A pool of crystalline water lies hidden in the depths of the forest. Three
Chozo statues were built over this circular pool: a prophet, an architect,
and a warrior, all dipping their beaks into the water as if to drink. This
location was far enough from the Sheltering Tree so that it would not be
engulfed by shadow for most of the day. But the dense weaving of plantlife
permitted only a few beams of light to penetrate the canopy. Tiny,
reflective lifeforms would dart in and out of in the light that does manage
to filter through, flickering and flying. They would make no noise, as
quiet as the mute trees and the still air, as if afraid of breaking the
fragile silence.
Samus breathed slowly, for even she was affected by the still atmosphere of this place. If it wasn't for the reassuring beat of her heart, she would have believed that time itself had frozen in place. She sat on the edge of the reflecting pool, nestled in the heart of the Chozo's forest which had been her home for the last month or so. She was alone save for a single male at the other end of the pool, as still as the statues he sat between. The bounty hunter watched he, with his troubled eyes, stared into the bowl seeking answers, and saw only a reflection of himself. Yet, he continued to sit there as he had for the past few hours, until he finally felt it was time for him to leave. He took a mouthful of water, bent in the same pose as his stone ancestors, then disappeared into the foliage.
Samus watched him go, then turned back to her own reflection. Her image was as perfect as any mirror's, only it rippled every time she dipped her fingers into the water. She wished it would speak to her. Tell her what to do. The Chozo have always turned to their reflecting pools during times of confusion, peering inwards in hopes of finding a solution within themselves. But Samus was too impatient to sit through such meditation. Instead, she used the reflecting pool simply as a quiet place to sit and think.
There was a lot on her mind. First and foremost, she wondered if she should stay here with the Chozo. After all, she didn't feel needed anymore by the planets united by the Federation. The metroids were gone, the X were gone, and any Space Pirates remaining were but a pitiful shadow of their former military glory. Anything else that might cause the galaxy any problems could probably be handled by the other bounty hunters out there. Besides, she had pretty much marred her image in the Federation's eyes. They wouldn't want a traitor like her working for them.
For the last month, she felt content living here in this lush forest. Why should she leave such a paradise? Hadn't she done enough with her life? Shouldn't she deserve any peace she desires for herself? But it was a frightening concept as well. She never had a permanent home before and she wondered if she would soon long for the heady days of fighting and travelling. Would this new life prove to be too tame for her? Would she miss the stars?
And if she did leave again, she would have to leave alone. It was clear that the Dachoras and Etecoons wanted to stay here from now on. During their first days living in the Sheltering Tree, the animals would stay near Samus's new treetop home, but they eventually wandered away to establish a place for themselves. The Etecoons would now forage out on the thinnest branches where Chozo and humans could not follow. The Dachoras dug themselves a nest at the tree's roots and lined it with their soft green feathers. Well, Samus felt happy for them, but she felt somewhat abandoned at the same time.
As for her own new home, the Chozo gave her a little hut near the top of the tree. It was a humble bachelorette's pad made out of woven wood with two levels but no stairs. She could climb or jump to another level if she needs to. It was quaint yet roomy, perhaps comfortable. Thankfully, it was not as primitive as she had feared. The house even had an irrigation system built into it by tapping the stems of a hollow, pressurized, water-carrying vine. But the crowning glory of her new home would have to be the elaborate communications system that the Chozo had provided her. It could pick up signals from halfway across the galaxy. She made good use of the machine for the first few days, watching sitcom vids until her eyes became sore.
The Chozo were so wonderful to her. But for some reason, she felt a sense of loss as she spent time with them, as if a part of her had died. Late at night, when the insects concluded their nightly chorus, Samus would lie awake and feel more alone in this tree city than she had felt back on her ship, hundreds of light-years away from any other living thing. If she does not belong here, then where could she truly consider to be a home? Was she doomed to forever wander the stars, forever lost?
One thought led to another without end, without answers. She got up to leave, but not without first taking a sip of the silky water. It had a faint mineral taste to it, not unpleasant. Samus decided to talk to the Wind Elder about her troubles. He was not exactly the most skilled or experienced of elders, nor was his abilities as a seer very powerful, but he could provide some insight into her situation. And even if he couldn't, it was reassuring simply talking to him.
