Derek crept down the hallway, his arm-cannon set to high power. The arm-cannon itself was strange, it was more or less a copy of his wife's, but not quite as powerful. Earlier that month a Chozo scientist had come on board to design some new weapons. He had been allowed to study Samus's power suit and recreate some elements of it's technology. Unfortunately the morphball function hadn't been one that could be replicated, being the thing of mystery it was. It certainly would have come in handy for Derek as he had just passed by an air duct. He could have rolled into it, gone through the air ventilation system and into the hanger. Or at the very least it would have made an excellent hiding place. Soon he came to a door, which he hoped would still be powered. But no such luck was with him. Worse even, Metroids were making their way towards him from behind, and through the walls! It was going to get really ugly, really fast, and he knew it. Derek checked his missle supply and frowned, only had four missles left. That had been something the Chozo scientist hadn't been able to replicate due to lack of funds: a capacity for two-hundred missles.
But now wasn't the time to worry about it, He was running out of time. Screeches and bizarre clicking noises could be heard down the hall, they were getting closer. Inspiration struck just in time, and he aimed the weapon down at the ground. Switching to the power beam he fired and began weakening a portion of the floor. When there was a hole about the size of his head, he fired a missle into it, enlarging the hole further. Then the Metroids cought up with him, his time was up. Without thinking about whether he would fit through the hole or not, he jumped. But his actions were in vain, the artificial gravity on the station gave out and left him hanging in midair. A prime target for the Metroids to feast on.
"
Everyone watched in utter horror as the Metroids pounced on Derek. One latched onto his face, while others grabbed his limbs. When the pack of beasts broke up Derek was gone.
The video from the security camera ended, and the lights in the classroom came back on making the students wince. Samus removed the data cube from the holoprojecter and put it in her pocket. Behind her, the students murmered, and conversed among themselves over what they had just seen.
"As you already know, this was the only recording that survived the Metroid attack on IBHA Space Station 4. This was also our first encounter with the new species now designated as Omicron class Metroids."
A hologram of the creature appeared, and hovered in the air for her students to see.
"As you can see, it closely resembles an alpha class Metroid in appearance, except without the bony plates on it's back. When we obtained a live specimen, It showed an insatiable appetite for energy of all types: electrical, fire, ice, life energy, Phazon, everything. Like all Metroids, it also has the ability to grow in size by consuming any one of these energys, while storing what it can use later in special organs called the Central Nuclei. Scientists have tried to harvest the energy stored in this organ, but all attepts have-"
The bell rang right at that moment and the students began picking up their things.
Samus swore quietly. "Ok everybody, we'll continue the lesson next week. Don't forget that your reports on Flickerbat physiology are due on Monday, no exceptions."
Some students groaned about being reminded, while others simply looked smug about it. Soon everybody had filed out of the room, and Samus was left all alone in the classroom, grading papers and pulling together a lesson plan for the coming week. She reached into her pocket for a pen, and pulled out the data cube instead. She stared at the cube for a long moment before placing it on her desk next to a holo of Derek and Renick. Samus slumped into her chair, tears ran down her cheeks as memorys of that day flooded back: her ship pulling alongside Renick's, the empty vac-suit, chasing after the Metroids...leaving Derek and everyone on the space station to die...All her friends, gone. Even General Farkus, who Samus had never really liked, hadn't survived that attack. The IBHA had fallen apart, and the Galactic Federation became her new employer. And now, fifteen years after the incident, she was retired from bounty hunting, and a professor of biology. She didn't regret the choice to become a teacher, only the one she had made fifteen years ago. And she would do anything, to undo it. Even if it only allowed her brother and husband to live for just one day longer.
But, such wishes are pointless. Whats done is done, and the past has been written. I only wait until time claims me as well.
Scooping up several papers, she stuffed them into a folder. Then she left the classroom, and the pain the day had brought upon her.
"
Do you see her yet?
Yes, I see her.
Is she the one we want?
Beyond a doubt.
And the message?
Has already been planted.
Excellent.