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I was starting to get creeped out by U-Mos. Though, I wasn't sure why. He seemed the same. Except for the fact that he was becoming a demonic Seed that would serve Dark Samus, and that his limbs looked like the roots of a tree. Maybe he was right... Could he be saved by Samus? Did she have that power?

If she could help him... then why hadn't she when I was corrupted? Did she want him more? I felt sad, and gazed downward to her.

Samus's eyes were wide beneath the screen of her visor, and her hands was shaking. She gawked forward at U-Mos, her face thrown fearful.

I leaned to her level, saying softly, "Are you okay?"

She shook her head, pursing her lips tightly. The Luminoth lead us to a maintenance shaft, motioning us inside. I grabbed her quivering palm, squeezing it and tugging her stiff body into the elevator. Her footsteps were heavy, as was her breathing when U-Mos activated the rising hologram for the lift. We creaked into ascent.

"What's wrong?" I asked, kneeling so she could hear me better. The tall alien paid no attention to us at all. "Are you all right?" I repeated.

"He... it happened so fast..." she breathed, curling her fingers around my own. "Dark Samus is a piece of sh-"

"Whoa! Watch the language, Samus!" I cautioned, shushing her. "What's going on?"

She regained her senses, shooting a quick glance to U-Mos. His feathers twitched. Samus looked back at me, pulling off her helmet with a quick click of the air clamps. Her hair emerged in a flurry blonde, making little popping noises from being contained so long. Her ponytail unfurled, running down her back smoothly, and her bangs hung loose and delicate from her scalp to her chin. After swiftly brushing with her fingers the curls of hair that rested on her forehead, she studied me with her dazzling blue eyes. I gave a small smile at witnessing her with her trademark headwear removed once again.

Then without warning, Samus shoved the helmet onto my own head, commanding the visor with her arm cannon's buttons. I blinked furiously, the flashing screens of the different purposes confusing my sight. I rubbed the red plating. "I'm surprised this fits..."

A beep came from the speakers in either one of my ears, and my attention was forced onto a series windows that harbored information and diagrams. One on the right pictured a full-scale scan of U-Mos's body, with a blue core in his stomach that fanned out of his figure, symbolizing his corruption. The screen opposite featured a select few of his body parts, hand, arm, and torso. In the bottom right and left corners were Metroid graphics that spun around slowly. The center box was a frozen image of U-Mos's twisted back, which was tinted greenish, and a sentence above it read, ҉ Access for Logbook.

"Well this is cool, Samus, and I feel really important wearing this, but why did you put it on me in the first place?" I wondered in a low voice, looking past the scanning monitor and to my friend.

She frowned. "Read the entry," she replied in the same tone.

I obeyed. Morphology: U-Mos. Subject is infected with a Leviathan Parasite, and has grown to full corruption. Phazon readings, 100% and rising. He now has enhanced forms of telepathy and psychic abilities. With his new powers, he is able to control the brains and actions of other organisms at his disposal. His own mind is under the influence of someone near this location, but they are giving him free will and rights. U-Mos is an excellent deceiver, but despite all this, the overdose of Phazon has decreased the Luminoth's hearing drastically. Thus, he has preference to using his psychometry.

I froze. He had actually succumbed. He told me he would fight it... Did he let himself become this way? I looked at Samus, who was still in a state of disbelief. "What are we going to do?" I whispered.

"I don't-"

"We are here, hunters." U-Mos interrupted, and the lift stopped. He was watching us with his bitter sapphire eyes, and I noticed little Phazon streaks were cracking out of them and spreading across his face. "Will you join me?"

I exchanged a worried glance with Samus, and slid her helmet off my head. She took it back, but cradled it beneath her arm and reluctantly followed me and U-Mos out of the shaft.

"Take this. Just in case," she uttered under her breath as we walked alongside each other.

I closed my palm around the pistol she slipped me, recognizing it as the weapon she had unleashed on Ghor back when I first woke up. That seemed so long ago... I slid the cover off, the rope of plasma glinting inside orange. I covered it again, smiling. "Thanks."

She returned it. "No problem. I don't think you should only be armed with your ice manipulation."

We emerged onto the command deck, which was mostly untouched. The windows were cracked a tad, the floor was strewn with some blood, and the consoles were flashing in and out of functioning. The three of us prudently walked further into the tall room, approaching the computers.

U-Mos started to grope with a monitor, which was the largest and best usable. Samus joined me in examining a few cracked screens, pointing to one. "That's Ghor. I'd know his symbol anywhere."

I studied it, the robot's face flickering on the screen. His expression was unreadable, but I detected a hint of sadness in it. I traced the glass, feeling worry for my friend.

The window above lit up with a brightly colored map of Colossus. It winked a few times, fading from view, but managed to return to our curious eyes. The hallways were crooked and linking to all rooms, the place looking like a giant spider web from this angle. In the very center was the large half circle of the command deck, which was flecked dully with six dots.

Six?

"Augh! Be careful!" an irritated voice came from behind. "Oof!" a thump sounded after. "Stupid schlep."

Samus, U-Mos, and I turned to find Dray getting to her feet. She was scarred in several places with bleeding cuts, and her wrists and ankles looked bruised. Her face was twisted into a sneer, purple eyes venomous. When she stood, she clenched her fists and looked at us. "What are you guys doing here?! Get out before-"

Dray was interrupted by loud, slow applause coming from her side. She twisted her head to the side, muttering, "Crap."

Dark Samus formed from the shadows, clapping her hands together. She was totally missing her arm cannon, and smiling with debauched happiness. Ghor stepped up behind her, the lights on his body deep black. His fingers were sharpened at the ends in glinting talons, and his face was utterly blank.

"I'm proud of you Sammy, for getting this far. I have to admit, I had a little hope that my lovely mixture of Space Pirate corpses would at least do something to you. But, as with all of the crap I've thrown your way, you conquered it. What should I do now, to finally rid you from my hair? Hmm..." The dark hunter paced around the deck, screeching her claws against the panels. Sparks shot upward with the shrill pitches as she left long marks in the metal. "I've got an idea!"

Dark Samus's trio of eyes sparkled yellow, and she snapped her fingers. Ghor lunged towards Dray, grabbing her shoulders. "Let go of me!" she protested, squirming away from his clutch. "Don't- ah!!"

With his touch, black lightning crawled over her body, and she cried out. Dray's eyes were devoured by darkness, and her little Jovian physique was transformed against her will. Ghor stepped back as she finished her changing into a more high-tech, tough looking version of his battle suit, and after a pained groan, she went machine stiff.

Ghor merged with Dray's form, roaring with a disturbing voice, "Prepare for battle, for it will be your last!"

But Dark Samus wasn't finished yet. She looked towards us, nodding her head back. "Come, progeny."

"Progeny?" I said aloud.

It was then that U-Mos drifted over to her side without using his legs, a cruel smirk on his face once more. It didn't fit him, not at all. He stood behind her with entire satisfaction emanating from him. His wings widened and embraced her, and she cuddled into his furry chest.

Samus pointed her gun to them. "I should have killed you earlier!!"

Dark Samus chuckled. "Maybe you will now."

U-Mos was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

She twisted around and grabbed his hand, throwing him forward. He stumbled slightly, eyes wide. "Fight them! Now!"

He turned to us, clenching his fists. "Let us destroy them, Ghor, Gandrayda. Leave nothing left except Samus's bloody helmet!"

They came toward us, shouting with malice.

I quickly glanced to Samus. "You ready?"

She grinned. "Always!"