I've managed to release the last couple of chapters in relatively short time. That's probably going to change soon since I've finally found something close to work.

Stay safe out there. Weird times.

"Well. well. Is that who I think it is?"

Samus froze with Priscilla's arm over her shoulder. Please no. Not him.

"It is! Hey there, princess! Look at you! Always getting into trouble!"

She made a sound in the back of her throat. Cynthia stared with Priscilla's other arm over her own shoulder.

"A friend of yours," she asked.

"Anthony Higgs."

The black skinned man in the blue federation suit raised his visor, displaying his grinning mug. The same mug that riled her up in federation school. The face she'd punched more than once.

"Well, look at you! At least a decade, and here you are! You don't look like you've aged a day!"

Samus kept staring. Anthony stared back. But he could never beat her at staring contests.

"So uh… Hunter and silver eyed witch huh? You've been around. Guess all that training paid off."

Samus and her comrades raised eyebrows. One of Anthony's fellow federation soldiers elbowed him.

"Nice moves there Higgs. Remind me to try that on the next girl I meet. I'm sure to get popular with shit like that." The soldier raised his own visor.

"Name's Sid. This is Galk," he gestured to the big soldier next to him. "Guess the federation doesn't think too highly of us."

"Not at all!"

Everyone turned with surprise to find Yuma say something.

"I mean this is a huge important mission we're doing right? They wouldn't send you here otherwise."

Everyone kept staring. Yuma eventually caved.

"What did I say? Something wrong?"

"Not really. You just went a really long time without saying anything."

"Huh? I guess I did didn't I? I just thought it inappropriate since… Well there was all that stuff going on and- "

"Hey, princess! Don't apologize! Speak your mind! Let them know how you feel! Be assertive!"

Now everyone stared at Anthony. Yuma herself blushed.

"Well uh… Thank you. I mean I- "

"Whoops," Sid interrupted. "Hey sorry to interrupt you lady. But we've got company."

Everyone turned. The men simply grimaced. The women's hearts stopped.

A pair of blonde-haired twins in Samus' armor strode forward. No emotion. No surprise. Perfect weapons of the organization.

"Wwww.. What's that…" Priscilla roused and opened her eyes. "Aura…."

"Twins," Cynthia said in awe. "Who- "

"Alicia and Beth. Number 10. You and your team are behind schedule. Lord Rimuto and the Luminoth both expect you."

Samus shook her head as if she needed to hear that again.

Alicia and Beth were number 2 and 3. No one Samus knew could claim they'd seen them in person. Not even Priscilla. No one could have imagined they'd be twins.

"Sheesh," Sid muttered. "And I thought my teammates were odd."

Galk glared at him to make him shut up.

"Number 10. Did you hear me? It's time. Please follow us."

Samus looked at Anthony who merely smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead princess. We'll catch up later. Nice to see you again!"

She grunted and followed the twins while transporting Priscilla.

"Bitches. Couldn't they even help carry her?"

….

"Nice kill."

Clare whipped around.

"Ophelia! Were you watching the whole time? Why didn't you help?"

Number 5 kicked away the remnants of the yoma and looked about at number 30's work.

"I wanted you to get in the experience. If you don't do it yourself, you'll never get any better."

"What if I'd they'd gotten me? Had me at their mercy!"

Ophelia shrugged.

"Happens all the time. Shame when it does, but it's part of the job."

"What?"

Number 5 laughed.

"Kidding, girl! If you'd been in real danger, I would totally have helped you!"

Clare made an annoyed sound. Ophelia pulled her close and hugged her.

"Now there. Come on. Give me some credit. After all this time, you really think I'd leave you like that?"

Clare sighed and deepened into the embrace.

"No. I don't think you'd let me die. I wish I could say that for anyone else. Or at least Samus."

Ophelia laughed. Another thing Clare wished she would stop. It was her way of saying she didn't take you seriously.

"Oh come on, babe! You're still hung up about that?"

