Metroid: Mission Alpha

Episode 24: Questions in HQ

While exploring Venine as Carol treated a sick Snacanid, Michael had been injured by an unknown being. Samus, Alpha, Eta, and Carol hurried back to HQ to help him.

Having removed her Power Suit since no danger was detected, Samus paced around the main room in waiting for Carol to finish examining Michael. Alpha and Eta lay on the floor silently, watching the door to the medical room. Finally Carol looked out from the door and motioned for the others to come into the room.

Samus was shocked to see Michael's condition upon entering the room. The man was lying on one of the beds, not yet conscious, and bandages covered multiple areas of his body. Alpha and Eta gave a concerned whimper. "Is-is he all right?" Samus asked quietly.

"He will be," Carol nodded, "He's sustained some painful injuries, but none of them are internal. Thankfully, he hasn't suffered a concussion. Whatever attacked him was outstandingly powerful to injure him so much through his spacesuit."

Samus took in a breath. "I'm relieved to hear he'll be fine…but someone or something out there had very ill intentions."

Right then, Michael's eyes opened slowly. "What…what happened?" he muttered.

The others came to Michael's side, glad to see him awake. "You were injured during our time on Venine," Carol answered him, "We brought you back to HQ for treatment."

"Is Upsilon all right?"

Samus nodded. "Carol said he was showing signs of improvement. Do you remember how you were injured?"

"It was Master Silhouite," Michael responded, "I was about to follow you through the Prairie area when I saw a shadow. I turned to see what it was when something struck me to the ground. I caught sight of the villain looming over me just before everything went blank."

"Master Silhouite…I wouldn't put it past him," Samus said.

"Just rest for now, Michael," Carol said gently, "We'll take care of everything." Alpha and Eta carefully jumped up beside Michael and licked him reassuringly. He petted their heads and smiled a little.

While Eta and Carol stayed with Michael, Alpha followed Samus back to the main room. The bounty hunter walked slowly through the room, her mind occupied with troubled thoughts. "Why did Master Silhouite harm Michael, or was it just because of his evil nature?" she contemplated softly, "Alpha, why do some beings purposely bring harm to others who are innocent? If only all could live in peace, there would be no need for violence in this galaxy." Alpha responded with a sound of concern as he looked up.

Suddenly, Samus saw a swift movement in the corner of her eye. Alpha and she looked back but saw nothing. Then the movement came again, and it was clear that it was caused by a large shadowy being. Samus and Alpha turned around; Samus took out her Paralyzer and pointed it at the motion, which was now moving out of the room. "It's Master Silhouite," she said softly, "Let's follow him."

As quietly as possible, Samus and Alpha followed Master Silhouite out of the main room and through a hallway. All of them turned and entered one room. It was dark in the room, with only the light from the hall and from a few machines penetrating the darkness. Samus could hardly see Master Silhouite or tell which room this was without much light, but she knew turning on the lights would alert the villain of her presence. She decided the best option was to perform a surprise attack, so she released a plasma beam from her Paralyzer, wrapping it perfectly around one of Master Silhouite's tentacles. The Silhouite turned around, trying to free himself. "It's you again!" he growled.

Samus's eyes narrowed. "Why did you injure Michael on Venine?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out!" Master Silhouite teleported away, freeing himself.

"He could still be somewhere in the building! Come on," Samus told Alpha, and she led him out of the room. The two of them raced through the hallway, finding no signs of Master Silhouite. Samus looked around a corner when she came to it; seeing that the coast was clear, she continued on with Alpha. Soon, both of them noticed movement by the medical room.

Michael was still resting while Carol was working on one of the computers when suddenly, Master Silhouite appeared in the room. The two HQ leaders looked over and gasped in surprise. "What do you want from us?!" Carol exclaimed.

"The Interspace Federation shall not meddle with the plans of the Silhouites!" Master Silhouite shouted, lengthening his tentacles. Carol screamed and ducked to avoid one tentacle. Then Master Silhouite began to charge up dark power.

Just as the attack was released, Samus rushed into its path, taking the hit. "Samus!" Carol exclaimed. Samus stood her ground as the darkness surrounded her. She felt the impact, but it did no harm to her, seeming to be merely absorbed by her body.

Master Silhouite stopped the attack with a look of awe and disgust. "She does have the DNA of the enemy, just as Master Greblai suspected!" He started to lengthen his tentacles again, but at that moment Alpha ran in and pounced upon him, distracting him. Samus wrapped a plasma beam from her Paralyzer around one of the villain's tentacles again. Both of them pulled, struggling to overpower the other side, but neither side moved an inch. "You will see me again!" Master Silhouite growled, teleporting away.

Alpha dropped to the ground and Samus lowered her Paralyzer, turning to Michael and Carol. "Are you all right?" she asked them.

"Yes, thanks to you," Michael answered, "It's fascinating how you can just absorb a Silhouite's darkness power!"

"I've studied that," Carol said, "Chozo cells have a unique composition that actually reflects the powers of the Greblai and Silhouites! Samus's human cells were struck by the impact, but the Chozo cells in her blood prevented it from doing any harm to her. Quite interesting."

"There's one thing I noticed," Samus said, "Master Silhouite said I 'had the DNA of the enemy'. Does that mean that the Chozo were actually enemies to the Greblai and the Silhouites?"

"It sounds like it," Michael replied, "but what I want to know is, why?"

"Alpha and I may be able to find the answer in ancient ruins," Samus concluded, "except we can't use the Chozo ruins. They were turned to rubble in the last explosion on Zebes."

"There are some ancient ruins on Lavolca, I recall. You just might find an answer there. The only problem is, I can't help you out in this condition…"

"It's all right. Alpha and I will do our best anyway, won't we, Alpha?" Alpha yipped in agreement and wagged his tail.

"And I'll take care of you-you'll be back to normal before you know it, Michael," Carol said. Michael smiled, and Alpha and Eta nuzzled each other to say goodbye.

Soon after, Samus and Alpha were standing in the Gunship, and Samus put on her Power Suit, then changed it to the Gravity Suit. "Our next destination is Lavolca again," she told Alpha, "Maybe there we'll find an answer to this mystery." She prepared to pilot the Gunship to the planet; she, like Alpha, was ready.

(Original story from July 2017)