Author's Note

Happy to continue this.

Legend below

"Commander on approach!" = Normal speech.

"I hope this message makes it to you..." = Recordings.

CHAPTER 3

Day 2...

Music of the day

Metroid Prime 2 - Temple Grounds

"Datecycle 07.014.3 of the Cosmos. This is LCDR Huxley, Medical officer of GMFC Task Force Herakles." The camera shook as a splintered blue Federation Trooper's partially missing visor came into view. A single red eye could be seen gazing tiredly at the camera, the Trooper's suit clearly compromised.

"Over twenty four hours ago now our team was at our end. We had been overrun by a horde of Dark Splinters and a pair of Grenchler adults. We were out of ammo and out of time, and I think I speak for everyone here right now when I say that we must've known that our time was up in this universe…"

There was movement behind the young medical officer, more wounded Troopers shuffling into the room. Makeshift medical beds lined the main floor of the Tyr, over ten of the armored soldiers having been reduced to bed patients from the gruesome assault from before. Many were badly wounded, and some had much of their armor destroyed or missing entirely.

But they had all lived, and it was entirely thanks to one single woman.

"I-I…" His voice choked up as he rubbed at his blood covered neck. There was a hole in his suit, an attack that had just barely missed his jugular. "I was pinned down when it happened…" He recalled the scene with striking detail, the image forever burned into his mind.

"I saw Angseth pinned down, and then…" He stopped for a moment, trying to gather himself. "No one else could see it, but from my angle I could. She appeared from over the top of the cliff, and without a moment's hesitation fired off some powerful purple beam that jumped from Splinter to Splinter like an arching lightning bolt…"

"She froze the Grenchlers, vaporized the rest of the dark horde and violently dismantled the Grenchlers…" His voice shook with awe as he recounted the events that led to this moment. "Without her we'd all be dead, and no one can deny that…" There was a shift behind him as someone on his team approached.

"As it stands now, she and Grippe have made their way up to the alien temple in the sky. We haven't heard back from them yet, but Smythe did report seeing flashes of purple and yellow light from the temple, so I believe it is safe for me to assume she has it under control…" He cracked a small broken smile, trying to find some amusement in the situation.

"Perhaps I'm being too emotional… But I feel horrible having her do all the work. She came here to save us and all we can do to help is sit around and watch each other's backs…" Huxley sighed again, shaking his head. He sat a little straighter suddenly, a soft feminine groan echoing out from somewhere inside the ship. It seemed as if Angseth had finally awoken.

"I'm to care for the rest of my team now. I must go…" The camera abruptly shut off as he stood up, turning to the slowly waking Angseth.

The smoking corpses of the dark beasts made for a vile stench, filling the arena with a horrible sensation of death. Grippe could only thank the stars that his suit wasn't compromised.

He really didn't want to know what those things smelled like without his suit filter…

Speaking of the Federation Trooper, after watching the Hunter brutality mutilate the powerful creatures, he felt a new level of awe envelop him. He knew she must've been powerful if she reportedly saved them all from the Dark Splinter invasion, but he hadn't seen her in action prior. Now that he had, he supposed that he owed Angseth a sincere apology.

As soon as she awoke he'd tell her…

"Are you planning on continuing with me?" His head snapped up at the sound of the Hunter's soft yet firm voice, spotting her halfway across the room as she stood next to another door. She had a hand on her hip, as if to say, 'hurry up, you're wasting time.'

He quickly rejoined her side, acting as the eyes in the back of her head. Samus hummed a quiet noise of acknowledgment when he did so, turning around and moving for the exit.

Another elevator met the two, yet this one was definitely smaller and much shorter a ride. The first one made Grippe feel as if he'd be pancaked by the speed at which it rose. So this was a much welcome change.

The ride was silent, neither willing to say anything to break the silence. He felt like leaving the woman to her thing was his place, and he didn't feel like pulling her from that comfort zone just yet. He supposed it was strange trying to hold a conversation with the woman of legendary standing. He could talk to Angseth all night, but Samus…

Well…

Calling her the strong silent type was probably the most proper title he could think of. Anytime he'd try to pull a little more out of her, she'd usually respond with a noncommittal hum or a soft grunt.

He supposed that would have to suffice for the time being…

When they finally reached the top, Samus wasted little time in looking around as she moved straight for the highest room in the temple. Sunlight met her gaze as she strolled into the large open room.

However, she stopped abruptly at what she saw. Dead center was a large machine that was gently cradling a massive collection of energy. Even at just a glance she couldn't quite fathom how much pure energy could be sitting there out in the open.