"I am. I hadn't seen Samus in a long time and I think we left a bad impression."

"Please! What we do is our own business. Let her pout. She has no say."

"But she did say a lot. Especially about those rumors. I've heard them too, by the way."

Ophelia's grin faded. That did not reassure Clare.

"Are they true? Have you killed sisters?"

"Sure. When they awoke."

"I mean when they haven't awoken."

No response.

"Well?"

Ophelia vanished. Clare looked all around in panic until she felt her grab her from behind and pin her.

"Sshh. Don't struggle. You smell good. The smell of blood."

"What the hell are you- Oh!"

Ophelia shoved her hand down Clare's shirt. Clare lost her breath. Her mouth went dry.

"Yes. That's it. Lean into it. Just like an animal. That's what we are. We're animals. We fight. We kill. We fuck."

She leaned in and licked Clare's ear while she gripped her breast. Clare didn't even bother resisting. She was too weak. Nothing compared to Ophelia.

"Forget it all. Forget everything. Forget those assholes in black. Our sisters. Even Samus. It's just us. You and me against the world."

She leaned in. Felt her senses take over.

Until the beeping stopped them.

Ophelia's free hand reached for the communicator to check the caller. She growled when she saw the ID.

"Fucking Ermita. Always the worst times. Someday, I'm going to skin him."

….

"Samus Aran. Daughter of the Chozo. A woman of three different worlds. I am U-mos. Fifth sentinel of the Luminoth. Welcome to Aether."

The creature speaking to her was an extremely tall humanoid with moth like wings and red eyes. He hovered slightly above the ground and floated towards her while bowing. It was a very specific kind of bow. The same kind given to her by the Chozo and the alimbic.

She got Yuma to take her place with Priscilla and returned the bow.

"Ah, they taught you well. They do not teach that to just anyone."

"No. No they don't. I've always wondered why you shared so much in common. Were you a single people once?"

The moth man gave what Samus took for a smile. Hard to tell.

"That is not too far from the truth. In times of desperation and loss, our people came together. What was left of them. We learned from each other. Shared our ways with the other. When we gained the strength to take our homes back, we separated once again. But we maintained connection with each other. Until their passing that is. Such a tragedy. Our mourning has never ended. Only now- "

"Only now your race once again faces extinction. So now you must mourn for all creation, correct?"

U-mos seemed appropriately annoyed to have been interrupted so disrespectfully. But he merely bowed to the disturbing man in agreement. Samus and her comrades likewise bowed. Not out of enjoyment.

"Lord Rimuto. Too long."

The head of the organization ignored that and focused on Priscilla with genuine shock.

"What happened? How did you let her wind up like this? She was your responsibility."

Samus was actually impressed by how well the old coot kept his tone. In all her years, she'd never seen him lose his cool.

"Beth. Help Cynthia escort her to the Medical ship. Tell the Federation soldiers- "

"To provide whatever help they can. Is that what you were going to say Lord Rimuto?"

Samus' breath caught in her throat. Another familiar face. One she'd never intended to see again.

"Correct Admiral Dane. I didn't mean to overstep myself. I simply thought that your soldiers would be open to assistance."

"You're correct about that. And that's why I won't question your decision to tell them to go onboard our ship without my permission."

Admiral Castor Dane nodded at the claymores carrying Priscilla it was fine for them to proceed and then turned to Samus.

"Well, well. I almost can't believe it. Sure, I've heard the stories. It's another to see it firsthand."

"I've heard many stories about you as well Admiral Dane."

"I'm sure you have. But unlike yours, mine don't strain belief."

"Yes. I'm sure. I've lived them and even I have a hard time believing they really happened. Though not as hard believing that I'm working with the federation again."

"Yes. That is surprising. I'm glad we were both proven wrong though."

"As am I," Rimuto interrupted. "We have so much work to do. This world needs our assistance."

"Indeed," U-mos agreed. "And who better than a child of the Chozo to bring comradery?"

