Phaaze II, formerly the Homeworld of the Space Pirates. A once glowing, red planet with great power and menace. Now, it was shocking blue, radiation from the poisoned orb reaching its deathly claws out towards the stars. I watched the churning Phazon clouds above the surface, and felt a shiver in my being. Dark Samus ascended through the coverage of lethal bank, ignoring my fear as she always had.

Once free of the clouds, I saw the surface Phaaze II. The ground was covered in light cobalt, blindingly shining. I squinted against the brightness and continued to peer around, with the dark black sky, the wiggling tendrils of Phazon, the creatures of the Pirate Homeworld corrupted and bloodthirsty, and the vast flock of sixteen alien races. I recognized with horror the Diamont, Space Pirate, Kriken, Wotans, Jovians, Vhozons, Cyclosians, Enoemas, and Phrygisians, all standing in a great gathering.

"Baffling, no? I brought them all here myself. I wish I could've heard their screams..." The dark hunter was pleased with herself as she landed the fighter, stepping out and before the colonies. "Oh well. At least they're unstoppable."

I stared at the aliens, with their mutated bodies and ruthless faces. I knew the bounty hunters from each tribe. They were the ones with the most extravagant and cunning armor. Kanden was even more muscular and daunting, Trace was slightly larger, and his arms and legs were spiked crazily. Sylux had transformed tentacles that had penetrated his plating from the inside, with them sticking out of his chest, back, and the crown of his helmet. Noxus was icy blue, and he was broader shouldered and as tall as I was, he grinned with fangs when he caught me staring at him. Spire was solitary there as well, with Phazon gushing from his body and his eyes hard and cruel. Weavel was standing with his group of Pirates, his armor upgraded and his weapons mind-boggling. He chuckled and cocked his gun as I watched him. They were all incredible and outrageous, but had one thing in common- along with the rest of the multitude: the Chromia latched onto each of their necks.

"Minions! I congratulate each of you for making the decision to follow me! You will not be disappointed." Dark Samus spoke through the same mixed tone of mine and hers. "...As soon as Samus Aran and the traitorous Jovian and Wotan arrive on our doorstep, we shall assimilate them." The crowd began to cheer. "And when they are ours, we will overthrow the universe!!"

By this time, the entire planet was roaring with twisted happiness. I curled into a ball inside my head, worry for Samus, Gandrayda, and Ghor's safety weighing heavily on my mind. How would they be able to withstand these enormous armies? Like the dark hunter had said, they were unstoppable. I sighed, knowing that they would surely be defeated, but then remembered what Samus had told me at the Galactic Federation docking bay. "Don't let her control you! You're stronger than she is! You can beat her!"

I thought about her words. Was I stronger than Dark Samus? Would I be able to conquer her? She had taken my body for her own... But I was still conscious... Did that mean I still had a chance? "Now. All of you go prepare for their arrival. I will be with you shortly." The adversary dismissed the swarm, and they all obeyed mechanically, turning and leaving the landing sight in a miraculously short time for an assembly of that size. In an instant, we were alone. "I should be making preparations myself. After all, I need to give you your body back sooner or later."

I was confused. "Really? W-why?" I didn't think that this evil witch had any room for compassion.

"Once I get the power I deserve, I won't need you anymore. You'll be useless, anyhow." She walked across a bridge, opening a door and stepping inside. It was an elevator, so she touched the holographic lift and stood in the center. Dark Samus snickered. "My new body will be far greater than yours by legions."

I gulped. "New body? What about your old one?"

"Rundas," she sighed, shaking my head for me. "You should at least know that I have multiple forms. Raein, for example, was one of my alternates."

I felt sad. I would miss having a younger sibling. "Why did you do it?"
 I caught her off guard as we rose several floors. "What?"

"Why did you make me and everyone else believe that Raein was real?"

Dark Samus was quiet for a time. "I wanted to get some inside information on you." She said curtly. "I didn't have much knowledge of you at the time."

"But you could have read files the Galactic Federation has on me. Why barge into my life and dupe everybody?"

I felt something in Dark Samus like I had never felt before. It was hot, but she was bitter in mind. My fists clenched on the outside, and she responded with an unfamiliar tone, "I was jealous."

"Jealous?! Of who?!" She was capable of jealousy too?! I always knew she was an empty shell of Samus's old Phazon Suit. But, she had emotion, and feelings; intelligence. This was quite a shock.

"Who else is madly infatuated with you? Who else has the power to make your cold heart melt? I am jealous of Samus, Rundas. The life she has with you. I made myself Raein because I could get close enough to you so I wouldn't get attacked. Spat upon. Your parents... they accepted me when I was Raein only because of fool-proof mind washing. The rest of the Phrygisians made me feel like I belonged somewhere." I was suddenly sorry for Dark Samus. I had never thought of her point of view. Constantly being isolated and hated by millions of people she didn't even know. She thought my life was comforting... "The only reason I've done all this was so I could get to you."

I went quiet, pondering all she had confessed. I was desired by two now? That was a little overwhelming for me. "So all those years of fighting Samus... she thought you hated her... that was a lie?"

"Untrue. I do hate her. In fact, I loathe her. Intensely. But not for the reasons she thinks."

"Dark Samus... If I'd known I would've been a little nicer," I said softly, though in my mind I didn't mean it. She had done horrible things. This could be a fake admittance. I had to be careful.

"No you wouldn't. You would step on me and crush me like everybody always has!" She shrieked, and it pained me terribly. I clenched the wall I was curled into. "I've become strong because I've had to climb and claw my way to power. No sympathy from you is going to change me! I've already made up my mind for my plan. I'll take Samus's body from her even if I have to kill you to do it!!"

"What?! Take her-?! You can't do that!! I won't allow it!!" I felt my chance to repulse her was coming, and I readied myself to vanquish the dark hunter into nothing.

"I knew you'd say that," her voice was baleful, and right when I was about to stand and fight, she thrust me farther than before into the nooks of my head. I felt like an invisible clamp was keeping me down, and I couldn't move. "Do not overestimate my power, Rundas. I am still far more superior than you at this point. If you don't fight me, I won't erase you from time forever. Now be quiet, like all Phrygisian filth should, and let me pick out the best instrument to kill Samus with." She entered the armory, browsing through the immense variety of Space Pirate weaponry.

"I won't let you harm her! Let me out!" I bellowed, thrashing my head from side to side; the only thing I was able to do. "You life sucking, murderous, despicable parasite!!"

Dark Samus stopped. "What did you say?"

"Are your ears as dirty as your soul is? I said you're a-"

"Life sucking..." she interrupted, whispering. "That's perfect! I won't need her body, I'll just take your energy and combine it with the both of yours..." She laughed. "You, my friend, have some of the best ideas. Thank you for the plan."

Realizing I had just spelled out Samus's death sentence, I screamed, "Noooo!!!!!" Just as the dark hunter left the armory, an orange, hawk-like gunship landing twenty meters away, with Samus, Gandrayda, and Ghor stepping out of it and onto Phaaze II.

I stared at them, pleading with Dark Samus to let them go. "Don't to this! Please! Don't!"

"Nothing shall stand in my way of annihilating them all."

We began to walk towards them.