Click…

She spun to the side, cannon aimed and beam charged and ready to fire. There, standing just to the side was…

Someone…

It was an alien creature that easily stood more then twice her own height, covered in a short layer of soft brown fur. Like a moth it had wings on its back, allowing it to stay hovering more then a foot off the ground. It's face was soft, gentle-like, and it's eyes held no open hostility. It resembled a humanoid moth creature.

She didn't lower her weapon, training her aim at its face. She wouldn't let it hurt Grippe, nor take another step closer.

The creature didn't move, hovering there quietly. It eyed her weapon cautiously, before, careful to move slowly lest it be shot, it offered a bow of greeting.

"Please… Do not be afraid…" It spoke in a heavily accented alien tongue. Her suit translated it easily. The creature stayed bent over, trying to show that it meant no harm. It knew that she held its life in the palm of her hand. "I am U-Mos, last remaining sentinel of the Luminoth. Please, I beg of you, hear my plea!" It cried out desperately.

Samus' bleary eyes narrowed as she hesitantly listened, arm refusing to move away from the Luminoth. The charged blast of wave beam energy spun eagerly at the muzzle of her barrel.

Grippe silently watched the encounter from behind the safety of the Hunter, more then a little surprised. He wasn't aware of other sentient life on this planet other then the Pirates.

The Luminoth slowly stood back up, focusing on the woman once more. "Many years ago our blessed world was thrown into chaos. Our world, Aether had suffered a terrible tragedy. An astral object had forced itself upon our land, bringing with it a great corruption. Our world has been torn in two, for now there is not one Aether, but two."

U-Mos slowly held up his hands, generating two separate holograms of the planet. One was his own, and the other a broken twisted mockery of the world they all stood on. "This astral object tore a hole in space-time, and a dark copy of our world was born…" The image of the world dissipated, and instead the writhing shape of a foul creature was born.

"That was the day peace on Aether ended, for a new species had been born into this world. They rule their world in a hateful violence, killing all who oppose them. They are Ing." U-Mos' voice cracked as he fell to the ground, bowing so low that his head touched the ground. "We fought them for decades! Yet here we stand on the verge of eradication! Our world is at its end, and soon it too will be gone…"

U-Mos pointed towards the massive orb of light centered in the room. "When the planets divided, the planetary energy too was split in half." He sank to the ground in defeat. "Should one side gain it all, the other will perish forever…" He whispered lowly.

Samus' eyes were wide, taken aback at what she'd heard. She'd decided to hear the alien out first before she made any decision. She'd been moved to action.

Slowly, the beam of energy dissipated, and she lowered her weapon. U-Mos sat up in joy, taking her actions as a sign.

Grippe was at a loss for words, looking between the two. If what this U-Mos said was true, then their situation was even more dire then they thought.

"I'll help you." After a long and quiet moment she finally spoke. Her tone was flat, more so then he'd heard from her before. Perhaps she'd come to the realization that her hand had practically been forced, and that she truly didn't have a choice. She'd help the Luminoth. "But…"

U-Mos stood up, ready to bless her with whatever her wish. She was going to be vital in this mission to save his people, and he couldn't do it without her. He would do anything she asked of him, no matter how defiling so long as his people were saved.

If that was what it took…

He would give his life.

"You will watch over my people." She stated with a tone that left no room for argument. "Make accommodations. I shall return." She nodded, turning in her heel as she moved for the exit. Grippe went to follow after her, but stopped when she turned to him. From the glint in her visor he got the distinction that he'd better stay with the alien then follow her out.

Knowing his place under her, he took shelter in the shade beneath a nearby support pillar. It'd probably be a little while before she returned…

When she finally returned to the ground, the sun was hanging high in the skies above. There was still a good amount of day left before nightfall, and she'd wished to complete her most current objective before then.

But, as she managed only a few feet from the elevator doors, she felt something. The ground shook underneath her slightly, the rumbling a sensation she was intimately familiar with.

But it wasn't that that gave her pause. No, it was the sound of an explosion in the distance that accompanied the rumbling that shook her. The sound of a Super Missile detonation.

Her blue eyes narrowed as she tore off at high speed, kicking up dust in her wake. She had no time to waste standing around! Her legs burned as she easily rose to twenty miles an hour dead sprint. The surroundings became a blur to her as she set her sights on the only important thing in that moment.

Small predators and the like cleared the hell out of her way when they saw her coming. Nothing willing to lose their life in the face of a furious hunter.

She covered the distance that previously took an hour in less then two minutes, making dangerously efficient use of the Speed boosters. And as she finally returned to the site of the Tyr, the source of the commotion became apparent.