Instead of tree-jumping, she felt like walking back home today, even if it would take twice as long to get there. She felt lethargic after sitting at the reflecting pool for so long, as if her blood had settled like the motionless water. By the time she reached the root of the Sheltering Tree, insects and plants had already begun to display their luminescence, heralding the glaring white dusk. She took the elevator to the top of the tree and decided to return to her house first for a little rest. She wouldn't want to greet the elder all sweaty and tired.
The 'door' to Samus's house was just a big, obvious opening without any sort of cover. She had to put a curtain over the gaping hole so that half her house wouldn't be plainly visible to the whole population. Well, the Chozo had little need for locks or even privacy. She heard that some Chozo tribes don't even have individual dwellings at all, but a mass hall for everyone to live in. She couldn't imagine living like that; it would drive her crazy. At least these Chozo had a vague idea of personal space and property.
A lot of the contents of her ship had been moved here. Half her wardrobe, some tools, items of food that couldn't be found on this planet such as coffee, and a water heater for the warm showers she loves to take. She took one now and dressed herself in a feathered robe that was given to her by Veaning. The Chozo told her that it was the garb of Warriors, and it sort of made Samus look like a Chozo as well. She regarded herself on a reflective surface and frowned. Humans simply don't look good masquerading as Chozo; the mane of feathers behind the cloak made her look like a hunchback. Well, whatever. The Wind Elder had been pleased to see his ancestor's garment being worn by the Defender after generations of disuse. And she had nothing else warmer than this to protect her from the chilly night.
The elder's chapel was literally a hop, skip and a jump from her house if she took to the branches rather than walking the main trunk. She jumped up and nearly ran into a juvenile Chozo also leaping through the trees. He chirped in surprise, which turned into a squawk of shock when he saw Samus's face.
"You are the Warrior!" He exclaimed. He bowed akwardly in respect. "Ah, and you are wearing the Warrior's feathers! From a distance, you look just like a Chozo!"
"Why, thank you." Samus giggled. She wasn't actually giggling at his comment, but at the way he looked. She had never seen Chozo children before she arrived at the Sheltering Tree, and she just couldn't get over how silly their appearance was. They look like perfectly spherical balls of downy feathers with stick-like appendages and a beak poking out.
"You should go home now. It's getting late." She suggested. The boy bowed again and made his way to lower branches. The bounty hunter continued on to the elder's chapel.
There were five Chozo in the building this time, sitting or kneeling in prayer, silhouetted against the cool glow of insects. The village's elder was not among them. Samus touched one of the bird-people gently on the shoulder. "Excuse me, friend, but where is the Wind Elder?"
The Chozo's feathers suddenly stood up on end and he released a shuddering breath before opening his eyes. He turned his head this way and that, as if looking for something, before settling his gaze on the bounty hunter. He clicked his beak. "Ah, Defender, you should not have disturbed me like that. I was in contact with the ghost of my mother."
She quickly withdrew her hand. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."
"Ah, and now you do." He stood up, becoming a whole head taller than Samus. "Do not concern yourself over my sake. I will try again to reach her. As for Wind Elder, I do not know where he is, but his daughter is in the back chambers. She may know." He pointed towards the chapel's end, where rooms were hidden behind the pedestal.
"Thank you. And once again, I apologize." She left the man to his meditations while she sought out the elder's daughter in the back rooms.
The chambers which served the elder as living quarters were cut off from the main chapel by a curtain of vines. On the other side, there were less insects and more natural light, and the smell of grasses ended while the smell of medicines began. All the rooms seemed chaotic, with thick branches winding in random design and no clear definition of walls or floors or ceilings. Samus had been here several times, so she didn't find it surprising. She saw Veaning comfortably crouched on a protruding branch, watching the holographic feed of what appeared to be a Ucarthia romance movie. The Chozo was utterly entranced; she didn't even notice the visitor in her home.
Samus squeezed her way through the branches and sat behind Veaning, waiting for the program to finish. She quickly grew impatient. "You like watching this stuff?" She asked.
Veaning jerked her head in Samus's direction, startled. Then she tucked her beak against her chest in embarrassment. "Well, I do enjoy watching some alien films. Chozos don't make our own motion entertainment and broadcast it out into space, so we have to settle for the creations of other species." She stood up and turned off the video feed. "What can I do for you, Sister?"
Samus shrugged. "I dunno. I've just come to pester you about pruning these branches for once. You can't even walk around here."
