Aftermath, The Last Flight

The clean up operation was huge. Everybody had to help repair the damage to the port and the mess of the dead metroids. After several light cycles, Flaming Metroidz called me to his office. I walked through the weaving corridors and took the main transit elevator up to central broadcasting.

At least the Management wasn't too far from the port. On entering the room I saw FMdz looking at the planet Tallon's surface, its lush green forest contrasting the browns and yellows of the deserts and ruins. He turned and looked at me, no longer was there a flash of anger or a dark haunted look only one of regret and remorse, "What happened..." he began

"Was not your fault" I added, "You can be held responsible for your actions"

"I was talking about the impact it has on you, not whether I am going to intergalactic prison over it. I deeply regret the image of the colony that been impressed upon you." An uncomfortable silence ensued.

"I am no longer a guest here, this here I now call home. I will stand and defend it with my life, may no being stop me." FMdz turned and grinned, for a second I thought I saw surprise, he said, warmly

"Welcome home, Omega-Ridley!" I, to, returned a toothy smile to show my appreciation, "Now Omega, I believe there is something in the Plaza you might want to see."

I was confused, was there something they wanted to give me? What could it be? My thoughts concluded nothing. I took the main transit all the way up to the colony plaza, the open doors gave way to shouts of joy and celebration, several humans rushed forward and grabbed my arms, dragging me to a tall podium. Standing there, was Captain Durangis, a gamma he smiled me and gestured a seat which I took. He stood in front of the podium and the room went silent. "There is one among us, who has been through a lot since he has arrived here, he has fought giant, metal snakes and helped defeat the corruption that had taken us all and now we would like to commemorate his leaving with the reparation of his ship. The crowd gasped, even I was shocked- I hadn't been here that long, I felt a sense of dread of leaving.

I stood shakily at the podium, trying to take in what had been said, but I had decided there was only one option for me, "Members of the TSC, the time I have been here has been wonderful having you here! Even though my ship is now space worthy- I have no need to return home because I have found it - here at The Tallon Space Colony- here with all of you!" Cheers returned my speech - I hadn't expected such an applause, salty drops began emitting from eyes, I tried to wipe them away but the human in me had won the round.

Death

The first sound I heard were metal shoes on the chrome flooring, they echoed loudly in the eerie silence of the port. I strained to open my eyes, my body hurt, I had probably broken many bones. I saw a metal figure stand in front of me, the light shining from behind it made it look as if it was an angel. It knelt down and peered into my eyes, I could then see the feminine features of a woman, her dark orange hand touching the floor. She turned around as a noise emitted from the other side of the room.

Wild eyed and matted hair, Flaming Metroidz stood shakily, his composure was one of corruption. He began to speak but his words were muffled by a black, acrid smoke reaching from deep within his throat. It coated him and turned him into a monster similar to Samusrocks1. The woman in the orange metal suit stood there as if anticipating an attack. FMdz sprang forward and landed a few meters of the woman, she had already attempted to slow him but she was no use - not quick enough. She was about to die, I felt suddenly cold inside, I wanted to do something but I couldn't.

But I had underestimated this woman, at the last moment she unleashed a torrent of missiles on the dark creature and it was thrown back and hit one of the ships. She ran forward, preparing for another entanglement. Suddenly another explosion sounded from above and a strange noise emitted from the speakers. The bodies lying in the room got up and opened their mouths, only to be swallowed by the black smoke. There were now around 50 of them, too many for even I to fight. It was useless, my escape from the cutting board was fruitless, I had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

They say that in space, when your hopes are slashed so much that you feel that the universe no longer needs you, a spirit will come and prevent your death and begin your resolve. Only those who do not fear death will be treated to the second chance. My hopes were gone, I reached into my side pocket and drew a blaster - Obsidian - my faithful companion, it was only just that I die by her means. I pressed the cold barrel against my head, I had given up, there was no spirit coming for me. But as if some prayer had been answered, a metroid came through the gaping hole in the ceiling.

The horde went crazy, almost killing each other and running about as if they were all on fire. Suddenly they all stood and stared at the metroid, their eyes wide. Nothing happened for ages, the orange clad person went close to one of the horde and waved her hand in front of it. In a split second all the darkness had drained away from the people and they collapsed. A huge black mass was floating above them, it swirled hypnotically in the air, I had guessed what it was but this confirmed it. It was an X-Parasite, a huge dark parasite that would control the body of any living thing it could get a hold of. This variation was black and seemed to prefer humans, was it made this way or was it evolution?

The metroid floated straight for the mass, it was soon followed by hundreds more, as if the scent of such a large prey had coaxed them into coming. The metroids swarmed the black mass and within minutes it had gone but sadly the metroids had, either in ignorance or deliberate attempt, committed suicide on our behalf, their dead bodies littered the port. The orange figure turned and looked at me before walking off to her ship and blasting off. My vision blanked.

Tune in next time to find out the aftermath.

Final Walk

Looking back nothing could stop the blackness that had corrupted the Colony. It was like a slow poison, taking hold, one by one it consumed the minds of the station.