A small patrol of Space Pirates surrounded the damaged Federation ship, firing energy rounds into the burned hull. Her nose scrunched up in fury, a blazing fire building in her eyes.

She would make an example out of them…

Inside the ship the Troopers struggled to hold the scum off, having resorted to hiding within the damaged walls to prevent themselves from getting shot. One Pirate had been stupid enough to try and force his way in, only to be stabbed to death by their energy bayonets.

But this couldn't continue. The Pirates would quickly overrun them and they'd be slaughtered.

At some point Smythe had taken charge and fired off the Super Missile Samus had given him. He could only pray that she'd heard it.

The weapon he'd been blessed with reduced two Pirates to atoms, leaving nothing but a smoldering crater in its wake. The attack had put the fear of god into the vermin, but they quickly resumed their assault.

All the Troopers could do at that time was hold down and pray that their savior was on her way.

And, with a mighty presence, the woman they spoke of appeared. Her sudden appearance was awe inspiring for them, and terror inducing for the Pirates mentioned prior.

Samus, for her part, charged headfirst towards the Pirate closest to the Tyr. When the foul creature spotted her, there was a moment of panic as it realized who she was, before it unloaded an entire barrage of energy rounds into her faceplate.

Samus didn't even attempt to dodge, powering right through the attacks like they were nothing to her. Such a sight was stunning to witness, and for the Pirate that had instigated the attack, it was met with a shoulder tackle that broke bones, and vaporized organs. The Pirate was violently stomped to the ground, having only a second of crystal clear clarity before the cursed Hunter stomped it's throat in, ending it painfully.

The over the top showing of violence gave the other Pirates pause, instilling in them a terrible bone chilling fear.

The Troopers watched in slack jawed awe at the brutality of it. And it would become something everyone there that day could never forget. When the Pirates, absorbed by fear, backed away. It was only made ten times worse when the Hunter's cannon changed shape, the flesh melting heat of the Plasma Beam spelling the end for them.

"T-The Hunter?! Here!? R-" The Pirate closest to her met an untimely fate as a stream of fiery plasma met it head on. The rest of the Pirates could only watch in horror as another of their men slowly burned to death, the Hunter having fired a weaker uncharged shot that left it alive for long, agonizing moments after it hit.

Samus leveled her burning gaze on the smoldering corpse, before snapping to the remaining threats.

They ran.

Death was all that remained for them should they stay.

Unfortunately, they weren't given the choice.

The leader of the platoon felt the air around him superheat as his close ally was incinerated. He ducked as another blast flew overhead, just barely missing him. Two more of his men died at her hands, and soon it was only him remaining.

He fell to the ground, spinning around to fire off a barrage of energy rounds at the damn woman. Samus easily avoided the wild spray, instead locking her sights on him. He felt his heart stop cold as she aimed, and fired. He could see the stream of flaming death soaring straight for him…

But it seems that luck would shine upon him this day, as the Hunter's attack fizzled out mere inches from his face. The resulting attack burned his mandibles, but he'd live. With his life extended for a few more moments he immediately powered up his experimental jet pack, the technology upon his back hissing as it started up.

Samus' eyes narrowed as she charged up a Plasma Beam shot, this one easily powerful enough to reach him and reduce him to ashes.

However the creature had picked life over death, and blindly threw himself over the cliff side. Her eyes widened in surprise, fist clenching at her side, before she finally let go. A long tired sigh slipped past her soft lips, her eyes closing for just a moment.

Silence settled across the cliff side for a moment, no one willing to break out just yet. That was, until Smythe stepped out and approached her. "You came back." He said.

Samus snapped in his direction, eyeing the surprised form of the Federation Trooper. He was taken aback by the sudden aggression in her body language, and the uncanny way her eyes rapidly scanned up and down his body. He stepped back, not saying anything.

Samus' eyes softened as she shook her head ever so slightly at herself, before glancing downwards. The dead eyes of the Pirate glared up at her. She bent down, taking hold of the energy rifle attached to its arm before ripping it off. She turned to Smythe, placing the weapon in his arms.

She didn't say anything, instead choosing to walk past Smythe and towards the ship. The man in question stared at her, mouth open, but no words came forth. Instead he attached the dead Pirate's rifle to his arm, taking the time to tinker with it. He looked back up to her backside as she walked away, staring at her for a few moments before shaking his head.

''What was that about…?'' He couldn't help but think to himself. As it stood, he highly doubted that his question would be answered anytime soon. More then that, he wasn't sure that it was his place to ask…

Samus stepped into the Tyr, taking stock of the situation. Everyone was looking a little better then the night prior, and a new pair of eyes had decided to greet her this time around. Although still restricted to a bed, she was more excited then ever to meet her hero.