Veaning trilled in mock annoyance. "If I do that, then the whole chamber will be covered with sap. And the insects will swarm here to eat it." They both smiled. The condition of the elder's house was a common joke between the human and the Chozo, who had grown close to each other in the past month. They would often visit each other's houses because they lived so near each other. Veaning loved to hear Samus's stories of her travels, while the bounty hunter would turn to the Chozo with questions about the culture and society of the Sheltering Tree.
"Actually, I'm here to find your father." Samus cocked her head hopefully. "Would you happen to know where he is?"
"Hmm..." Veaning ran a hand through her head feathers. "I'm afraid he went to the Sheltering Tree near the mountains. He had business with the technicians there; he won't be back for a few days at least."
A few days? That was quite a long time for Samus to dwell alone with her somber thoughts. Her cheery disposition dampened. "Well, that's alright. I'll talk to him when he gets back." She sighed and turned to leave. Veaning put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Something troubles you." The Chozo said. The bounty hunter hesitated briefly, then shook her head no. Man, the Chozo were way too good at reading people's emotions. Samus wasn't really comfortable talking to Veaning about her confusion over leaving or staying. It would just make her friend sad.
She pulled away. "It's okay, Veaning. I can wait until Wind Elder gets back."
After a brief hesitation, the Chozo dropped her hand and let her friend go. "Remember, Samus," She added as the bounty hunter parted the vine curtain. "I am your friend. You can tell me anything."
"Thanks. It's nothing, really." Samus said reassuringly as she left. But she felt much worse now than before she talked to Veaning. She wasn't very fond of revealing her mind to people, yet, she really hates being dishonest to the Chozo, those bird people who have loved her and cared for her and were much too trusting for their own good. She jumped down onto a dark branch, grabbing a handful of twigs to steady herself. She hadn't even told them about her weakening disease, the whole reason the Dachoras and Etecoons brought her to this planet in the first place. She was afraid the Chozo would fear her if they knew about it. And if she revealed her secret now, they would grow suspicious of her for not telling them earlier. She hadn't even shown them the fusion suit, even though they had been so eager to see the legendary machine. She kept the suit locked in her starship so they couldn't see it and question its organic appearance.
She returned to her house and hung her Warrior's cloak on a branch. The night was rather chilly without all those feathers, with wisps of wind finding entrance between the leaves. Yawning, she quickly jumped into bed and buried herself in the warm blankets. She exhaled deeply and fell asleep immediately, suddenly exhausted beyond reason.
Twilight insects retired as the wind grew colder, seeking shelter under the leaves. The pale sun sank beneath the watery mountains and that nearby emerald star colored the night a dark green. Stars appeared in the sky, forming a map of constellations which no human would recognize. A thin veil of clouds soon hid those shining beacons from earthbound view, foretelling of a wetter weather tomorrow.
That night, Samus had restless dreams. They were visions without substance, dreams that she couldn't quite recall when she woke. Only the sense of longing and absent terror remained as evidence that she had ever dreamed at all. Once, in the middle of the night, she roused enough to hear a thin trickle of rain striking the leaves. The scent of damp moss, a sudden chill against her exposed leg. But her eyes remained closed and she soon dozed off again.
This time, the dreams were vividly clear. She saw someone come into her little treetop hut, a shifting shadow made of the hiss of wind-blown feathers. It was a Chozo, walking lightly on its thin legs, its face shrouded in mystery. She felt the talons of the faceless visitor grazing against her arm, four gentle pinpricks against her skin. The claws spread out and wrapped around the arm, holding on tightly to keep Hatchling steady. The infant squealed happily and wriggled its mandibles for a better hold on its mother, who stroked the transparent body tenderly. But the metroid held on too tightly, almost painful in its grip. The pain grew even more intense when it started siphoning energy, now shrieking a predatory cry. The fangs of the metroid melted into the vicegrip claws of a Zebesian Space Pirate. But it was one of the Pirate larvae, tiny and weak in comparison to the adults which Samus often fought. It pinched her skin with one hand, the other snapping open and closed rapidly. It saw what the Hunter did to its unborn brothers. It shrank back, terrified as she leaned her head down, mandibles open and waiting. She could almost touch it, almost taste the lifeform, the little spark of life soon to be sacrificed to fulfill her need.
