed his cigarette inside his mouth, Samus proceeded to connect to the mysterious maiden via telepathy. While the entire group stepped into the first area of the sand-filled ruins, a voice suddenly echoed inside the bounty hunter's mind:
"Samus? What do you need me for?"
"Lillian, I need some information on the Lords," Samus sighed. "Is there anything in particular that I need to look out for? I feel like there are some cultists lurking somewhere close to my position on Tallon."
"…" The maiden did not respond for the first couple of seconds. Such silence was quickly noticed by the Chozo-trained fighter, who was curious as to the reason behind a lack of responsiveness. It was possible that the maiden was attempting to recollect her experiences with the Lords, but something still appeared to be off. Was it that she was attempting to…
No. That could not possibly be true, correct? There was almost no way that she would even considering putting such a trick into play at this crucial moment. The probability was very low when considering the maiden's nature, but then again, anything was possible…
"Lillian?" Samus asked, all while guiding her group into the main plaza. "Are you there? Speak to me."
"I am terribly sorry," the maiden sighed. "I was allowing myself to lose focus until you spoke to me. Now, the Lords' combat strategy varies depending on the situation, but the Lords will generally rely either on stealth or full-fledged violence. If you are dealing with the former, make sure that you and your partners keep your eyes open in all possible scenarios, because letting your guard down will result in dire consequences. Having enhanced vision capabilities will also help in preventing ambushes. When dealing with the latter situation-"
Lillian abruptly stopped herself, then remained silent for another extended length of time. As the galactic heroine once again waited for more words to be spoken, a short, barely audible groan could be heard over the telepathic channel. Maybe a short pain was being experienced, perhaps a migraine? There was no way of telling, but the huntress could only hope that it was nothing serious.
"Excuse me for a few minutes, Samus," the maiden sighed unsteadily. "I have to rest for a few moments."
"Lillian, wait-"
But it was too late. The telepathic channel had been shut down. The lack of information was going to pose a major problem to her group, for without any information on the Lords' weaknesses or general strategies…
"Looks like we're on our own now," she sighed to herself, although Fox's ears were sharp enough to overhear the comment.
"What happened?" the pilot questioned.
"Lillian's having some problems and needs to rest for a few moments. I don't know what exactly is going on, but whatever she's dealing with must be serious enough for her to "rest for a few moments"."
"I hope we're lucky enough to find an exploitable weak point on our own, the chances of which are fairly slim." Stepping down a very short stairway forged from stone, Fox and his fellow Smashers came to realize, or remember in Samus's case, the grand architecture of the main plaza. The walls were around several meters high, approximately tall enough to block out the rising sun's rays, and said walls exhibited signs of old age via cracks, erosion, and the like. A half-pipe structure, which acted as a gateway to an elevated area of the sand-coated floor, stretched itself underneath a bridge woven from tree branches and platform-sized stones. There were a couple of plants in the vicinity, among them a giant tree that had established close contact with one of the walls. Off to the left was a doorway that, like the others encountered by the Smashers, was melted like it was nothing more than metallic butter. While the others immediately continued forward after their period of sightseeing, Samus was caught in a warm aura that seemed to be resonating from this ancient place; no doubt, her connection to the Chozo was giving her a… sense of homeliness, for a lack of better words. The fact that this area was not her place of upbringing did little to disrupt such strong feelings.
"Pikachu?" the Mouse Pokémon chirped. Suddenly dragged out of her moment of immobility, Samus proceeded to catch up with her group in seconds. As the Smashers ascended to the elevated area, nothing seemed to be entirely out of place, until…
"What the hell…?" Snake muttered. Off to his left was a doorway marked by a few slaughtered Beetles, including a more durable Plated Beetle. Green blood and scattered innards stained both the floor and the deformed entrance, resulting in a sickening look that was extremely out of place with the rest of the environment. The Plated Beetle was missing its swollen abdomen, which, known only through Samus's past experiences, was the creature's vulnerable spot.
"Whoever's searching this place must have the firepower to wipe the floor with those suckers," Wolf remarked.
