Happy New Year! Hope it's a good one, although the recent news admittedly doesn't make it look that way. Still, never lose hope!

"What the hell happened here? Some kind of orgy?"

"Nah. It'd be even worse. Trust me. I know."

"Yeah, somehow I doubt it. This is a travesty. Did Dauf go berserk? I knew it was a mistake to put him in charge. Why does Riful keep him around?"

"No one else puts up with her, I guess. I don't know why. Have you seen her when awakened?" The awakened being shuddered with pleasure. "All those tentacles…"

"Keep focused idiots. The metroids are gone. They must've gotten loose and caused a station-wide panic."

"You think…. Uh…"

"That they might still be here? Probably. Why do we keep those things around? I'm telling you. Not worth the risk."

"Ah I don't know. They're kind of cute! Until they become adults at least."

"God, and I thought Dauf was dumb."

The children listened from behind a nearby door. Against all odds, the monsters hadn't sensed their yoki yet. But it was only a matter of time.

"Let's get them."

"No. Their aura senses big. We should keep on the move. Stay out of their sight."

"No. We should get to their ship. It's the only way to Samus."

"Oh, so you want to head into harm's way now? That's a 360 from before."

"Why not? No more Rafaela. It's only us."

"Hmm. Is this supposed to make us safer? You know to find them we'd have to head to those mines. Into danger's way."

Clare paused. That was a problem.

"Well? What say you dear Clare?"

"Yes. Let's do it. Not like we can run from it forever."

"That's the spirit! Now, let's start off with these chumps!"

….

"They're everywhere. I can feel them everywhere!"

"Calm yourself."

"Calm myself? How? How can I calm myself with all this? It's madness!"

"It is. I've never seen a gathering of this magnitude. This will be the greatest challenge either of us have faced to this point."

"So how do we do it? We can't! That's how!"

"Samus. Look at me."

The number 1 gripped the hunter by the shoulders and starred her in the face.

"Samus? We really must be fucked if you're referring to me by my first name."

"It is a daunting task ahead of us. But if we work together, we can make it through. Now, take this."

She handed her a bottle filled with pills.

"This suppresses your yoki aura, making you weaker. But it also makes you near impossible to detect. As I see it, stealth is your best option here. Keep to the shadows while I draw their attention."

"You mean let you fight off an entire base yourself? That's suicide!"

"Not for me."

The seriousness of her voice made Samus fully believe her.

"You're better suited as a tech woman and backup. So, stick to that and try not shoot outside your weight class."

"I… all right. If you say so."

"I do. Now let's move."

And so, they moved. Well right after Samus took one of the pills. And vomited.

"What the hell is this shit? It's terrible!"

"It is isn't it? But it's useful. If you ever need some privacy or want to try a sneak attack."

"Privacy, huh? You like that? I sort of figured a Claymore had nothing but privacy."

"Being alone for days on end is not privacy. They are always watching. How do you feel?"

"Wobbly. It's actually… Kind of hard to stand…"

"Easy there. Easy. Just lean on me for the time being. There we go. Ready?"

"No."

"That's the spirit! In we go!"

And in they went. Or rather, Priscilla went. Samus just hung on. She stayed close to the ground and in the shadows. Like a ninja, Samus thought amusedly.

They did encounter monsters of course. Far more than the Phendrana base. But the could hardly be called opposition since Priscilla dispatched them before any knew what hit them.

They saw little of interest for the first half hour, however. Up until they reached a large cavern with 2 transparent tubes. It reminded Samus of the Metroid chamber back in Phendrana. But rather than Metroids, the tubes were filled with… women?

"This can't be right."

"Yes, it can. These are yoma. Monsters."

"Wow. Guess I have a lot to learn."

"And yet another downside to living a life without the organization."

"Will you let that go?"

At that moment, the women within the tubes stirred. Their eyes opened and they punched the tubes, causing them to shatter and removing the one thing separating them from the claymores.

"Stay back hunter."

Priscilla raised her sword and pointed it at the monsters. One of them flashed yellow eyes and changed to her true form.