Samus woke up. Her eyes were clouded; it was difficult to see. She felt nothing except for the overwhelming hunger in her mind. She knew nothing except for the presence of energy, a source hovering right over her, so near that a part of it touched her skin.
She wasn't able to resist. With an unearthly shriek, she grabbed Veaning's arm and sank her teeth deep into the flesh of the Chozo.
Samus breathed slowly, for even she was affected by the still atmosphere of this place. If it wasn't for the reassuring beat of her heart, she would have believed that time itself had frozen in place. She sat on the edge of the reflecting pool, nestled in the heart of the Chozo's forest which had been her home for the last month or so. She was alone save for a single male at the other end of the pool, as still as the statues he sat between. The bounty hunter watched he, with his troubled eyes, stared into the bowl seeking answers, and saw only a reflection of himself. Yet, he continued to sit there as he had for the past few hours, until he finally felt it was time for him to leave. He took a mouthful of water, bent in the same pose as his stone ancestors, then disappeared into the foliage.
Samus watched him go, then turned back to her own reflection. Her image was as perfect as any mirror's, only it rippled every time she dipped her fingers into the water. She wished it would speak to her. Tell her what to do. The Chozo have always turned to their reflecting pools during times of confusion, peering inwards in hopes of finding a solution within themselves. But Samus was too impatient to sit through such meditation. Instead, she used the reflecting pool simply as a quiet place to sit and think.
There was a lot on her mind. First and foremost, she wondered if she should stay here with the Chozo. After all, she didn't feel needed anymore by the planets united by the Federation. The metroids were gone, the X were gone, and any Space Pirates remaining were but a pitiful shadow of their former military glory. Anything else that might cause the galaxy any problems could probably be handled by the other bounty hunters out there. Besides, she had pretty much marred her image in the Federation's eyes. They wouldn't want a traitor like her working for them.
For the last month, she felt content living here in this lush forest. Why should she leave such a paradise? Hadn't she done enough with her life? Shouldn't she deserve any peace she desires for herself? But it was a frightening concept as well. She never had a permanent home before and she wondered if she would soon long for the heady days of fighting and travelling. Would this new life prove to be too tame for her? Would she miss the stars?
And if she did leave again, she would have to leave alone. It was clear that the Dachoras and Etecoons wanted to stay here from now on. During their first days living in the Sheltering Tree, the animals would stay near Samus's new treetop home, but they eventually wandered away to establish a place for themselves. The Etecoons would now forage out on the thinnest branches where Chozo and humans could not follow. The Dachoras dug themselves a nest at the tree's roots and lined it with their soft green feathers. Well, Samus felt happy for them, but she felt somewhat abandoned at the same time.
As for her own new home, the Chozo gave her a little hut near the top of the tree. It was a humble bachelorette's pad made out of woven wood with two levels but no stairs. She could climb or jump to another level if she needs to. It was quaint yet roomy, perhaps comfortable. Thankfully, it was not as primitive as she had feared. The house even had an irrigation system built into it by tapping the stems of a hollow, pressurized, water-carrying vine. But the crowning glory of her new home would have to be the elaborate communications system that the Chozo had provided her. It could pick up signals from halfway across the galaxy. She made good use of the machine for the first few days, watching sitcom vids until her eyes became sore.
The Chozo were so wonderful to her. But for some reason, she felt a sense of loss as she spent time with them, as if a part of her had died. Late at night, when the insects concluded their nightly chorus, Samus would lie awake and feel more alone in this tree city than she had felt back on her ship, hundreds of light-years away from any other living thing. If she does not belong here, then where could she truly consider to be a home? Was she doomed to forever wander the stars, forever lost?
One thought led to another without end, without answers. She got up to leave, but not without first taking a sip of the silky water. It had a faint mineral taste to it, not unpleasant. Samus decided to talk to the Wind Elder about her troubles. He was not exactly the most skilled or experienced of elders, nor was his abilities as a seer very powerful, but he could provide some insight into her situation. And even if he couldn't, it was reassuring simply talking to him.
Instead of tree-jumping, she felt like walking back home today, even if it would take twice as long to get there. She felt lethargic after sitting at the reflecting pool for so long, as if her blood had settled like the motionless water. By the time she reached the root of the Sheltering Tree, insects and plants had already begun to display their luminescence, heralding the glaring white dusk. She took the elevator to the top of the tree and decided to return to her house first for a little rest. She wouldn't want to greet the elder all sweaty and tired.
