Author's Note

Okay whoops, I apologize for keeping everyone waiting. I am consistently blown away by both how popular this story has become, how positive all of y'all are about it and how excited everyone is to see more. I do admit, I was afraid to keep it going after the end of the Halo 4 storyline since everything after that in Canon was in my opinion, pretty terrible all things considered. But after rereading the reviews, everyone seems excited to see me take it in an all new direction, what with the changes Samus's appearance in this universe has caused to the original canon.

That and, can I just say, this story has broken 600 followers now, like what?! That's so crazy to me! This story is literally on track to become the most followed Metroid/Halo fanfiction on this website, that's insane! I just can't believe it, thank you all so much, it really does mean a lot to me.

That said, I cannot wait for the soon future of this story. I want to know everyone's opinion on the idea of a more fleshed out romance between Samus and John. I know I've been slowly building upon it for over 45 chapters now, literally over 200,000 words now, dear god. But I just want to know if everybody is super excited to see those down time moments between them, with everything that will entail and whatnot. Or if everyone is opposed to seeing the well deserved romance between the two of them.

This story is special to me, and it's received unbelievably positive reviews since day one of writing it, so I'm just worried of ruining that with romance, that's all. If anyone has thoughts on this subject, please leave a review below, I really do read them all and try to respond to them as well.

I once again thank my reviewers for their help in offering me and endless list of ideas in keeping my brain functioning. I apologize for the delays in between posts, I do plan to keep writing this.

As for most of this story, it is usually written moments before I go to bed at night since it is the only time I have available to do so, so my sleep deprived brain is to blame for this story from start to finish, for better or for worse, lol.

Uploaded

08/09/2024

LEGEND BELOW

"Chief, that's not a good idea..." = Normal speech.

''You're you, don't let it control you...'' = Normal thoughts/Receiving coms.

Chapter 45

Rated-M

M rating for blood, and language, and violence.

Music of the day

Metroid Other M - Nightmare battle theme

Location / Requiem

Six months and one week since the Didact's defeat

The universe seemed to bend around them as the fleet took off, dropping into slip-space with one destination in mind.

''All vessels, fall into formation! Glory to our Grand Queen, glory to her might, glory to the Zebesians!'' Vespian's words echoed out across all comms, encouraging a chorus of roaring agreement across the entire fleet.

The three mighty warships tore off from their resting places on the Pirate Homeworld, propelled forward and into the skies above as they initiated their slip space drives.

They seemed to stretch into nothing as they vanished, the planet the Zebesians called home disappearing instantly. Stars and planetary systems were like a blip in the grandness of the universe as they travelled, Requiem rapidly growing closer.

''All hunters, prepare for battle! Show this Covenant the error of their ways!'' Vespian again spoke, her words invigorating the fleet of fiercely loyal creatures.

The small yet lethal fleet formed up, the three interplanetary destroyers moving to form a triangle of destruction, the smaller frigates spread out close behind.

It didn't take long before Requiem came into view, the Pirate fleet falling out of slip-space and into the artificial atmosphere of the Forerunner planet. Flying high in the skies of the world, they were able to make out the situation nearly instantly.

"My Queen, human vessels have been detected nearby. The humans are engaged in battle with the Covenant fleet. Their mothership is seemingly disabled, she cannot flee." A commanding Zebesian spoke up behind the green armored woman, the creature dawning his custom fitted power armor reminiscent of those worn by the Commandos she'd faced on Aether years ago.

"Deploy all fighters, take the fight to them, hit and run tactics. Orpheon, Siriacus, take the fight to those Corvettes. If possible, capture those vessels to add to our own. Vol Paragom shall defend the Infinity." Her orders were quick and decisive, cold and calculating. Her orders were final, and no one would speak against them.

''At once, my Queen.'' Vespian's voice echoed inside the Hunter's helmet. ''Space Pirates! Split off! Burn their mongrel hides!'' She snarled, claws clenching in preparation for a true battle.

Samus's eyes narrowed as she directed her mighty warship towards the Covenant attack force, making a charge right towards the unsuspecting CCS-Class Cruiser. The enemy ship was giant, outclassing the Infinity in raw size, making her own seem like nothing more then an ant.

That, also made it a far larger target.