But that is when the monster switched back to her human appearance. For some reason, confusion sprouted on their faces.

"I… Is this my true face?"

The other woman looked at her, confused as well.

"No… I think… This is right, yes. This is how we're meant to be. That's right."

"Wait… Your eyes… Fellow warriors!"

The women turned their silver eyes upon the intruders. They seemed even more confounded.

"Fellow? You don't look like fellows. Why are you attacking us if we're fellows?"

"We're not! What's going on with you? How can you retain your silver eyes after awakening?"

At that moment, the women began shivering. Blood dripped from their mouths. Their eyes rolled into their heads.

"Oh… That was a bad idea. Sorry Sister. I wasn't ready."

"No… Why didn't they tell me it would feel so good?"

"Bitch! That tentacled bitch! She said it would make us better! That we could contain it!"

"It wasn't supposed to be like this! It was supposed to be a thing of beauty!"

Both women at this point changed after a brief struggle. But before they could launch another offensive, Priscilla tore their heads off with her hands.

Samus stood by, trying to process what happened. Rather than ask a question she knew she couldn't however, she looked at the nearby terminal.

"Huh. That's odd. Looks like they had some sort of… link?"

"Link? What does that mean?"

These two… sisters was it? These two sisters had some sort of link to each other. Twins. They wanted to test that link and see what they could do with it."

"What do you mean do with it?"

"I… Sorry I can't say. Not enough data."

Priscilla sighed and looked at the headless corpses.

"This is truly the devil's work. Someone will pay for this. You can't mess with children like this."

Earlier, Samus may have pointed out that that was exactly what the organization did. But now wasn't the time.

"Come on. Let's move. We've got a long way to go."

….

"Where am I? What the flipping hell?"

"Among friends."

"Who- Rubel!? You're the last person I would consider a friend! How dare you!"

"How dare I? Well technically you never formally left the organization. Henceforth, you remain an employee at our beck and call. And you are long overdue for a call my dear."

"I want nothing to do with you. Beam me back down. There are children down there!"

"Ah yes, poor children. One must always think of the children. It's why we're in this business after all."

His chilling smirk always disgusted her. How was this a hero again?

"You don't understand. These children need serious help! One is blind. One is a quarter yoma. And the other… She's a time bomb waiting to happen."

"Oh, that sounds so exciting! I can't wait to see the results! I'm sure it will be thrilling!"

"Thrilling? These girls haven't had any kind of training! They could die!"

"A necessary risk for progress. You knew that once. You never complained about the trials we put you through. You knew it was necessary for a safe galaxy."

"A safe galaxy?" Rafaela rolled her eyes. "A fine job you've done. Centuries since you started your little army and we're no safer off for it."

"We could be with stronger warriors. I take it you've met our new number 1? She's quite a sight, isn't she?"

"Yes, for the mental institution. That poor woman is highly unstable and needs therapy. And you give her a fucking sword! Your recklessness creates these monsters! Your recklessness made…" She trailed off. Still had a hard time discussing that.

"Made poor Luciela awaken? Yes, such a terrible thing, that. It's been what? Over a century since you laid eyes on her and fled? I'm sure you're curious how she's been since then. Would you like to see?"

She stared at him. Her one eye quivering with barely constrained rage.

"See what?"

"Your sister. She's here on this ship. Not exactly in the best state of mind, but maybe she'd recognize your aura. After all, you two still share that bond, don't you? Aren't you the least bit curious?"

Her heart stopped. The moment she'd dreaded for decades now thrust at her with no preparation.

Dare she see it through?

….

"You know, I think the elevator would have worked fine."

"Wouldn't they have expected it?"

"Maybe. But what could they have done? No one's proven much trouble so far."

"True. To a rookie like you, these would be the stuff of nightmares. To me, however not so much."

Samus held back a cutting remark and slipped through the nearby corridor. She rubbed her head while doing so. Those pills were

"What I am concerned about however are the auras further below. There are several massive ones. But even further below them lies one that makes them all look like yours."

"So polite."