The 'door' to Samus's house was just a big, obvious opening without any sort of cover. She had to put a curtain over the gaping hole so that half her house wouldn't be plainly visible to the whole population. Well, the Chozo had little need for locks or even privacy. She heard that some Chozo tribes don't even have individual dwellings at all, but a mass hall for everyone to live in. She couldn't imagine living like that; it would drive her crazy. At least these Chozo had a vague idea of personal space and property.
A lot of the contents of her ship had been moved here. Half her wardrobe, some tools, items of food that couldn't be found on this planet such as coffee, and a water heater for the warm showers she loves to take. She took one now and dressed herself in a feathered robe that was given to her by Veaning. The Chozo told her that it was the garb of Warriors, and it sort of made Samus look like a Chozo as well. She regarded herself on a reflective surface and frowned. Humans simply don't look good masquerading as Chozo; the mane of feathers behind the cloak made her look like a hunchback. Well, whatever. The Wind Elder had been pleased to see his ancestor's garment being worn by the Defender after generations of disuse. And she had nothing else warmer than this to protect her from the chilly night.
The elder's chapel was literally a hop, skip and a jump from her house if she took to the branches rather than walking the main trunk. She jumped up and nearly ran into a juvenile Chozo also leaping through the trees. He chirped in surprise, which turned into a squawk of shock when he saw Samus's face.
"You are the Warrior!" He exclaimed. He bowed akwardly in respect. "Ah, and you are wearing the Warrior's feathers! From a distance, you look just like a Chozo!"
"Why, thank you." Samus giggled. She wasn't actually giggling at his comment, but at the way he looked. She had never seen Chozo children before she arrived at the Sheltering Tree, and she just couldn't get over how silly their appearance was. They look like perfectly spherical balls of downy feathers with stick-like appendages and a beak poking out.
"You should go home now. It's getting late." She suggested. The boy bowed again and made his way to lower branches. The bounty hunter continued on to the elder's chapel.
There were five Chozo in the building this time, sitting or kneeling in prayer, silhouetted against the cool glow of insects. The village's elder was not among them. Samus touched one of the bird-people gently on the shoulder. "Excuse me, friend, but where is the Wind Elder?"
The Chozo's feathers suddenly stood up on end and he released a shuddering breath before opening his eyes. He turned his head this way and that, as if looking for something, before settling his gaze on the bounty hunter. He clicked his beak. "Ah, Defender, you should not have disturbed me like that. I was in contact with the ghost of my mother."
She quickly withdrew her hand. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know..."
"Ah, and now you do." He stood up, becoming a whole head taller than Samus. "Do not concern yourself over my sake. I will try again to reach her. As for Wind Elder, I do not know where he is, but his daughter is in the back chambers. She may know." He pointed towards the chapel's end, where rooms were hidden behind the pedestal.
"Thank you. And once again, I apologize." She left the man to his meditations while she sought out the elder's daughter in the back rooms.
The chambers which served the elder as living quarters were cut off from the main chapel by a curtain of vines. On the other side, there were less insects and more natural light, and the smell of grasses ended while the smell of medicines began. All the rooms seemed chaotic, with thick branches winding in random design and no clear definition of walls or floors or ceilings. Samus had been here several times, so she didn't find it surprising. She saw Veaning comfortably crouched on a protruding branch, watching the holographic feed of what appeared to be a Ucarthia romance movie. The Chozo was utterly entranced; she didn't even notice the visitor in her home.
Samus squeezed her way through the branches and sat behind Veaning, waiting for the program to finish. She quickly grew impatient. "You like watching this stuff?" She asked.
Veaning jerked her head in Samus's direction, startled. Then she tucked her beak against her chest in embarrassment. "Well, I do enjoy watching some alien films. Chozos don't make our own motion entertainment and broadcast it out into space, so we have to settle for the creations of other species." She stood up and turned off the video feed. "What can I do for you, Sister?"
Samus shrugged. "I dunno. I've just come to pester you about pruning these branches for once. You can't even walk around here."
Veaning trilled in mock annoyance. "If I do that, then the whole chamber will be covered with sap. And the insects will swarm here to eat it." They both smiled. The condition of the elder's house was a common joke between the human and the Chozo, who had grown close to each other in the past month. They would often visit each other's houses because they lived so near each other. Veaning loved to hear Samus's stories of her travels, while the bounty hunter would turn to the Chozo with questions about the culture and society of the Sheltering Tree.
