Metroids!
My God, how could this be?! They're supposed to be dead! I saw the last one die before my very eyes!
Emotions whirled in my head with such ferocity that I didn't know what to feel. Surprise, disbelief, anger, horror, desperation, awe. Memories flashed like nightmare visions. Memories of all the metroids I have killed in all their evolutionary forms, of the Metroid Prime, and mostly, of the Hatchling.
I pressed a hand against one of the glass tubes and leaned my face closer to the metroids hovering inside. None of them reacted to my presence. They couldn't sense me behind glass because they couldn't see. I sighed, letting my hand slide down into a resting position at my side. No, none of them was the Hatching; I might as well stop hoping. These metroids would gladly drain me of my life's energy without a second thought.
My sad reminiscing was slowly replaced by outrage. The Federation was breeding metroids. Have they not learned that playing with such a dangerous species would inevitably lead to disaster? Have all my battles on Zebes and SR388 been in vain? When I get back to HQ, some heads are gonna roll over this.
The restricted sector was eerily quiet save for the squealing of metroids. The dim lighting from long-abandoned computer terminals did not cast any shadows. I was too jumpy for my own good. Something was going to happen here, and soon; I could just feel it. I now realized that this sector was the driving force behind the actions of the X. They did not consider me their true target, but were focused on the destruction of this batch of metroids. And I knew since I opened the way into the restricted sector, the SA-X would not be far behind.
I stepped into the next chamber with my gun raised. Before me rose four tubes containing metroids in various stages of evolution. A basic protoplasmic metroid with its two pairs of mandibles, grown almost mature enough to metamorphasize into the next stage. A clumsy alpha metroid, with newly developed eyes and protective shell. The gamma metroid, which prefers to hover rather than use the flimsy legs that its fangs have evolved into. And the zeta metroid, who would attack me relentlessly, regardless of how much damage I inflicted upon it.
None of the metroids moved, so I assumed that they were locked in stasis. I tapped one of the glass tubes. The image of the metroid shuddered when I disturbed it, hissing with static. Ah, so these were only holographic projections.
The next room was designed much like the first. Just a few tanks of basic metroids placed behind computer terminals. I had barely taken two steps into the room when I heard the sound of a hatch opening beneath me.
Oh my God.
It was immediatly followed by the sound of shattering glass. The floor began to shake under my feet as red emergency lights flashed in tune with a deafening klaxon. I could smell something burning.
The SA-X is here. I have to run away!
There were no exits from this room other than the way in which I entered it. I readied my ice missiles, in case I needed to buy a little time against the SA-X, and ran into the evolution chamber. But to my slight relief, it was not in this chamber. Like the room before, there was no way to escape. I suppose my only option would be to somehow make it past the SA- X in the next room, then hopefully find a hiding space somewhere in NOC. Trying desperately to slow my thundering heart and ragged breaths, I ran blindly through the open hatch.
I once again found myself facing the SA-X, the parasite which possessed an exact genetic copy of me at the peak of my powers. A sense of horror and hatred always accompanied our meetings, and this time was no different. But for some reason, the SA-X didn't even notice me though I stood mere meters away from it. It was randomly shooting into the air, completely oblivious to everything but its target above. I looked up.
The metroids were loose.
The SA-X was shooting at the metroids with a fury and desperation borne of the deepest instinct the X had. The survival of their species. I had no doubts now that the X were willing to destroy this space station, me, and themselves in order to kill off the last of the metroids.
A few metroids already lay dead at the SA-X's feet, but others were still emerging from the broken glass tubes. The ceiling collapsed, allowing more metroids in from the room above. Finally, one of them lunged at the X's gun arm, digging its mandibles into the power suit. The SA-X's arm jerked in pain, making its shots go wild.
Sensing their opportunity, the other metroids descended, smothering the SA- X with their gelatinous bodies. My copy writhed like a dying animal, clawing at its attackers with mortal desperation. Then it screamed, a demonic shriek which has never been heard emmited from a human throat.
During this whole time, I watched the scene in stunned horror. With the metroids were distracted and the SA-X being eaten, this might be my only chance to escape. The hatch into NOC has been slagged by my copy, so I turned my attention to the ceiling. Yes, there must be an escape somewhere up that shaft!
"Detatchment of restricted sector imminent." A disembodied feminine voice warned monotously. "Sixty seconds until isolation lockdown."
Shit! So the Federation's trying to save their own pitiful ass now that their experiment has gone wrong!
I space jumped through the collapsed ceiling into the room above me. Landing on a remaining edge, I took a breather and tried to find an exit. But when I looked up, the blood drained out of my face. A couple dozen metroids hovered back and forth above me, waiting for their chance at the SA-X. I assumed that because the X are the metroids' main prey, they preferred its energy over mine, and so ignored me. But not even the SA-X could feed this many metriods, hungry as they were from being neglected for so long.