"Activate the Hyper cannon." She ordered lowly, the Zebesians around her quick at work at their stations. The TRI-pronged pylons of Vol Paragom began to narrow towards each other, coming close to a point. The core at the center began to power to life, a massive fusion of energy rapidly condensing within the space of the pylons, a familiar pinkish red in color. It took some time to charge the attack, but the Covenant were too distracted fighting the UNSC to notice.

"My Queen, the cannon is charged!" A Pirate exclaimed.

Her eyes narrowed. "Fire." She murmured coldly.

The pylons narrowed once more, before adjusting, taking aim at the giant ship that had finally taken notice of her approach, but it was far too late. The massive fusion of energy suddenly shrunk, before exploding forth in a massive orbital beam formed by the three pylons. The current of raw energy was unstoppable, focused to a point, as it tore through the skies of Requiem.

It took three seconds for it to reach across the skies of the Forerunner Shield world, slamming into the sides of the Cruiser. The shields held for a moment, absorbing the beam briefly.

Then came the second, more powerful beam, striking the same place twice.

The shields collapsed instantly.

The constant destructive force carried with the beam tore a hole right through the shields, slicing into the ship like a hot knife through butter. Shrapnel and molten metal was sheared off the gargantuan vessel, tearing a massive bleeding hole into the ship.

''Success!'' Vespian's gleeful, murderous laughter echoed over Pirate comms, the sentiment shared.

The Cruiser was crippled, its shield generators destroyed beyond repair. Although it was still operational, the giant ship had suddenly become a wounded animal in an ocean full of sharks.

And they all smelled blood.

The UNSC frigates capitalized on the opening immediately, firing MAC rounds into the exposed hull without hesitation.

And suddenly, the tide of the battle had shifted in their favor.

''My Queen, the humans are hailing us. How shall I respond?'' Vespian spoke up, her voice tickling the ex-Bounty Hunter's ears.

"Open a channel." She stated, staring beyond the vail of her cockpit and to the Infinity resting in the skies below her.

There was a brief moment of silence, before a video channel was connected. A familiar aged man appeared on screen. ''This is Captain Andrew Del Rio of the UNSC Infinity, unknown vessel, identify yourself!'' The man barked out, the bags underneath his eyes apparent.

"Hello again, Captain. I do hope I am not intruding on something important." Samus spoke, an amused lilt in her voice.

Del Rio's eyes widened in surprise. "Samus?! Is that… I can't believe it." The man exclaimed, unable to hide the smirk at the corners of his lips. "When the Master Chief said he'd requested your aid, I did not think you would bring an army…" He trailed off.

Samus smiled lightly. "I have been busy, Captain." She spoke softly, before her eyes sharpened. "Bring me up to speed on the situation immediately, if you would." She demanded.

There was no time to play.

Del Rio was quick to relay the situation that they'd once again found themselves in, and the current thesis behind why they were trapped planet-side again. They'd been fighting for survival since, and had been stuck in a stalemate before her arrival.

"I see…" Samus murmured, eyes narrowed.

''Covenant have invaded the Infinity, our soldiers are hard pressed to defend the crew while holding them off. Samus, I think a certain someone could use your help right about now, if you're available…?'' Commander Lasky had taken over the situation, leaving Del Rio to handle the fight.

"Location?" Samus muttered sharply, mind wandering to a certain green armored super soldier she'd not the pleasure to face in over half a year.

She was going to see him again. If only the circumstances weren't so tiresome.

She couldn't contain the excitement that made her heart skip a beat for just the briefest of moments. She'd yearned for the man more than she'd like to admit, and the prospect of seeing him again had made her just a little excited.

''Engineering. He's currently handling a bomb the Covenant brought aboard. Think you can lend him a hand? I'm sure he wouldn't mind seeing you again.'' Lasky explained, a certain amused tone in his voice she couldn't quite place.

''I like this human, My Queen…'' Vespian purred lowly in her ear, the private conversation only heard by the one she served. The words brought a little amusement to the Metroid Queen.

"Cherkain, you have the deck. I am departing immediately. Vespian." Samus declared, turning from the control room on her heels. The sharp click of her heels on the cold metal floors were accompanied by the sound of her tail whipping around, the green plated draconic appendage having taken the look of the suit she wore. Her wings stretched out behind her, the green leathery hide having truly blended with her Metroid DNA.