"Actually, I'm here to find your father." Samus cocked her head hopefully. "Would you happen to know where he is?"
"Hmm..." Veaning ran a hand through her head feathers. "I'm afraid he went to the Sheltering Tree near the mountains. He had business with the technicians there; he won't be back for a few days at least."
A few days? That was quite a long time for Samus to dwell alone with her somber thoughts. Her cheery disposition dampened. "Well, that's alright. I'll talk to him when he gets back." She sighed and turned to leave. Veaning put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"Something troubles you." The Chozo said. The bounty hunter hesitated briefly, then shook her head no. Man, the Chozo were way too good at reading people's emotions. Samus wasn't really comfortable talking to Veaning about her confusion over leaving or staying. It would just make her friend sad.
She pulled away. "It's okay, Veaning. I can wait until Wind Elder gets back."
After a brief hesitation, the Chozo dropped her hand and let her friend go. "Remember, Samus," She added as the bounty hunter parted the vine curtain. "I am your friend. You can tell me anything."
"Thanks. It's nothing, really." Samus said reassuringly as she left. But she felt much worse now than before she talked to Veaning. She wasn't very fond of revealing her mind to people, yet, she really hates being dishonest to the Chozo, those bird people who have loved her and cared for her and were much too trusting for their own good. She jumped down onto a dark branch, grabbing a handful of twigs to steady herself. She hadn't even told them about her weakening disease, the whole reason the Dachoras and Etecoons brought her to this planet in the first place. She was afraid the Chozo would fear her if they knew about it. And if she revealed her secret now, they would grow suspicious of her for not telling them earlier. She hadn't even shown them the fusion suit, even though they had been so eager to see the legendary machine. She kept the suit locked in her starship so they couldn't see it and question its organic appearance.
She returned to her house and hung her Warrior's cloak on a branch. The night was rather chilly without all those feathers, with wisps of wind finding entrance between the leaves. Yawning, she quickly jumped into bed and buried herself in the warm blankets. She exhaled deeply and fell asleep immediately, suddenly exhausted beyond reason.
Twilight insects retired as the wind grew colder, seeking shelter under the leaves. The pale sun sank beneath the watery mountains and that nearby emerald star colored the night a dark green. Stars appeared in the sky, forming a map of constellations which no human would recognize. A thin veil of clouds soon hid those shining beacons from earthbound view, foretelling of a wetter weather tomorrow.
That night, Samus had restless dreams. They were visions without substance, dreams that she couldn't quite recall when she woke. Only the sense of longing and absent terror remained as evidence that she had ever dreamed at all. Once, in the middle of the night, she roused enough to hear a thin trickle of rain striking the leaves. The scent of damp moss, a sudden chill against her exposed leg. But her eyes remained closed and she soon dozed off again.
This time, the dreams were vividly clear. She saw someone come into her little treetop hut, a shifting shadow made of the hiss of wind-blown feathers. It was a Chozo, walking lightly on its thin legs, its face shrouded in mystery. She felt the talons of the faceless visitor grazing against her arm, four gentle pinpricks against her skin. The claws spread out and wrapped around the arm, holding on tightly to keep Hatchling steady. The infant squealed happily and wriggled its mandibles for a better hold on its mother, who stroked the transparent body tenderly. But the metroid held on too tightly, almost painful in its grip. The pain grew even more intense when it started siphoning energy, now shrieking a predatory cry. The fangs of the metroid melted into the vicegrip claws of a Zebesian Space Pirate. But it was one of the Pirate larvae, tiny and weak in comparison to the adults which Samus often fought. It pinched her skin with one hand, the other snapping open and closed rapidly. It saw what the Hunter did to its unborn brothers. It shrank back, terrified as she leaned her head down, mandibles open and waiting. She could almost touch it, almost taste the lifeform, the little spark of life soon to be sacrificed to fulfill her need.
Samus woke up. Her eyes were clouded; it was difficult to see. She felt nothing except for the overwhelming hunger in her mind. She knew nothing except for the presence of energy, a source hovering right over her, so near that a part of it touched her skin.
She wasn't able to resist. With an unearthly shriek, she grabbed Veaning's arm and sank her teeth deep into the flesh of the Chozo.