"It's immense. It must be the one that drew them all here. I have no idea what could create one so big. We must be ready for anything."

Indeed, they must. Further down, they found more tubes. Tubes with metroids and more twins. All more of the same insane work at play.

"I find it hard to believe that they could get all this set up I such a short amount of time. The development of this facility must have taken years."

"And the yoma are not known for technical prowess. They must have had serious leadership."

"Oh yes! Like you wouldn't believe!"

Priscilla barely pulled Samus out of the way before a mass of tentacles struck the ground where she formerly stood.

"Thanks. How the hell did I not sense that?"

"The pills. They make you harder to sense. But make it harder for you to sense as well."

"Harder, but not impossible! Not for me! Trust me! I've done the research!"

They turned and gazed with horror upon a towering woman with tentacles instead of feet. Her skin was jet black and her eyes a fiery red.

"Is this…"

"The massive aura? No, not that big. But still immense. Stand behind me."

"Now that's strange! I can sense the weak one just a little bit. But I can't sense you at all! Yet here you are with no apparent pills or anything!"

"I need no such cheap tricks. I am the greatest warrior you've ever faced. I can hide my aura from anyone. No matter their strength."

The massive woman's confusion turned to intrigue. "Well that's a rather unique gift! Unique indeed! I must say, a skill like that must be a huge boon to whoever wields it. Or whichever side wields it."

"Whichever side? Only one side wields it. The side that fights the horrendous yoma!"

"Now that's not very nice, is it? We're not all horrendous! I mean, look at me! I'm pretty damn good looking, aren't I?"

"Well now that you mention it-"

"Priscilla, stay focused."

"Oh, right. Anyway, it's not your looks that define you. It's what's beneath! You sold your soul to evil long ago! And for that your head is mine!"

"Quite a feisty one, eh? I like it that way! Makes them more fun to break!" Her tentacles rose up once again preparing to strike.

"Wait. What is this place? How did you manage all of this?"

"Quite down there weak one. I'm not interested in you. But I'd love to tell you strong one! Once you join me of course!"

"Not a chance in hell." Priscilla with that, turned, swept Samus off her feet and ran.

"Wait. I thought you were going to fight."

"I would. But I need to get you far away. Like here."

"Another elevator?"

"Yes. You get to take it this time. Go find our comrades and free them. I'll deal with her."

"Hold her off?"

"Deal with her. Get a move on and stay silent. Stealth is still your best option. Now go!"

"Priscilla I- "

"I said go!"

Samus reluctantly nodded before hopping into the elevator.

"Boy, you're a quick one! You might prove fun after all!"

"This won't be fun for you monster. Your doom is at hand!"

"Pfft! I've heard that before. Well try your luck honey! I have lived centuries! I've watched Civilizations fall! And I will live forever!"

….

"Luciela…"

"What do you do think? Is she as you remember?"

No. She wasn't. Rafaela had worked hard to only remember her sister as she used to be. As a human being. She had only gotten a glimpse of Luciela's awakening through the smoke at the time, so she hadn't ever truly had her monster form burned into her mind. She didn't want to anyway. No chance of that now.

Her sister was to put it mildly, a brain. A brain on legs. With claws and a single eye. She knew someone as powerful as Luciela would make quite a sight when she lost control. But this was more than she could ever have imagined.

"Sister… I… I'm so sorry. I can't believe…. What happened to you!?"

"You know what happened. She lost control. I believe that's partially due to you, isn't it?"

Rafaela had nothing to say. Because she couldn't argue with that. If she'd been a little stronger…

"But you didn't awaken yourself, did you? Kept your control. You were one of our best soldiers. We need more like you."

"And why would I come back? You said it yourself. I let my sister awaken."

"True. And you left her. Ran away. Is that what a good sister does?"

Couldn't respond. Didn't know how to respond.

"What better thing could you do for your sister than be for her? As you can see, she's under heavy sedation. Necessary of course. But she can still retain awareness of certain things."

"Awareness of what?"

"Ra... Rafy?"