"I'm not sure that's the word I'd go with," Admiral Dane muttered.

Rimuto shockingly smiled.

"Nonsense. I believe that's exactly the word we should go with. Three groups who have never worked in coordination with one another, now face a common enemy. Because for the first time, we have a warrior who has set foot in all our worlds. That is the real reason we brought you here number 10. Everyone here has heard of you in some form or another. But they know your name. They know the legends surrounding you. They've built connection with that legend. And now we need you to build connection between all the groups here. To form an alliance. And to that end…"

Rimuto produced a digital book and handed it to Samus. She looked it over.

"This looks like a speech. I'm not really an expert at that. I figured you'd know."

"I do know. I know quite a lot to be honest. We've collected our fair share of information on you over the years."

He wasn't kidding. Samus read with increasing alarm details she'd never told anyone.

"You want me to talk about all this in front of hundreds of soldiers?"

"And sisters. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Not ashamed? I didn't come here to put my life story on display! If I wanted that, I'd write a book!"

Rimuto didn't appear to like that. Hard to tell with him.

"You may not like being in this position. I don't myself. But for the survival of this world and every world beyond, we must do things we may not enjoy."

"OK, but if the whole point of this is to inspire both sides to work together, do I really need to talk about myself so much?"

"Yes."

Samus raised her eyebrows.

"Don't follow."

"You don't? If you are the inspiration for this gathering, people need to connect with you. They need to know your story. Too many out there focus on the bad of both the federation and organization. You can provide the good. The reason both groups should work together. But for people to trust you, they need to understand why. They need to sympathize. So yes. You do need to talk about yourself."

Samus stared at Admiral Dane as if asking for some way out of this. She saw none. She saw none from U-mos either.

"Ah cheer up Ms. Aran," Yuma said. "With all you can do, I'm sure giving a speech should be easy!"

And that was how she found herself in her claymore outfit standing before the scariest thing in the galaxy. A live audience of federation soldiers, and her fellow sisters. An opponent like no other.

Still, she was a solider and she had her duty. So she took a deep breath and did her duty.

And failed spectacularly.

….

"Your aura is unstable. Both of you."

"Mind your own business, blind girl."

Galatea smiled.

"I can't help it. It's all I can see. It's why they kept me on."

Clare shook Galatea's hand and looked her over. It still bothered her even after all these years to stare at her eyes. It was a shame, really. She had the skill for a higher rank. But the loss of sight had proved too great a disadvantage.

"So you're coming on this special assignment too?"

"Actually, no. I'm helping Rafaela."

"Rafaela? She's here?"

Ophelia nudged Clare and gestured off in another direction.

Rafaela walked by, focused on something else. She stopped all of a sudden and turned in their direction.

"Hey old one eye," Ophelia waved. "My offer to hunt together still stands! I could teach you a thing or two!"

Rafaela merely nodded in recognition and continued walking.

"God she's so boring! Never wants to talk! It's her sister, right? That's why she's here right? Doesn't care about anything else."

"Can you blame her? They're family. What else should she care about?"

"Fighting! Killing! Defeating awakened beings! That's why we're here, right?"

"Not her," Galatea intervened. "She only joined to see her sister again."

"Did she tell you that herself?"

"We've… connected."

"I'll bet. You're both missing at least one eye."

Galatea actually chuckled at that. She'd heard worse from Ophelia.

"Oh blow it up your own ass! You're just jealous she's got actual friends! Unlike you!"

All three grumbled. Ophelia outwardly. The other two under their breath.

"I don't need friends, apple girl. Clare's enough for me."

True to her nickname, Helen was eating an apple with one hand while her other rested around Deneve's shoulder. They really couldn't be more different standing next to each other. After all these years, Clare still had no idea what they saw in each other.

"Well we'll have to be enough for you number 5," Deneve said. "Because if we've all been summoned here, that means we're going on an assignment together."

Ophelia snorted.

