XX. Truth
"We are dying, Samus."
Samus stared up at the image of Old Bird that stood before her. He seemed even older than when she had last seen him. Her mind instinctively went back to her younger days, when she would sit at his feet and listen to his wisdom. His words had held her captive then. And as he spoke, she realized that they still did.
"Truly, we, the Chozo, are dead already." Old Bird continued. "This you have known from your youth. For even in your days amongst us, our numbers dwindled. Those wise among us have sought long for a way to undo this evil. And as we began to understand time and space, we began to find a solution, or so we thought. A device was conceived, and eventually created, the pinnacle of Chozo technological achievement. It is a device designed for the manipulation of time itself. Its design was rudimentary and though the wise among us conceived and designed it. Even we were unsure of its potential and proper use. It was hidden away here until we, or one worthy, might understand better its use and purpose and thus use it to restore our people. You know well Samus the potential danger if Ridley, or the Betrayer, or some other force might gain control of it. We placed two guardians, signifying that it is the Way to Life for our people and a third signifying our highest value: Truth.
"But it was, from its inception, a fool's errand. There is a deeper truth that you must know, Daughter Samus. It is one we, the Chozo have always known, but long denied. Only as I stand here, on the threshold of death itself, can I deny it no longer. Death reigns not only in the Chozo, but in all races. All peoples, all living beings, indeed, even the universe itself is in a state of decay. In our attempt to escape death, the Chozo created the time device. But, even in its great power, it is impotent to reverse that which cannot be stopped.
"We are finite beings, Samus; all of us. The finite, by its very nature, cannot achieve the infinite. Any effort will have only a finite, limited, effect. The flow of time cannot be altered. Though we move freely within it, its flow is fixed, even within ourselves. Thus in order to escape that one thing that makes us finite, we must be rescued out of it by one who is not bound by it; one who is infinite. Only one who is infinite can conquer the finiteness of death. Only the eternal can make efforts that exceed the temporal.
"I do not know if such a one as this exists. But if he does, he is very likely the creator of time itself and thus holds sway even over death. You must seek him out, Samus. You must find this one, for your own sake, and for the sake of your people. This is the final charge and the last lesson that I bring you."
Much to everyone's surprise, the hologram then reached out a spindly claw towards Samus. Eerily, it stopped next to her cheek and made a motion as if stroking it. Samus closed her eyes. It was as though she could feel her surrogate father's aged hand upon her cheek.
"My Daughter." Old Bird continued. "I have long known your heart. Emotion runs deep within you. And that is as it should be. I know how you must long for us. But we are gone and you must move on."
Samus' heart melted within her and silent tears freely fell as she looked back at him, her hands cradling the holographic claw as if to reclaim that sense of touch she had not felt in years.
"The time device," Old Bird continued again, "if properly used, may be able to restore you to your people, but only temporarily. Eventually, death will again claim us all. It is far more likely, that the device will cause a greater evil and rip the fabric of the universe asunder, especially if our enemies discover it. The finite cannot achieve the infinite. You must destroy the device. I am too old and have not the ability. I cannot even guarantee I will be able to return to the surface to take the device some place where it may be destroyed. Therefore I have left it sealed where there is a chance for it to be safe from any hands but yours. I have left this recording that you may know the path of wisdom and choose it. Beneath this recording device you may place your hand and the device will be yours. Heed my teachings as you always have. Farewell, Daughter Samus. Desire truth."
With that, the hologram flickered and faded out. The three women stood there as Samus attempted in vain to get her emotions in check. Eventually, she was able to somewhat calm herself and she wiped her face clean of her tears. She then reached out and turned the holographic projector clockwise until it clicked and then came free of the slab, revealing beneath it the indent of a human hand. Samus placed her hand in the indent. A slight grinding sound was heard ad a hidden panel slid open. The light from the slab suddenly ceased. In the same instant, the glowing of the pillars returned. The three looked at where the hidden panel had slid away, their eyes adjusting to the suddenly dim light. After a moment, a relief of a cylindrical object could be seen where the panel once lay. Sitting cradled within the relief was…
Nothing.