She stared shocked at her sister. Her one eye was focused on her, albeit lazily.

"We have her on less sedative this time. We thought she might like some kind of a reunion. What do you think?"

Rafaela thought. Not long though. She knew what she had to do. What else could she do?

"Fine. For her, I'll stay."

"That's wonderful! But first, I believe you owe me an apology for your harsh words earlier. Don't you think?"

"Eat shit, you miserable bastard."

….

"You… Wow… Incredible…"

"Yes… You too… Not bad for…. A little girl…"

Both women were painting with blood dripping all over their bodies. Despite this, neither showed anger at their situation. Both were grinning savagely in fact.

"I haven't had someone to challenge me like that in… How long has it been? God, I can't even remember!"

"I've never fought someone with such skill. Clearly you were worthy of your number 1 ranking."

"You too! How long have you been doing this?"

"I entered the service of the organization just over a year ago and received my number 1 ranking 2 months ago."

Riful opened her mouth in shock.

"You're kidding! No way! That's… That's impossible!"

"Not at all. With me, nothing is impossible."

Riful felt a strange overlap of both excitement and fear. She was fighting someone truly incredible here. Someone of previously unseen power. Here she was struggling. She who had accumulated centuries of experience and fighting prowess struggling to keep up with someone who had been in the field for just over a fucking year! What could she become if allowed to continue?

"You know you've left me in a pickle sweetie! I like the idea of you on my side! But I don't think I can leave someone this powerful to run around unchecked! The damage you could do is incalculable!"

"The damage I will do to you shall indeed be incalculable. No more talk!"

"Yeah! No more talking! Talking hurts my head!"

Priscilla dodged out of the way as a pair of large powerful hands slammed her previous spot. They belonged to a large red monster whose oafish grin faded when he lifted his hands and found nothing there.

"Hey, that's no fun! You're supposed to stay still! That's more fun!"

"Fun is not the relevant issue beast! The only thing that matters is the safety of the galaxy!"

"I heartily disagree. Fun is everything! Life becomes about maintaining that fun as long as possible!"

"You're mad! You're all mad!"

It was then when she heard the chirps. When a horde of her worst nightmare surrounded her. Dozens of the shrieking little jellyfish horded above her. She thought she could see drooling.

"You see sweetie, when you get as old as me, life ceases to be so important. Fun and pleasure are all that matter. When you give up on that fragile human form, you'll understand too!"

….

"Well, well. What's this pretty thing?"

"Excuse me, kind sir. Can you help me to the nearest ship?"

"Kind sir? Pardon me girlie, but do you have eyes?"

"No actually. I'm completely blind."

"Is that so? Yes, I can see that. Our lucky day, huh?"

"Indeed, it is sir. Think of the praise you'd get if you helped me find my way home."

"Oh, I'm thinking of something a little more appealing than praise darling. Something that runs red. Fills you up and keeps you warm."

"You mean blood?"

"Well, if you want to get all literal about it, yes."

"How convenient. We want that too."

Clare took that as the signal to fire her freeze gun at the monsters. She got two, but the last dodged and grabbed her.

"Naughty little girls, here! I recognize that eye color! You a trainee claymore? How would you like some training?"

"I'd love it!"

Ophelia popped up from behind, flashed her eyes yellow and put her fist through the monster's chest.

"What…. How?"

Ophelia grinned savagely and moved her hand up through the creature's spine. His head exploded and the blood poured over her and Clare. One was disgusted. The other kept grinning.

"Looks good on you mama's girl. What would she think if she could see you now?"

"She'd say I could use a bath! And for once I'd agree with her!"

"Girls, if we may. Now that we've treated our guests what shall we do now?"

"Go for the ships. We can't wait here for Rafaela. More will be coming. We need to help Samus."

"Really? Isn't that the kind of thing mama would disapprove?"

"Perhaps, but- "

"Awesome! You're learning! That's good!"

"Yeah, whatever. Come on. Let's get cleaned up."

"No! Stay like this! It looks good on you!"

"Ophelia, really. You both must look terrible. You should-"

"Really? You think I look good?"