"Ridiculous. I told them. I only work with Clare. I don't need anyone else."

"Get used to it number 5. You're going with them."

Ermita walked out as if from nowhere. Everyone was always curious about his true appearance which he kept hidden under that robe.

"Where am I going with them and why am I going with them?"

"To answer the first question, you're going to an out of commission federation ship. We've received a distress call from federation troopers."

Everyone was very confused. No one showed this better than Helen. She never did get the whole stoic face.

"We're helping the federation? What gives? That's not how we do things!"

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Ophelia said. "But I agree with apple girl. We're here to kill awakened beings. Let the soldier boys handle themselves."

Ermita chuckled at that. Maybe. Hard to tell with that robe.

"I would like that very much. But times are changing. We need to change with it. The first step to doing that is to change our public perception from frightening monster hunters to loyal allies to the common folk."

"That sounded so wrong coming from you," Ophelia noted.

"Shut it. The galaxy is becoming a more and more dangerous place. Since it concerns the galaxy as a whole, we need the rest of the galaxy on our side. We need them at the very least to recognize us as enemies of the evil that roams the stars."

"Don't they already know we do that," asked Clare.

"Less than you'd think. There are many misconceptions out there surrounding us. We need to prove those misconceptions wrong. And the best method for that is collaboration."

"What kind of misconceptions," Helen asked grinning. "Come on. Tell me!"

"If you don't know, it's probably because you were too focused on apples and not enough on anything else," mused Deneve.

"This is part of our plans to build an alliance with the federation. Every warrior is at the moment engaged in one way or another with the federation. Including our number 1 and your dear hunter."

Clare sat up in response to that.

"Where is she?"

"On Aether to repel another invasion of sorts. As a former federation soldier a current warrior, and a child of a species with close ties to the inhabitants of Aether, she's the perfect conduit through which we can understand and cooperate with one another. You too must set an example of the organization's decency."

Helen snickered until Deneve elbowed her to stay quiet. Of course the others wanted to laugh at that too.

"That's why you're going to be sent to this ship. Except for you Galatea. Your skill lies with tracking yoma aura. And initial reconnaissance did not reveal yoma energy."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you're actually our second wave. Another group went before you and failed. Only one came back. She doesn't think it's an awakened being, however. She think it's something else."

"Not an awakened? Then what's the fucking point? Wait. What's her rank? Is she two, three, or four? If not, shouldn't I be leading?"

"Sadly, no. She has a better understanding of the situation and frankly a clearer head. Beyond Clare, I wouldn't trust you to lead anyone Ophelia. Not even a puppy."

Helen couldn't hold back her laugh this time. Nor did Deneve try to stop her. Ophelia's expression was too good.

Ermita turned about to leave.

"I'd make your typical preparations. And bring your A game. It's going to be rough."

And so he left them alone in the meeting room of the ship with the windows either side leaving them staring out into space.

Of course Helen broke the silence.

"So have any of you heard about this apple drink? Apparently you can serve it hot with alcohol! Did you know that?"

"Helen please," Deneve asked.

"Pardon. Is this my team?"

Another woman with wavy hair stepped forward. She looked shy and out of place until Galatea stepped forward.

"Jean. Glad you made it back. Sorry I can't be there to help you."

"I'm glad you're not. I don't want anyone getting hurt on any missions. But if they have to, I'd rather it not be a friend." She turned to the rest of the team.

"I'm number 9. Jean. Pleased to meet you. Of course I've heard about you in one way or another. Helen and Deneve and Clare and Ophelia. One of you known as the oddest pair in the organization."

That would probably have made most mad. Not Helen though. She and Deneve fist bumped that. Ophelia had a different reaction.

"I don't think we're odd pretty face. There's no one who work better together than us."

"Pretty face," questioned Clare. "Is that your idea of an insult? If so it's stupid."

Helen laughed at Ophelia's expense while Clare apologized to Jean.

"It's not you who needs to apologize number 30. But since I know number 5 won't, I'll turn to you to speak for her."