"Fifty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
I gritted my teeth together. Hell, I have to get out of here! I squinted my eyes, trying to see the top of the shaft, and was rewarded with a glimpse of what might be a hatch. It would be no trouble to space jump up there, but with the metroids in my way...
No choice. The distance wasn't far, and I could endure a metroid or two for the few seconds needed to reach the hatch. What to do with the metroids afterwards would be considerably more difficult to manage. I quickly calculated a flight path which I hoped would put me in contact with the fewest metroids possible. But navigating with the space jump has never been a perfect science.
With a deep breath, I took a literal leap of faith. Curling in my head and legs, I let the semi-automatic space jump function take over the complex aerobatics it requires to complete such a maneuver. I tried my best to steer, but the results were erratic at best. It wasn't long before I bumped into my first metroid.
Ignore it! Ignore the pain! I can worry about metroids after I get out of here alive!
"Forty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
What the...? Instead of attempting to suck my energy, the metroid pushed me violently, disrupting the rhythm of my space jump and forcing me to return to the ledge. It floated down to my eye level, chittering angrily as if admonishing me for jumping into it.
I stared at the metroid with my jaw hanging slightly open. The metroid didn't attack me! Is it possible?!
"Hatchling?!" I whispered, my voice almost cracking. I reached out to the metroid. It dodged my hands and floated out of my reach, angling downwards towards the SA-X, who was already dead but still twitching.
No, no. I saw Hatchling die before my very eyes. There was no way that metroid could be my Hatchling. But why else would it act like that...?
Another metroid flew dangerously close to me, showing similar disinterest in my energy as the first one did. In fact, now that I noticed, none of the metroids treated me as prey. Perhaps all of them were Hatchling, cloned from the original Hatchling's cells. But I doubt the Federation has the technology to replicate memories from DNA as well as bodies. And none of these metroids paid me any attention, whereas Hatchling used to squeak happily when its near me, obsessed as it was with my presense.
"Thirty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
I could think about that later. Top priority right now was to get out of here in one piece. Ignoring the flood of emotions, emotions which I have forbidden myself to feel for years, I tried the space jump again. I was bounced back by a few more metroids, none of which tried to attack me, but sometimes forced me to restart the space jump in midair.
I made it out of the restricted sector with seconds to spare. As I stood in the transparent tunnel chamber, I watched a piece of B.S.L. spacestation detatch from the main lab and crash onto SR388, taking with it the SA-X and the last of the metroids.
My God, how could this be?! They're supposed to be dead! I saw the last one die before my very eyes!
Emotions whirled in my head with such ferocity that I didn't know what to feel. Surprise, disbelief, anger, horror, desperation, awe. Memories flashed like nightmare visions. Memories of all the metroids I have killed in all their evolutionary forms, of the Metroid Prime, and mostly, of the Hatchling.
I pressed a hand against one of the glass tubes and leaned my face closer to the metroids hovering inside. None of them reacted to my presence. They couldn't sense me behind glass because they couldn't see. I sighed, letting my hand slide down into a resting position at my side. No, none of them was the Hatching; I might as well stop hoping. These metroids would gladly drain me of my life's energy without a second thought.
My sad reminiscing was slowly replaced by outrage. The Federation was breeding metroids. Have they not learned that playing with such a dangerous species would inevitably lead to disaster? Have all my battles on Zebes and SR388 been in vain? When I get back to HQ, some heads are gonna roll over this.
The restricted sector was eerily quiet save for the squealing of metroids. The dim lighting from long-abandoned computer terminals did not cast any shadows. I was too jumpy for my own good. Something was going to happen here, and soon; I could just feel it. I now realized that this sector was the driving force behind the actions of the X. They did not consider me their true target, but were focused on the destruction of this batch of metroids. And I knew since I opened the way into the restricted sector, the SA-X would not be far behind.
I stepped into the next chamber with my gun raised. Before me rose four tubes containing metroids in various stages of evolution. A basic protoplasmic metroid with its two pairs of mandibles, grown almost mature enough to metamorphasize into the next stage. A clumsy alpha metroid, with newly developed eyes and protective shell. The gamma metroid, which prefers to hover rather than use the flimsy legs that its fangs have evolved into. And the zeta metroid, who would attack me relentlessly, regardless of how much damage I inflicted upon it.
None of the metroids moved, so I assumed that they were locked in stasis. I tapped one of the glass tubes. The image of the metroid shuddered when I disturbed it, hissing with static. Ah, so these were only holographic projections.
The next room was designed much like the first. Just a few tanks of basic metroids placed behind computer terminals. I had barely taken two steps into the room when I heard the sound of a hatch opening beneath me.
Oh my God.
It was immediatly followed by the sound of shattering glass. The floor began to shake under my feet as red emergency lights flashed in tune with a deafening klaxon. I could smell something burning.
The SA-X is here. I have to run away!