"Yes. Absolutely. I mean… It makes me respect you more. You know?"

Clare couldn't help blushing. It was weird to hear any kind of compliment at all from Ophelia. Even if it highly disturbing.

"Do you two hear yourselves?"

A few minutes later, they were on board the yoma's ship and Clare was familiarizing herself with the controls.

"All right. I think I've got it figured out!"

"Good. Let's hope you're better at flying than fighting."

"And let us hope you can keep your urges under check and not kill us midflight."

"Oh, don't worry blindie. You've nothing to fear from me. I'm saving my anger for yoma."

It was less than half an hour after they took off, that another ship carrying Rafaela and a platoon of warriors landed. She was to put it lightly, not happy to find the children missing.

"They're gone! They must have taken the monster's ship! Damn you Rubel! I told you not to leave them down here!"

"Fascinating. Three untrained girls overpowered these monsters and escaped. I expect great things from them."

"You won't see anything from them if they get killed!"

"Worry not my dear. It's obvious where they're going. and wouldn't you know it! We're headed there too!" He pulled a radio out from his pocket and spoke into it.

"It's time. Get the ladies ready. The assault begins now."

….

"No way. It can't be."

It wasn't the tubes filled with women that surprised Samus. Nor was it the fact that they were filled with women. It was the women within that shocked her.

Her friends! Well, limited definition of friends. But the closest she had to friends. The three who had fought with her. And honestly saved her life. She remembered their power. Their grace! To see them like this…

No time. She looked around. No sign of yoma. They were probably busy with Priscilla. She could certainly be a handful.

She gripped her sword and took a deep breath. She jumped down to the ground.

Identify.

She jumped. The electronic voice came from all around.

"Wait, what?"

False identification. Non-recognizable individual. Deploying cloaked drone.

It was at this time, she wished she had access to her armor and visor. But not an option at the moment when she would need it most and would she ever need it!

She couldn't sense any yoki, but her senses were superhuman from years on the hunt. She suddenly heard a whirring sound on her right. She dodged behind a panel as a stream of bullets hit where she previously stood.

She peeked out. She couldn't see the shooter, but she heard the whirring sound.

She held her sword up. The bullets came again. She pulled her hand back down just in time.

So, she knew where the drone was. But how to damage it? She fired her ice gun.

For a brief moment, she saw the drone encased in ice. But that quickly changed when a burst of electrical energy erupted from its body and shattered the ice. The drone's form quickly faded again, and it resumed its offense.

Damnation! This was no Metroid. She would need to use wave energy. But she didn't have a wave weapon!

She'd stayed still too long. A beam swiped the floor and she was forced to dodge before she lost her arm.

"No weapons. Except this sword. And this grapple whip Guess I'll have to do this the claymore way."

She huddled behind a tube. She breathed in deep. Her aura tensed up. Time to move.

She threw something next to her out in the open. Didn't have time to confirm what exactly.

The stupid bastard took the bait and shot it out of midair, giving away its location.

She let herself use a tiny bit of yoki. Just enough to change her eye color and sped out of hiding. One eye on where she was running and the other on where she believed the drone was.

She ducked to avoid another beam. She could feel the heat. She flung her whip at the invisible enemy and managed to grab hold.

The enemy struggled against the whip and Samus felt herself being pulled into the air. She held her sword ready to plunge into the machine.

But it dodged, and she went soaring to the opposite wall. She landed with both feet planted and her whip still wrapped around the drone.

It whirred heavily and readied another laser. If the things could feel, it'd probably be feeling anger.

She leaped off the wall, but the beam tore through the whip and sent her collapsing on the ground.

"Ow… Fuck… This is so much more fun with the armor."

She needed more yoki. So, she used more. What was it? 30? 40? The armor told her. She hadn't mastered estimation.

With the added strength, she leaped into the air over the drone. Its beam and guns were too slow to catch her. She held out her sword with her right arm and placed her left on top to steady it.

It was a technique she had been practicing. She was accustomed to the armor. Not the sword. So, she practiced as if she still wore the armor.