But the Trooper's excitement would have to be put on the back burner for the moment, as Samus demanded the attention of the entire platoon. "Troopers. Gather your things, we are moving." She exclaimed suddenly. The statement got Commander Exeter's attention immediately.

"Samus?" He questioned. She turned her gaze to him, breasts heaving beneath her armor as she took a slow deep breath. Her eyes closed behind her visor for a long moment, the silence hanging tense before she released a long tired sigh.

Then she spoke.

"This mission has been… extended. I am relocating you to a safe zone close by. You cannot stay here." She spoke, leveling a gaze that dared to have anyone question her further. "I wish to... move before nightfall. You cannot afford another day on the surface." She elaborated further. Some of the Troopers shared a look, before somewhat reluctantly standing up.

"Ma'am!" It was Monz saluting that started a chain reaction. Slowly the rest stood, offering a salute to the woman as well.

"Yes Ma'am!" A chorus echoed out. Samus nodded to herself, taking another deep breath.

"Good. Begin making preparations. Everything you can carry." Was her parting words as she turned to leave. The Troopers had many supplies that would be destroyed should they remain here on the surface. She'd be bringing them with her too.

Her eyes narrowed as she turned her attention skyward once more, the blue horizon flashing a vile purple, before changing back. If what U-Mos said was to be taken as complete fact, then there wasn't long left for this world. She'd have to stabilize the planet before that time came, otherwise they were all going to die.

Her fist clenched beside her thigh, the metal creaking underneath her strength. She wouldn't let it come to that.

Not now, not ever…

Hours had passed since she returned to the Tyr. With the help of the Troopers that were still standing she had gathered together as much of their salvageable supplies that remained. A short raid through the thrashed halls of their makeshift base secured them more gear and hardware that'd be useful in setting up anything they'd need while they stayed with U-Mos.

It seemed that the army of Dark Splinter's had been the majority of the remaining Splinter hive within the area, as the base had been abandoned. It took longer then she wanted it to, but she supposed that it couldn't be helped. At that point it would likely be nightfall when she returned to the Sky Temple.

Be that as it may, when it came time to leave, the Troopers were ready. She was met with the sight of a good few medical stretchers carrying more then ten of the men that had been wounded in the attacks. Of the soldiers bedridden was Angseth who reached out to her as soon as she saw her.

Despite wishing to move while there was still light out, she saw no reason not to give the girl her attention for a moment. She'd been the one most badly wounded and had been saved by her when death was at hand, so it was safe to assume that she wished to say something in return.

Samus approached her, flagging for the Troops to stop. The armored girl weakly turned to face her, her weak red eyes lighting up in surprise. The girl no longer had a visor, it having been obliterated in the attack. Her face was weak, eyes dull. She held onto life with a dying gentle grasp, yet she refused to let go.

"How are you feeling?" Samus found herself asking. She gently grasped the the girl's chin, bringing her gaze to her own. Angseth let a genuine smile adorn her face, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

"I feel like I was… thrashed by a… mountain…" She struggled to speak, voice terribly weak. Yet despite that she smiled as brightly as she could up at the Hunter. "But… that's okay… You're here… n-… now…" Her eyes closed as she drift off to sleep, whatever energy she had that kept her awake having already waned. Her head rolled to the side, the girl already fast asleep.

Samus' eyes softened behind her visor, before she turned away. A short distance ahead of her was a decent sized shipping container, one that she'd ordered the Troopers to put together. It contained all of their easily salvageable equipment, but was too heavy to move without power equipment. Although that posed a problem for them, she'd told them not to worry.

She quickly tracked down the form of Smythe, the Trooper having posted up at the front of the group as he was the only one wielding an energy rifle.

Upon seeing her approaching, Smythe saluted her. "Samus. Everything you requested is prepped and ready to go."

The Hunter inspected their work, making sure the cargo was stable. She nodded to herself. "Good. Then we move, now." She ordered.

"Yes ma'am!" The Troopers collectively saluted. The Hunter stood in front of the cargo, her shoulders slumping as she noted its size and weight.

This was going to be a pain, she realized dryly. With another deep breath to prepare herself, she aimed her left arm forward, firing off her Grapple Beam from the device on the underside of her arm. The magnetic energy beam connected with the center of the cargo, and the Troopers were forced to watch on in awe as she singlehanded dragged the load along with her.

A chorus of oohs echoed out as Samus single-handedly began to drag all of their remaining equipment alongside her. Such a sight left them feeling more confident about their chances then before, and they all rushed to cover her while she moved.

By the time they reached the Sky Temple it would again be nightfall…

Chapter

3

End