Metroid: Mission Alpha

Episode 43: A Continued Battle

After secretly infiltrating Lavolca, Samus and Alpha had learned of Master Silhouite's increase in power. Concerned about the safety of the Interspace Federation, they made a journey back to the planet where HQ was located in order to warn their allies.

Samus landed the Gunship on the planet, but before anyone could do a thing a shadowy figure appeared in her line of vision. She turned to face the all-too-familiar being in surprise. "Master Silhouite!"

Master Silhouite extended a tentacle to strike Samus, but she leapt back to avoid it. "Since you refuse to give me the Snacanid," he pointed a tentacle toward Alpha, causing the Snacanid to step back, "you leave me no choice but to take him!" He then attempted to strike Alpha, who ran out of range.

"That's what you think!" Samus ran at Master Silhouite, and he moved behind her. Quickly she turned around and immobilized him using a shot from her Paralyzer. While she had the chance Samus hurried to her Power Suit's capsule, but before she could release the suit Master Silhouite sent a tentacle in her direction, having regained his mobility.

Knowing her enemy wasn't going to allow her to equip her protective suit, Samus continued with the fight. She extended a beam from her Paralyzer at her opponent, but he moved aside. He then began to chase Alpha, who desperately ran around the Gunship to escape. Eventually he was cornered and stared at Master Silhouite in terror. The villain launched a blast of darkness at Alpha, but Samus moved in front of her friend to protect him.

Normally Samus would not be harmed by Master Silhouite's powers thanks to her Chozo DNA, but this time something was different. Instead of absorbing the power as in the past, the blast knocked her away from Alpha. She fell to the ground, pain briefly radiating through her body before the darkness faded. He really is more powerful! the bounty hunter thought, Somehow he's managed to break through the Chozo's immunity to his powers. This is not good!

"Hahaha! There is nothing you can do now, Samus!" Master Silhouite taunted. Samus growled and sprang to her feet. Even if the odds had turned against her, there was no way she was going to give up-Alpha was in danger! So Samus jumped forward, running around Master Silhouite and avoiding his attacks until she was behind him; then she paralyzed him with a beam from her Paralyzer.

"Run!" Samus shouted to Alpha while her enemy was unable to move, and she followed him out of the Gunship and into the field outside. However, Master Silhouite soon was able to follow them and swiftly pursued them. Samus and Alpha zipped through the area, their enemy breaking rocks and knocking down a few small trees to get to them. Once he had come near, he knocked his opponents down with a blast of darkness.

Samus and Alpha tumbled across the ground and then got back up. Launching herself over Master Silhouite, Samus nimbly avoided his long tentacles and managed to kick him in the back. He flinched but then turned around and lashed out his four tentacles like whips. The woman's incredible agility allowed her to dodge it all; while she had the opportunity she jumped up onto her enemy's head, giving Alpha the chance to tackle him.

Master Silhouite was not ready to give up. He flew at Samus and Alpha, who jumped aside. Then he sent more bursts of dark power at them, but they moved aside to avoid those also. The two of them continued to evade every one of the villain's attacks even though he struck persistently and rapidly. Neither side was going to back down as long as they could keep up the fight.

Samus used a beam from her Paralyzer on Master Silhouite, temporarily paralyzing him again. Hoping to manage an escape while she could, she led Alpha back to the Gunship, but unfortunately Master Silhouite was soon able to arrive. He flew swiftly into the ship, ramming right into Samus before she could react and throwing her to the ground. "There is no use in resisting," he sneered, "Give up now!"

Samus stood back up, though a bit more slowly this time. "Never!" she replied, standing firm in her decision. The battle had been a long one, and she had taken some blows and was growing tired…but Alpha was still at stake! So Samus sprang back into action and ran around Master Silhouite, dodging his attacks and attempting to strike. However, none of her attempts connected since her enemy moved away from them. The two of them fought for some time, both of them succeeding at times with their offenses.

Eventually Master Silhouite, still capable of going on, turned from the combat and went after Alpha. Samus, though her stamina was running low, chased after him. The shadowy creature followed Alpha with great perseverance until he caught up to him and gripped him tightly with one tentacle; the Snacanid desperately struggled to escape. Samus tackled the villain but he grabbed her with another tentacle and threw her to the ground with a dark force.

Samus fell back. With pain and weakness she slowly got back up, despite the protesting of her muscles. But she was injured and exhausted, and her body refused to fight any longer. She fell back down and lost consciousness. Alpha whimpered in despair. "Ha ha ha! Looks like my work here is done!" Master Silhouite proclaimed before teleporting away with Alpha.

Later, Michael noticed that Samus's ship had returned. "Samus, any news on Master Silhouite?" he spoke through the CM, but there was only silence on the other end. "…Samus, can you hear me? Samus!" Still no answer. "That's strange. She always answers. I'd better see if she's all right." Michael hurried to the Gunship, where he found Samus lying on the floor injured. He rushed to her side with concern. "Samus! Are you all right?"

Regaining consciousness, Samus slowly opened her eyes-and when she remembered the circumstances, she sat up quickly. "I'll be all right, but Alpha won't be if I don't find him soon!"

"What happened?" Michael asked, helping her up.

"Master Silhouite got away with Alpha. I battled him with all my might, but somehow he overpowered me to the point of exhaustion." Samus raced to her Power Suit's capsule. "I've got to find them before it's too late!"

"Master Silhouite has gone back to Lavolca. I'll keep track of his location," Michael said while the Power Suit was released.

Now clad in her powerful suit again, Samus turned around. "All right. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll do whatever I can to rescue Alpha!" she replied.

I just hope Samus can make it, Michael thought as he walked out of the ship.

Meanwhile on Lavolca, Master Silhouite had Alpha inside a case-like machine. "The Snacanid has been successfully captured. Now we can gain the energy we so desire," he declared. Alpha looked up uneasily at a claw-like mechanism looming above his head. In an effort to escape he repeatedly bumped into the wall, but succeeded only in tiring himself out. "There is no point in trying to escape. So…energy absorb, activate!" Master Silhouite pressed a button on the machine.

To be continued…

(Original story from May 2018)