"It's just like your arm cannon. Just aim and… Fire!"

She threw her sword with all her strength. And her aim was true. It tore through the drone, who in that brief moment lost its invisibility just before it exploded.

She fell to the ground, turning over in the air and landing with one hand on the ground in her usual grace. Her other hand was turned upwards to catch her sword…. Which fell and cut said hand off.

"Augh! Damn! I need to work on my landing! Fuck!"

She looked about to make sure the other warriors were still asleep and didn't see that embarrassing display. She quickly set to repairing her hand. Harder than it looked.

"All right. I think you've slept long enough."

She stumbled over to the three tubes containing the warriors she recognized. The others she would free as well. But they deserved first billing.

One by one, she opened the tubes and caught her allies before they fell to the ground. She lined them next to each other on the ground.

"Come on. Wake up! Please. I kind of need you."

"Ugh. What happened? Did I drink too much?"

"Of course, you would Sophia! Such a weak stomach! I knew you couldn't take it!"

"You passed out too Noel! You don't get bragging rights!"

"Yeah, but obviously after drinking a lot more! I mean really Sophia! How did you get to be a single digit if you can't even hold down a drink!"

"Holding a drink isn't one of the prerequisites for a top rank warrior Noel! That's how!"

"Stop. Both of you. Just stop." Ilena/Irene gripped her head and looked about "Where in the galaxy… Do I know you?"

"I don't know. You've met me. But I don't think I'd go so far as to say..."

"Rookie? Is that… Did you kidnap us? I'm impressed!"

"No, I did not kidnap you. Actually I…"

Sophia interrupted her with a pounce on top of her, followed by a long drawn out hug while pinning her to the ground.

"Oh, my dear hunter! How I've missed you so! Gah! You smell awful! And you look so disheveled! How could you forget proper etiquette my sweet! How do you expect to stand out in a crowd looking like that?"

"I didn't exactly have the time to worry about appearance Sophia. And we don't have the time right now either."

"Yeah! You heard her princess! Get off! She needs to tell us how she kidnapped us all! Maybe she deserves a higher rank after all!"

"I told you, I didn't kidnap you!"

"Samus. What's going on? Where are we?"

Samus turned to Ilena/Irene relieved that someone was maintaining their sanity.

"Tallon IV. Some mines run by Riful of the west."

"Riful of the west? So, we meet again in pursuit of yet another abyssal one. Our luck is not strong."

"Ha! I say it couldn't be better! I sense the bitch right now! Somewhere above us! And…." Noel's eyes grew wide.

"I…. What is that? I sense something else… Far below us. Is… Maybe that's actually Riful?"

"No. Priscilla confirmed it. It's not."

"Priscilla? That stuck up little brat? Don't tell me she's here!"

"Yeah. Up above us. Keeping Riful busy. At least she was last I checked."

"We must help her. Priscilla is powerful, but she's still only a child. We can't risk her awakening." Ilena/Irene started to rise. Samus rushed to her side.

"Hang on. Who knows how long you've been in there? You need time to recuperate."

"I don't think we've got that time rookie. I'm sensing monsters closing in from all around us."

"For once, I must agree with my obnoxious colleague. I suggest we fight my dear hunter. I would hate to lose you so soon after getting you back."

"First off, she technically got you back. And second, I am not obnoxious!"

"Shut up both of you. Prepare to fight."

"With what? I don't have my sword!"

"I need none. I have my muscles."

"So, lady-like. Well, I prefer style! Hunter, give me yours and done your armor!"

"Yeah, about that. I can't se it right now. Long story."

"What? Then what good are you?"

"Enough. Keep your sword Samus. The rest of us will fight without them."

"God, so graceless."

"Deal with it. Samus?"

"Yes?"

"For what it's worth, it's nice to see you."

Samus couldn't help her grin.

"Yeah. You too."

And that was how Samus the outcast yoma hunter found herself fighting once again with the closest she had to friends against impossible odds. And despite the impending danger, she felt happy for the first time in months.