Now all of them laughed at Ophelia's expense while she did all she could not to strangle them.

Do it for Clare, she told herself. Do it for Clare. At least until they're alone. Then gut them.

….

"Well…. That was… Interesting…."

"It was shit all right? It was shit! Don't lie!"

"I'm not lying. It was interesting. Sometimes bad things are interesting."

"But you admit it was bad?"

"It wasn't the best speech I've ever heard. But we're here to fight. Not talk."

"Well apparently I was. And judging by the response, I'm lucky to be alive. I was supposed to inspire everyone to work together. Doubt that's the effect I'm going to get from this."

"Well that's the fault of the organization. They should have prepared you better. If they made anyone look bad, it's themselves."

"But I'm the one who's going to pay the price for it."

"The federation already respects you. You don't need to prove yourself to them. The organization needs to prove themselves. Besides, you're the only one who can keep Priscilla under control! You're too valuable to dispose."

"Well, maybe they're counting on me to die out there and spare them further embarrassment. They're sending me out to the agon wastes to investigate an abandoned base."

"Just you?"

"No. Yuma's coming with me so I can teach her the basics of that suit. And as representative for the federation I get…. Anthony."

"Oh! Your friend!"

"Not sure that's the word I would use."

"I presume that means I'm stuck here with Priscilla?"

"Sorry. You're the best healer. And we need you here to keep her steady. Sorry."

"Not at all. I'd much prefer to heal the wounded then go traipsing off through some unknown country."

Samus walked over to Priscilla's bedside and placed her hand on her head.

"Take care of her. Please. Whatever you can. Not just for the organization. For me."

"Of course. Just take care of Yuma, will you? She doesn't deserve this. But she might as well take advantage of your presence."

Samus nodded and walked out while Yuma walked in to talk with Cynthia.

Outside the tent, she found Admiral Dane and U-mos waiting. Neither spoke for a moment. Dane finally broke the silence.

"Look, you're a hunter. Not a talker. It's not what you say up there on a podium that defines you. It's what you do out there. Shame you couldn't stick with the federation. Still, I believe in you. I've heard the reports. You don't have to prove anything to the troops who heard you."

"What about the organization? Can you work with them?"

Dane frowned a bit at that.

"They know more about yoma than we do. It's our job to fight them, so we'll help them however we can. Whether anything long term comes from that…" He shrugged.

"In any case, mice to see you again Ms. Aran. Do us proud out there. And uh… If you ever get fed up with those weirdos in black, the federation's always open."

He walked off leaving her with U-mos.

"You travel to the Agon Wastes, correct?"

"Yes. Me, Yuma and…. Higgs." She made an annoyed sound in her throat.

"The wastes are hot, but there remain some of our own stationed there who may provide you aid and supplies. There is particularly heavy concentration around the temple. Please do what you can to bring it back to full glory, child of the Chozo."

"Child of the Chozo? Hmph. Not sure I can have that distinction anymore. I've done the exact opposite of what they would want from me."

"And yet here you are, defending life. You are Chozo through and through. Never let anyone else say otherwise."

He raised his hands in the air and light shone from his fingers.

"May the light of Aether shine upon you!"

He floated away, leaving Samus some breathing space. Some time to collect her thoughts. Or at least she thought.

She turned to her left to see the twins Alicia and Beth. One of them was urging the other forward. She finally relented and stepped forward.

"Hunter. Apologies number 10. Is there a preference?"

Samus shook her head. 3 years in and she still wasn't sure which she was.

"I uh…" She looked embarrassed.

"I have had some chance to experiment with the armor. Quite impressive technology for a race of birds."

Her twin shook her head and the other apologized. Samus had to hide her amusement. What was it with single digits and their phobia of small talk?

"I've had trouble with the morph ball. In that, I find it impossible to believe how such a thing can operate. Can you… Instruct me in that?"

Samus chuckled.

"Ok. Ready yourself for some back pain."