"Well, Samus?" Fox asked. "Are we gonna find out who did this?" But the huntress was unable to immediately give a response, for there was a faint noise that sounded very reminiscent to footsteps tapping against a steel floor.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"I hear tapping," she sighed. Her heart began to race as the threat of an approaching foe gripped her body. "It looks like someone's approaching."
"Pika-pika?" Pikachu squeaked, unsure of Samus's claim. It attempted to approach the gore-soaked doorway, but stopped upon hearing a faint voice muttering words from a foreign language. What exactly was being said was clearly unknown, but the fact that was indeed someone else on the planet sparking a chilling fear inside the Pokémon's mind. If the intruders on this planet really were the Orm's Lords, then…
"Pika!" Pikachu stumbled away from the entrance in such a hurry that it nearly tripped over in front of its allies. Right away, most of the Smashers noticed that the great amount of concern displayed by the Pokémon could only mean one possible thing.
"The Orm's Lords?" Fox muttered. "Are you sure about this? I mean, it could be some random guy-"
The Mouse Pokémon was quick to interrupt the vulpine's statement. "Pikachu! Pika-pika!"
"I guess we better hide then," Snake remarked. As he and the others scrambled to an elevated pathway leading to a collapsed bridge, two Lords stepped out of the dim hallway and into the more open environment of the main plaza. The cultists were nearly identical in appearance, except that one of them was shorter and had a red variant of the organization's emblem printed on his robe, signifying his status as a captain.
"My dear captain," the subordinate sighed, "We have not been able to find the piece inside the Chozo Ruins. The ancient mechanisms of this place have been searched thoroughly, but…"
"Oh, c'mon now!" the captain moaned. Unusually, his voice was very lighthearted and even playful to an extent. "You mean to tell me that this place does not have the shiny piece, the one thing that can make jaws drop in an instant due to its sheer beauty? Really? And what about the native creatures of this dump?"
"Sir, some of the native fauna have been able to resist our attempts at exterminating them. Our magic has been able to hold them at bay so far, but I fear that-"
"I don't believe this. You folks have been able to wipe the armies of our foes time and again, but you cannot handle a couple of inferior specimens? Hmph… That is beyond pathetic. What about the situation in the lava caves?"
The subordinate cleared his throat to dispel some of the raspy noises in his vocal cords. "We have been able to create a warp system with the help of our leader's portal experts. The portals created have been able to help us bypass the intense heat that plagues the lava-filled caves, and they have also been helpful in reaching the area known as the "Phendrana Drifts", which is the only area that we have not searched in."
"Phendrana…?" Samus whispered. Throughout, her helmet accurately translated the conversation in real time, and the mention of Phendrana being the only place where the Lords had not yet visited struck a chord in her mind. It was now clear to her that there was almost no point in searching this place or the Overworld, all while being reminded of the fact that Magmoor was notorious for its extreme heat; except for Olimar, whose suit could possibly shield him to an extent, her fellow Smashers would be dead of heat stroke or even incineration in seconds. The Impact Crater and the now-defunct Phazon Mines also seemed out of the question, since the former had collapsed a long time ago, while the latter was taken down by the Galactic Federation sometime after her initial adventure…
…unless she was missing something. Going back to Lillian's description of the piece's location, Samus realized that the maiden did not specify which exact location on Tallon IV was the piece resting in. So, if the piece was not in Phendrana, or if it was inside the ruins, then…
I need to contact Lillian again, the huntress pondered. While interrupting her helmet's translating feature, her mind attempted to reestablish connection with the mysterious maiden. The wait, which felt like a slowed minute, was marked by the sight of Pikachu approaching the bridge to observe the Lords… while being careful to avoid detection. Silence was also a noteworthy sign, stemming from the lack of a response from the maiden.
"Lillian?" the bounty hunter quietly whispered, all while joining Pikachu in watching the Lords. "Come on, answer me."
But no voice came forth. This bizarre situation now began to disturb Samus as the possibility of Lillian experiencing a harmful event, whether mental or physical, was realized. Meanwhile, Snake smashed his cigarette against the floor to prevent giving away his group's position via smoke trails.
"I can't understand what the Lords are saying," the aged soldier, also observing the Lords, quietly muttered. "However, I can't assume that whatever sort of crap they're coming up with is any good."
