Metroid: Mission Alpha
Episode 12: On to the Jungle!
After spending some time at HQ to remove the effects of the Electrifier, Samus was ready to move on through her mission. So, even though her Power Suit was not available this time, she went to Foreterna with Alpha to find the last Eternal Orb.
Foreterna was a green planet covered with lush vegetation. When Samus and Alpha stepped onto the planet, they could see that much of Foreterna was a jungle, covered with trees. "Foreterna has an environment like a jungle," Michael's voice said from the speaker, "It contains many trees and plants and is larger than Eterna's other planets, making it more difficult to search. This is why Master Greblai and Master Silhouite are still looking around. There are some unusual creatures and plants in the jungle, so watch out for them. Also, there is a large building-the Foreterna Temple-a distance away from you. It's a mysterious place…I'll let you know when I find out more."
Samus and Alpha went into the jungle. At first, all they saw was plants, but eventually they saw a strange creature a distance away. It resembled a tiger and was as large as one, but it was black with purple stripes and blank red eyes. "Michael, there's a tiger-like creature here," Samus said softly, so the creature wouldn't notice her.
"It must be a Dartiger, a creature native to Foreterna," came the reply, "They have the powers of darkness. They shouldn't be a bother, but I would stay away from them just in case. They usually don't attack foreign creatures unless they or their young are threatened."
Samus and Alpha moved on, avoiding the Dartiger, but soon they saw another one. It roared loudly. "That one looks hostile," Samus said, "Run!" The Dartiger ran at Alpha and her, and they too ran as fast as they could. The Dartiger could run as fast as they could, so they were not getting away. Soon, Samus and Alpha came to a slope and stopped. "Jump!" Samus said, and Alpha and she jumped and slid down the slope. Near the bottom, they jumped again, landing neatly in a small field. The Dartiger looked down from above the slope and then left.
"That was close," Samus said. Alpha and she soon came to another jungle, where there were some tall, flytrap-like plants with long leaves. "What are those plants?" Samus said.
"It's best not to get too close to those plants," Michael's voice said, "They attack anything that moves. They grab their victims with their leaves, and their bite is poisonous."
Samus looked up when she heard a yelp from Alpha. She gasped-one of the plants had grabbed him! She ran at the plant and grabbed Alpha's front paws, trying to free him. The plant snapped at her throat, but she avoided it and pulled. Finally she managed to free Alpha, who jumped onto the ground. Samus hit the plant with a shot from her Paralyzer, stunning it, and then she ran away with Alpha. Soon, however, Alpha stopped, so Samus did too. It seemed that Alpha sensed something ahead. "What's wrong, Alpha?" Samus asked him.
"The area ahead is home to numerous poisonous plants," Michael's voice said, "The air there is highly toxic. Though Alpha could survive there, it would be deadly to you without your Power Suit. I'd suggest heading to your left-there's a safer path there."
"Thanks for letting us know," Samus replied. She led Alpha to her left, where they soon saw Master Greblai and Master Silhouite! Samus sent a beam of plasma from her Paralyzer, but the two villains saw it and dodged.
"Samus? How can you possibly be alive?!" Master Silhouite growled. Master Greblai gave him a look, so he continued, "I mean, how can you possibly have caught up to us?!"
Samus didn't take her eyes off the villains. "Simple," she answered, "You just don't know about the abilities my allies and I have." Without another word, she sent out another beam, this time paralyzing Master Greblai and Master Silhouite. Alpha used his Earth ability to make vines sprout from the ground and entangle his enemies. Just then, however, the ground began to shake as if in an earthquake. Everyone was caught off guard, causing Master Greblai and Master Silhouite to be freed. They quickly fled.
"Michael, what's happening? It's as if Foreterna is shaking!" Samus shouted over the rumbling while Alpha and she tried to keep their balance.
"Eterna's entire environment is becoming unstable!" Michael's voice exclaimed, "It's because of the four missing Eternal Orbs!"
"We'd better hurry and find that last Eternal Orb, then!" Samus said as the rumbling stopped.
In another spot, Master Greblai and Master Silhouite were still searching. "So our plan with the Electrifier failed," Master Greblai said, "That Samus is really unpredictable."
"We'll just keep doing our best," Master Silhouite replied, "Here's my plan: the Foreterna Temple is nearby, so let's split up. If you go to the temple and search there, I'll keep Samus and the Snacanid out of the way."
"Agreed," Master Greblai said. He left while Master Silhouite kept an eye out.
Meanwhile, Samus and Alpha went deeper into the jungle. It was quiet in this area-no Dartigers or toxic plants in sight. Alpha, though, sensed something was there. He stopped and listened carefully. Samus stopped too. "I feel like we're being watched," she said softly, "Is that what you sense?" Alpha nodded his head. Just then, Master Silhouite appeared. Samus and Alpha stepped back from him, but when he lengthened his tentacles, they ran away in different directions.
Alpha ran through the jungle alone for a minute, then slowed to a walk. He whimpered as he looked around, realizing Samus wasn't there. Suddenly, Master Silhouite appeared behind him. Alpha yelped and ran again, stopping when he came to a hill next to a river. Master Silhouite caught up and tried to grab the Snacanid, who yelped again and jumped out of the way, but ended up tumbling down the hill. He landed in the river with a SPLASH! and soon surfaced. Now he was in danger again-the river was rapidly sending him toward a waterfall! Alpha yelped when he saw this and swam frantically, but did not move an inch.
Just in time, Samus came to the hill and saw what was going on. "Alpha!" she leapt from the hill, landing neatly on a rock near Alpha. Climbing into the water, she gripped the rock with one hand and Alpha's paw with the other. "Hang on!" she told him. Though Samus and Alpha both held on tight, the current was too strong. Samus slowly lost her grip on the rock, sending both Alpha and her down the river and over the waterfall. They landed in the deep water below with a SPLASH!
Master Silhouite, who had been hiding behind a bush on the hill, turned and left to find Master Greblai. "That should take care of them for a while!" he said to himself.
The water moved much more slowly in the part of the river where Samus and Alpha had landed. After a moment the two of them surfaced for air, then swam to the nearest land. Alpha shook the water from his fur while Samus looked around. There only appeared to be more jungle up ahead. "Well, we made it…now we have to find Master Greblai and Master Silhouite!" Samus said. She ran into the jungle with Alpha right behind her.
Samus and Alpha saw nothing out of the ordinary at first, but then they stopped, seeing something different. In the thick vegetation, a large building with mysterious patterns on its walls could be seen. Samus took out her speaker. "Michael, I think we've found the Foreterna Temple!" she said.
"That's definitely it! I'm picking up a powerful energy reading inside there, so that must be where the Eternal Orb is hidden. There's no telling what's inside, though, so be prepared."
"We will," Samus, with Alpha following, pushed open the door and went inside the Foreterna Temple. Little did either of them know that Master Greblai was already inside the temple and saw them enter through the window…
What awaits Samus and Alpha in the Foreterna Temple? Will they find the final Eternal Orb, and in time? Find out in episode 13!
(Original story from January 2017)