No sooner had she left the command deck behind, her most loyal had joined up with her, falling into formation with her. The slender Space Pirate was lethe and strong, standing a foot taller than her queen.

She, like the rest of the members of House Aran, wore custom powered armor that mirrored the red phazite armor worn by Pirate Commandos she'd faced during the Phazon Crisis. The difference now, besides the more advanced craft, was the green color that denoted their fierce loyalty to her and her alone. That and, the design was leaning far more towards something the Chozo would have created long ago. The arm cannon that covered her right arm was inching to annihilate her enemies, the rounded shoulder paldrons shaped like her own.

"Grand Mother, your children have infiltrated the enemy Cruisers alongside Oblivion Team. They are currently undergoing the task of… procuring the vessels to add them to our forces." Vespian spoke softly yet quickly. "Some have submitted to you, regretfully, most have not." Although she said that, she did not seem displeased by the notion that many had refused to serve her beautiful leader.

More to kill.

If there was one thing she felt like she needed to curb with her most loyal, it was her woman's deep desire to bring pain to those who would stand against her beloved Queen. It certainly made her efficient in the field, but, she had a feeling it would one day cause problems if she did not curb her bloodlust.

"Wonderful, Vespian." Samus murmured, pleased with the news. "The prisoners will be transferred to Siriacus once this battle has ended. Please see to it that they understand their place, and that their loyalty is tested. I will leave the particulars of the situation in your hands." Although her orders were final, and no one would dare speak against her, she would always request something of Vespian in such a way that displayed her respect to the female.

Respect that always made the Zebesian shiver in delight.

"It shall be done, my Queen." She saluted briefly, holding an armored claw to her breast-plate.

The conversation quickly tapered off from there, the two quickly reaching the landing bays. "By my side, Vespian." Samus ordered, jumping free from her warship, entering into free-fall in the skies of Requiem.

Vespian joined her side, both warrior's wings flaring out to catch them. Samus's thrusters exploded to life, her wings flapping hard as she propelled herself forward towards the Infinity, Vespian hot on her tail.

A platoon of Banshees had been dispatched to engage with her fleet, but when they noticed the two of them flying in, they'd changed their course.

''Heads up Samus, enemy fighters coming your way.'' Lasky's words echoed in her helmet, the words of warning appreciated.

"Understood, Commander." The ex-Bounty Hunter muttered. Her eyes narrowed at the fleet of Covenant fighters coming her way, her thrusters pushing harder.

Plasma fire had already started flying their way, but she was un-phased. Swinging her arm cannon forward, there was a moment of calm as it charged, before a devastating Hyper-Beam exploded forward, turning the platoon of Covenant fighters into nothing.

Vespian's arm cannon snapped open, firing a volley of blistering fast missiles. Few managed to avoid the attacks, those who did not sent crashing down to the world below in a heap of metal and fire.

"Enemies annihilated, my Queen!" The Space Pirate exclaimed gleefully, laughing as she prepared another volley of warheads.

"Excellent work, Vespian." The Metroid Queen hummed, pleased. They tore their way through the enemy aerial opposition, quickly reaching the Infinity.

''Samus! The battle outside is too hot. The cannons might mistake you for the enemy. Watch yourself.'' Lasky's words of warning rang out as they approached, bullets and hellfire soaring every which way.

"Understood, Lasky." The woman in question murmured, glancing over to her right hand warrior. Vespian nodded, understanding.

They split off, Samus going left, and Vespian right. "Break away!" She declared, separating as multiple platoons of Banshees and even Seraphs stormed after them. Molten plasma rained down upon them, enough to seriously threaten even someone with her legendary status.

If only any of those shots even managed to land in the first place. Samus grit her teeth, shark toothed mouth clenched as she willed herself to speed up. She gained speed, thrusters propelling her forward at blinding velocities increasing upwards of five hundred miles an hour.

"You all bear witness to the raw might of my glorious Leader, a God of Destruction! Bow down, and render yourselves cannon-fodder for her slaughter!" Vespian's gleefully shouted words were echoed over local enemy coms, her crazed temper terrifying.

Samus launched forward right into the heat of battle, taking aim as she prepared to clear out this fleet of fighters as well. Seeing their death was imminent, they broke away, narrowly avoiding the hyper powered death beam soaring towards them at the speed of sound.

Some did not escape.