There were no exits from this room other than the way in which I entered it. I readied my ice missiles, in case I needed to buy a little time against the SA-X, and ran into the evolution chamber. But to my slight relief, it was not in this chamber. Like the room before, there was no way to escape. I suppose my only option would be to somehow make it past the SA- X in the next room, then hopefully find a hiding space somewhere in NOC. Trying desperately to slow my thundering heart and ragged breaths, I ran blindly through the open hatch.
I once again found myself facing the SA-X, the parasite which possessed an exact genetic copy of me at the peak of my powers. A sense of horror and hatred always accompanied our meetings, and this time was no different. But for some reason, the SA-X didn't even notice me though I stood mere meters away from it. It was randomly shooting into the air, completely oblivious to everything but its target above. I looked up.
The metroids were loose.
The SA-X was shooting at the metroids with a fury and desperation borne of the deepest instinct the X had. The survival of their species. I had no doubts now that the X were willing to destroy this space station, me, and themselves in order to kill off the last of the metroids.
A few metroids already lay dead at the SA-X's feet, but others were still emerging from the broken glass tubes. The ceiling collapsed, allowing more metroids in from the room above. Finally, one of them lunged at the X's gun arm, digging its mandibles into the power suit. The SA-X's arm jerked in pain, making its shots go wild.
Sensing their opportunity, the other metroids descended, smothering the SA- X with their gelatinous bodies. My copy writhed like a dying animal, clawing at its attackers with mortal desperation. Then it screamed, a demonic shriek which has never been heard emmited from a human throat.
During this whole time, I watched the scene in stunned horror. With the metroids were distracted and the SA-X being eaten, this might be my only chance to escape. The hatch into NOC has been slagged by my copy, so I turned my attention to the ceiling. Yes, there must be an escape somewhere up that shaft!
"Detatchment of restricted sector imminent." A disembodied feminine voice warned monotously. "Sixty seconds until isolation lockdown."
Shit! So the Federation's trying to save their own pitiful ass now that their experiment has gone wrong!
I space jumped through the collapsed ceiling into the room above me. Landing on a remaining edge, I took a breather and tried to find an exit. But when I looked up, the blood drained out of my face. A couple dozen metroids hovered back and forth above me, waiting for their chance at the SA-X. I assumed that because the X are the metroids' main prey, they preferred its energy over mine, and so ignored me. But not even the SA-X could feed this many metriods, hungry as they were from being neglected for so long.
"Fifty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
I gritted my teeth together. Hell, I have to get out of here! I squinted my eyes, trying to see the top of the shaft, and was rewarded with a glimpse of what might be a hatch. It would be no trouble to space jump up there, but with the metroids in my way...
No choice. The distance wasn't far, and I could endure a metroid or two for the few seconds needed to reach the hatch. What to do with the metroids afterwards would be considerably more difficult to manage. I quickly calculated a flight path which I hoped would put me in contact with the fewest metroids possible. But navigating with the space jump has never been a perfect science.
With a deep breath, I took a literal leap of faith. Curling in my head and legs, I let the semi-automatic space jump function take over the complex aerobatics it requires to complete such a maneuver. I tried my best to steer, but the results were erratic at best. It wasn't long before I bumped into my first metroid.
Ignore it! Ignore the pain! I can worry about metroids after I get out of here alive!
"Forty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
What the...? Instead of attempting to suck my energy, the metroid pushed me violently, disrupting the rhythm of my space jump and forcing me to return to the ledge. It floated down to my eye level, chittering angrily as if admonishing me for jumping into it.
I stared at the metroid with my jaw hanging slightly open. The metroid didn't attack me! Is it possible?!
"Hatchling?!" I whispered, my voice almost cracking. I reached out to the metroid. It dodged my hands and floated out of my reach, angling downwards towards the SA-X, who was already dead but still twitching.
No, no. I saw Hatchling die before my very eyes. There was no way that metroid could be my Hatchling. But why else would it act like that...?
Another metroid flew dangerously close to me, showing similar disinterest in my energy as the first one did. In fact, now that I noticed, none of the metroids treated me as prey. Perhaps all of them were Hatchling, cloned from the original Hatchling's cells. But I doubt the Federation has the technology to replicate memories from DNA as well as bodies. And none of these metroids paid me any attention, whereas Hatchling used to squeak happily when its near me, obsessed as it was with my presense.
"Thirty seconds until detatchment of restricted sector."
I could think about that later. Top priority right now was to get out of here in one piece. Ignoring the flood of emotions, emotions which I have forbidden myself to feel for years, I tried the space jump again. I was bounced back by a few more metroids, none of which tried to attack me, but sometimes forced me to restart the space jump in midair.
I made it out of the restricted sector with seconds to spare. As I stood in the transparent tunnel chamber, I watched a piece of B.S.L. spacestation detatch from the main lab and crash onto SR388, taking with it the SA-X and the last of the metroids.