An Epic Conflict, an Epic Surprise

"Who the hell is that?!" Trace screamed.

"I am Berng Surdreck. CAPTAIN Berng Surdreck. Your mission ends here..."

It had happened. The source of the Gorea invasion had been discovered. All the stood in front of bounty hunters Samus Aran, Kanden, Spire, Trace, Noxus, Sylux, and Weavel now was one space pirate. It was over. They had won.

"THIS is what we were trying to destroy this whole time?! This weakling?! He's not even as tall as I am!" Kanden laughed.

"Do not underestimate me..." stated Surdreck in a threatening tone. "For you have no idea who you are facing..."

At this time, Surdreck lashed out with one arm in Trace's direction and knocked him flying across the room without even touching him! All anyone saw was a blinding beam of electricity, and nothing else.

"OPEN FIRE!" Samus ordered. But before anyone could react, Surdreck had fired six more beams faster than any of the hunters could blink! Before they knew it, they were at the opposite side of the arena.

He's stronger than he looks... We cannot fight him just yet. We must stop the cloning first. Samus, still injured from Surdreck's sudden attack, attempted to go into her Morph Ball. But it was no good. Surdeck was able to detect this transformation, and quickly fired another ear-shattering crack of electricity towards Samus, knocking her through the wall! All the other hunters could hear were her screams of agony, and then... nothing. Everything was silent. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

Samus... was killed...

"I'M NOT GONNA STAND FOR THAT!" Spire screamed. Despite the pain, he stood up and ran straight for Surdreck, who had an evil-looking smirk on his face. Spire shot a long-range charged MagMaul shot, which would hit Surdreck head on. The flames scattered around the fireball as it flew towards Surdreck, who had a sinister smirk on his face. As soon as the flaming stone would have hit Surdreck, though, he vanished and the shot smashed directly on the ground!

"Behind you!" Surdreck laughed. As soon as Spire turned around, he was shot straight across the face with a beam, spewing blood everywhere! Spire collapsed on the ground in pain, and soon passed out.

"Pathetic."

"Wha... Where am I? Where is my Chozo power suit?" Samus asked herself as she awakened. Looking around, she noticed the other hunters, but something was wrong. Why were they in containment chambers...? She soon noticed she was also in a tube filled with a green liquid.

What is going on...?

Glancing around the room, her hair flowing into her face, one more tube caught her eye. It was a larger version of the containment chambers. A blue liquid was eerily flowing into it from one side, and a tube on the other side was sucking something out. And in the chamber... was the one, true Gorea... This was the room where the cloning took place...

"Welcome to the laboratory, Samus Aran. Did you have a peaceful slumber? As you can see, this is currently where we clone the legendary Gorea, and infuse it with Phazon. Eventually, these clones will be unstoppable. And as you have noticed, you are in a containment chamber much like Gorea's. Although, we could not use Phazon. There is not much left after you killed the Metroid Prime. But now, see the tubes at the bottom of all of your chambers? They conjoin and lead into one room. You may look in there, if you wish," Surdreck proudly explained.

Samus knew she had no choice. If she stayed in the chamber, whatever was inside this room would become more powerful.

"...Alright. I'll go," Samus stated in monotone.

Surdreck pressed a button on a touch screen, and Samus's chamber emptied, and the glass slowly descended. She immediately reached for her handgun that she had in her Zero Suit (the blue, skintight suit she wears under the Power Suit), and aimed it towards Surdreck. With a large crackle, Surdreck vanished, and reappeared with Weavel's sword (apparently he had taken all weapons from the hunters, including Power Suits from any of them that had them) directly under her chin. She quickly lowered her gun, and soon dropped it.

"Wise choice. Now, follow me. You don't want me to use the Imperialist on your vulnerable head now, would you?" Surdreck threatened. He held up Sylux's gun, which had a red glow in some parts. Samus quickly and reluctantly followed him into the room.

Surdreck entered in some letters and numbers on a keyboard jutting out of the wall, and then had it scan his eye. The door slid open with a hissing noise, and Samus could not believe her eyes. There was a mutant slowly developing in this room.

Its breathing could be heard throughout the room. The creature was hideous. There was a glowing, closed eye on under its visor. The helmet and shoulders were infused with the beast, and had veins bulging out of them. The creature had a roundish shape, and had blazing, flaming pillars protruding from its back. Judging by the waist area, it looked like it could split into two pieces. Samus soon realized what this creature was. She now knew why the hunters were in those containment chambers.

Their DNA was being combined...

The rest of the hunters were soon let out of their chambers and collapsed on the floor. Shortly after, they came to and noticed the Gorea. They had reached their destination...

"Ah, you are all awake," Surdreck said mockingly. Sylux reached for his gun, but noticed something; his gun was missing, along with his entire power suit. He was a vulnerable creature, without a weapon or anything.

"Do not attempt to attack. I can counter every attack you can currently use. Your guns are out of ammunition. You are weak, and I can kill you in a matter of microseconds. Do as I say.. or else. Now, your power suits and your guns are in that room over there. Gather and equip them, and get back here immediately," Surdreck ordered.

The hunters, knowing they were outmatched, walked into the storage room and found their equipment.

"Ah, glad to have my suit back. Even in war it's embarrassing to be naked in public," Sylux stated. They headed back to Surdreck, who was opening another door. What was going on...?

"Ah, you are ready. Now, I can wipe you out in no time at all. But I would rather make you suffer. Now.. GET IN THERE!" Surdreck ordered as he shoved the hunters into the room. The door slammed shut behind them, and fog filled the room. Only Samus knew what was ahead...

The fog in the room soon abated, and the room was revealed to the hunters. A humanoid creature stood in front of them, in a mutated ball form with a tail and a blade. A crunching, electronic noise was heard, and the creature bent backwards. It was now standing on two legs, with a deadly glare in its visor. And all seven of them realized what this was...