C'mon, where are you…? the Chozo-raised warrior mentally sighed. But after nearly two or three minutes of waiting, there was still no response, forcing her to abandon her initial goal. It was by this point that the Lords had already retreated into the hallway from which they emerged. Pikachu, with its beady eyes as sharp as an eagle's, immediately noticed this event.
"Pikachu," it softly chirped. It was inevitable that its fellow Smashers would gather around its position to notice that the main plaza was, for the most part, uninhabited again. Cold silence was free to roam throughout, something which most of the group took note of.
"So, what now, chief?" Wolf coughed. "The Lords are definitely rearing their ugly-ass heads into this place, and it's not like we're gonna rush at them without knowing how to take 'em down."
"We're going to Phendrana," the armored woman replied. "I was able to translate the conversation with my helmet, and it turns out that they've supposedly searched in every area on this planet except for that particular one. I also learned that the Lords created a portal system inside Magmoor to bypass the heat that's inside the cavern."
"Wait, I remember you telling me that Magmoor's got deadly heat within its perimeters," Fox muttered. "It was during the time that you were detailing your adventures on Tallon."
"I'm a bit surprised that you still remember our conversation from a few years back, but I digress. Yes, it's true that Magmoor would kill an unshielded organism in seconds, and probably apart from Olimar, all of you do not have any form of protection. Of course, the portals should help us bypass this problem. Now, we better get to the transport that leads into Magmoor; there's supposed to be a shortcut from the Hive Totem, which will lead us-"
But the bounty hunter froze mid-sentence upon realizing something important. The entire area was designed for only the Chozo to navigate, and none of the other Smashers had the technology necessary to access certain rooms. The shortcut from the Hive Totem could only be navigated with the help of the Morph Ball. With that in mind, this could only mean one thing.
"What's wrong?" Snake asked, showing concern towards Samus.
"Damn," the bounty hunter grunted. "The path that I intend to bring us to can only be accessed by Morph Ball. There are two alternate routes, but one of them is sealed off, and the second involves a large drop down. I'm afraid I'll have to navigate Phendrana on my own."
"Pika-pi?" Pikachu squeaked. "Pika?"
Samus lowered her head by a slight amount. "You guys should stay here and hold your position until I get back. Lillian's still incapacitated, so try to avoid confrontations with the Lords unless you have no other option."
"Pikachu." With nothing else to say, the Mouse Pokémon and its allies dropped down from the broken bridge before stepping into the metallic hallway. As they did so, the rising sun began to cast its intense rays of beautiful light upon the ancient stronghold…
At the Smash Mansion…
"My head… I can feel it throbbing…" Lillian moaned. Her headache had started as she was informing Samus about the Orm's Lords, and right now, it was getting progressively worse. Her eyes were becoming very sensitive to light, and her mouth felt it was trying to regurgitate something from her stomach.
"No… AGH!" Desperate to nullify her pain, she rushed from resting spot and into the mansion's second floor. It was at this point that the nearby Master Hand, having departed from his office, immediately noticed her distress.
"What's wrong, Lillian?" the commentator asked. Had he not been a hand-like entity, his possible face would have shown shades of grave concern for the maiden.
"My head is in serious pain…!" replied she. After speaking, her cranial pain intensified so quickly that she nearly collapsed to the floor. It was at this dark point that she also heard a strange voice inside her head, one that was not heard by Master Hand; it was very faint and unintelligible, but its minimal volume was just enough to scream sinister vibes to her. While this disturbing event continued, the leader of the Smash Brothers immediately rushed into the medical wing to obtain some medicine.
"Hurry…" Lillian squeaked. In the seconds that passed afterwards, the voice threatened to increase in volume to the point where the words spoken were of greater clarity. And soon enough, the threat was carried out, resulting in the voice being loud enough to clearly hiss the following words:
"Lillian… Lillian… There is no hope for you…"
"What?!" the woman gulped. "Who are you…?"
"Lillian… Lillian…"
"Get out of my head…" The pain and voice continued to intensify for a while, and they would have driven her to the point of insanity… had Master Hand not given her some fast-acting pain medicine.