Those that did immediately rounded upon her, thousands of plasma rounds flying towards her in an effort to render her a molten ball of flesh.

Her wings flapped, the woman suddenly banking hard in the air. One banshee got too close, unable to evade as she mounted it, digging her claws in through the metal outer shell like it was made of paper.

She growled as she held herself in place, the thrusters on her back exploding to life as she altered the course of the fighter. Her suit's thrusters overwhelmed the banshee, as she sent the ship flying right into its companions.

The resulting explosion took out ten more, the smoke that filled the skies allowing her the time to get back up to speed.

Through the smoke came more Covenant fighters, the Seraphs hot on her tail. She cursed silently, glancing back at them as they gave chase. There were simply too many to handle all at once in this scenario, but…

She wasn't fighting this battle alone.

''Battle formation Dreadnought!!'' A sudden battle cried order was shouted over her comms, a squadron of Fang Class Fighters soaring across the skies towards her. Zooming just ahead of them was an Assault Skiff, designed to carry troops right into the heat of battle or carry them away.

This one, however, was designed to assist her in the air.

She smiled lightly. ''Just in time…'' She thought, before suddenly changing directions, flying towards the skiff. Her wings flared out as she approached it, magnetic boots locking her in place atop the flat top half of the vessel. The second she was secured, it launched away at full speed.

A swarm of Covenant fighters came flying her way, but with so many of her own friendly units in play, the Hyper Beam would unfortunately have to be shelved lest she be responsible for easily available casualties on her side.

That said, she still had plenty at her disposal.

She swung her cannon forward, taking aim at the fleet of fighters. As they all began to close in, she opened the end of her cannon. A white ball of energy began to form, rapidly growing in power and in size.

"Target locked." She muttered to herself, one hundred different reticles appearing on her heads up display. Then she pulled the trigger.

A literal swarm of mini super missiles exploded out from the cannon tip, rapidly gaining speed as they all sought out different targets. Some tried to evade the attack, few were successful. Those that did get blown away were badly damaged in the attack, forced to retreat, or go crashing down to their deaths.

Her cannon smoked lightly from the attack, her missile reservoir depleted considerably. But it had been worth it.

''All ships, form up. Defend the humans and their forces, do not bend to these cowards!'' Vespian's words echoed over comms, directing the strike force elsewhere. ''My Queen, your path has been cleared. I shall handle the skies outside in your stead. Fight with glory.'' The Zebesian stated firmly, before returning to command the strike force.

"Be safe, Vespian." Samus replied, before speeding off towards the Infinity. Lasky's warnings of the potential of accidental friendly fire rang out in the back of her mind as she signaled the pilot of her personal Assault Skiff to break away as she launched off into flight once more.

The heavy cannons that lined the outer hull of the human vessel seemed to finally take notice of her, most were too occupied with fighting off the invading forces, but a few did turn to fire stray shots at her.

She banked out of the way, heavy artillery flashing past her dangerously. As the force field of landing bay five came into view, she suddenly transformed into her morph ball to shrink her form, avoiding any incoming fire as she breached the landing area.

She crashed off the floor, skidding off the silver metal as she came to a stop at the end of the runway. Leaving a smoking trail behind her, she would be sure to apologize for the damages she was likely to leave behind in her attempt to help out.

She did had a tendency to leave holes in ship's hulls…

"I've managed my way onboard, Lasky." She called out, letting out a little sigh of relief as the fighting outside could be ignored for the more pressing concerns on the inside.

''Understood Samus. I haven't received any updates from the Chief, I think he's in trouble down there. A Spartan Fireteam has already been dispatched to aid him. However, we've got numerous reports of casualties and injuries between you and him, and our marines are hard pressed to defend themselves. Think you can lend a hand?'' Came the commanders response.

"I'm on my way." She replied simply, turning to route the quickest path through the ship.

Now wasn't the time to be standing around, there were people to save and invaders to kill. On that note, she needed to downplay her offensive capabilities before she turned someone into nonexistence by accident, which considering her current arsenal, would be all too easy.

She swapped to her Power-Beam, the Hyper-Beam shelved until further notice. That weapon was only to see use in situations where friendly fire was impossible, or the consequences were simply that dire that it couldn't be helped.

Here, it certainly could be helped. She quickly made her way out of the landing bay, the sounds of fighting already reaching her ears…

Chapter

45

End