"Here you go," he muttered. As the capsules entered the maiden's mouth, the pain gradually began to subside over a period of a few minutes; likewise, and for some strange reason, the voice began to die away in a very slow manner. Now safe from distress, Lillian began to calm herself by taking large breaths.
"I am fine now…" she gasped. "Thank you for the medicine."
"What was causing your headache to unravel?" the commentator asked. "Was it something that you ate or…?"
"That does not matter, Master Hand."
"What do you mean?" Master Hand remained still upon hearing the comment. To him, it was possible that she was being bothered by the question, but dismissing the possible causes of such serious pain was still a bit unusual. So, why…
"I just do not wish to talk about the causes right now. Now, I will be heading down to the kitchen to get fruits. Maybe they should help in keeping my mind off this situation."
"Okay then. If you need anything, just let me know."
"I will." As the commentator floated back to his office, Lillian proceeded towards the kitchen to find a small snack. As her stroll progressed, her mind suddenly caught one important thought; aside from a few areas, she was quite unfamiliar with the Smash Mansion's assortment of rooms. Maybe she could take the time to explore this place in the not-so-distant future…
Inside the hallway leading up to the Hive Totem…
"What the hell is up with the tilting of this hallway?" Wolf snarled. He and his fellow Smashers were inside a tilted hallway that was caressed with shallow waters and occupied by Plazmites, insects equipped with bio-luminosity caused by thermal energy.
"Perhaps the foundation has gotten weaker over the years," Snake sighed. While speaking, he and the others leaped onto the platform surrounded by water and occupied by strange weeds that appeared to be flailing back and forth. A second leap carried all of them towards the final part of the hallway.
"Almost there," Fox sighed as he passed through the nearby doorway, which happened to be melted. But as soon as he and the others entered the greenish room filled with Chozo-shaped floodgates, aged plant branches, and calm waters, a surprise awaited them all.
"What…?" Samus muttered. In place of the machine that was originally inside the Hive Totem was a strange structure that appeared to be composed entirely out of organic matter. It was mostly pitch-black except for the veins, which were colored a morbid red. Pulsating bridges connected to the ceiling and walls, providing stability to the overall structure. A faint thumping was heard from the very center; to some of the Smashers, it reminded them of a heartbeat. To complete the description, there was a closed hole at the front. Overall, the dark complex of living tissue seemed to be a disgusting addition to a room that would otherwise be normal.
"I don't what that is, but it's really giving me the creeps," Snake grunted. His face nearly cringed at the sight of the organic blob.
"That wasn't there before," Samus added. "Maybe the Lords added it to assist with their plans in some way. We should investigate it."
"I concur," Olimar squeaked. The Hocotatian did not seem visibly disturbed by the blob, though his mind was just as disgusted by the sight as those of the others.
"Oh, hell no," Wolf moaned. "I'm not sticking my hands into that shit. Why don't you guys go ahead and examine it?"
"I second Wolf's notion," Fox whispered. While speaking, he noticed a grimace on Pikachu's face. "I think I might get sick if I go anywhere near it. Come to think of it, I don't think Pikachu wants to get too close, either."
"I'll stay behind as well," Snake grunted.
"It's just us now," Meta Knight hummed. "Let's try to get inside the hole."
"Yes, we should," Olimar agreed. He and the other volunteers then proceeded to approach the structure with extreme caution…
There's just something about the organic structure that disturbs me greatly, but I just can't exactly put my finger on it… yet. The Lords are up to something with this thing, and whatever it is, it doesn't look too pleasant. Oh, well. I can only hope that it doesn't swallow us whole when we approach it… or unleash something hostile at us.
-Samus Aran
A possible hostile in sight… and Lillian experiencing a whopping headache, complete with strange voices… Not too pleasant, would you agree? We'll see what's up with the organic structure in the next chapter, and as for the cause of Lillian's condition, that will be for a later time…
A/N:
-For those who aren't aware yet, Snake is in his MGS4 incarnation.
-In Metroid Prime, there was a mini-boss inside the Hive Totem that was able to summon a highly aggressive variant of the War Wasp (Ram War Wasp) to harass Samus. I'm sure some of you guys have played the game already, but I'm just pointing this out to those who haven't.
R&R, like always.