They had assembled in their droves, like a pack of wild creatures they hissed and booed at me, the darkness in their eyes driving regret in my heart. I could see Flaming Metroidz standing on a raised platform in the colony port where my execution was to take place. Like a convicted man I walked my final walk, feeling every step, I knew they would be my last and my only steps. Flaming was beaming at me, but I saw in his eyes deep, a haunted look of a human who was being forced to do something he didn't want to.

He nodded to the person behind me, who undid my shackles and took a step back. Flaming gestured for me to kneel but I glared at him and stood up to face the crowd. "May my last words echo these halls for years to come. This injustice you will pass down to your offspring, upon all who follow you. For I will curse these halls! Ter shund incapteit! " The crowd was weary but Flaming began to laugh behind me,

"You think you have power here? We have the power now! Nothing can stop us!" Suddenly a huge bang from the floors above us. The crowd scattered in case any debris fell on them, even FMdz looked spooked. A hole had formed in the ceiling and swarms of animals came storming into the port, my plan had worked, soon the metroids would come. I looked back at FMdz expecting to see him standing white as a sheet in fear but he smiled. A sadistic smile only held by those with over exposure to phazon. He flicked a button and there was a huge explosion, the port was now a billowing wall of flame, I felt myself being thrown against a wall and pass out.

A Fugitive from Injustice

A fugitive from justice, or more, injustice. The corridor was silent but since that cycle, I had narrowly missed several people. I wrote this when all other human are asleep, I used this terminal from the cabin of 'Serris-X', I had sedated him with a little concoction and now he wouldn't wake up until I left the room.

The ventilation shafts were silent, dark and foreboding, it didn't affect me, I could use them as shield and my vision was much better than a normal humans. I was now over a busy corridor, a few people was talking intensely, " Atilme, did you hear? Omega-Ridley sucked all SR1 blood out!"

"What, really? I don't believe that! He 's not a bad guy!"

"I swear I saw it on camera. The colony plaza has recorded footage of it, c'mon I'll show you!" and they left.

I crawled for several minutes, weaving my way through hundreds of meters of chrome and steel shafts like an old phazon miner. I smelt Flaming Metroidz scent, he was close, I must be above Central Broadcasting. I peer down through one of the grates and see FMdz right below me, he is talking to someone with blond, spiky hair who I have never met before. He leaves, FMdz goes over to a cabinet and grabs out something and I here a click. Suddenly a spray of orange spikes penetrate the chrome, almost as if a fire was jumping out at me - I recognized the spluttered sound of a Ki907, an outlawed plasma rifle with an illegal auto cartridge. The bullets stop and I jumped quickly down. Flaming is smiling at me, a sadistic and twisted smile that only comes from possession. He aimed the rifle and suddenly the world went slow, I began to feel my inner power seeping into my outside body but I forced myself to contain it, I would not wreak havoc again. He pulled the trigger and a rain of orange hail directed itself at me, I ducked and some bullets hit my right shoulder knocking me against the fall. Before Flaming could unleash another torrent of deadly spikes, I got up and weaved around the table, I was right beside him. He anticipated me though and smacked the butt of the rifle full in my face, I was caught unawares and he kicked me down on the ground, I soon felt the cold, hard metal of the gun barrel at my head. I knew I was finished, somehow I had been beaten by a human.

Two Gammas came to drag me to a cell, which was small, cramped and cold. I glanced at the bare walls, regret and remorse grew in a sickly feeling in my stomach, they were soon drowned by a feeling of injustice and anger. There was something going on in the TSC and I was determined to get to the bottom of it. The walls were normal metal, only slightly hardened and so I tested one of my nails on them and sure enough I could make a hole and so just the shift changed I would sneak out and see what I could uncover in the station.

I hear footsteps in the corridor but they won't bother me, I'm in somebody else's cabin and he won't wake up for quite a while. The door opens.....

The Fight

The fight is harsh against me. I do not know this creature weakness but luckily it doesn't know either, I hope. It is hurt though but what would be after standing against Omega-Ridley, infamous bounty hunter of the Nikkron Galaxy turned nice by several mediations to came himself within. The control was lost, I was now only a floating conscience in the mind of my hijacked body, oblivious to feel but I could sense every emotion.

I grabbed the creature arm and began using him to smash the window of the cabin, I'm in pure rage; this creature is helpless as I smash its bones against the toughened glass. The glass eventually breaks and I drop the rag-doll of a body and enter the cabin. Inside there is a plasma rifle which I immediately take off the wall. I hit the button on the controls for the main deck of the colony and turn to face my nemesis.

It stands weary of me a few meters away, hoping I don't unleash another fury attack. My mind is pledged to violence, forcing this creature to defend itself. I hops from side to side as if suffering from a leg injury, I too dodge its moves, we are like two dancers locked in a deadly embrace, if anybody steps out of line, they die. I threw a fist in its face, knocking the deadly presence out of SR1.

The main deck appeared as I picked up the battle ravaged body of the human. It does look bad, I see Flaming Metroidz standing there with some other heavily built humans. Looking down, my amour is punctured and splattered with blood, also is my face with fangs protruding as if I have performed some vampiric ritual. Two medics wearily approach me and silently take SR1 limp body away. FMdz looks me in the eye, I see a darkness in his, he orders his henchmen, "Get him, I want him die or alive!" I was running up to the top of the ceiling and into the ventilation, I hear their heavy footsteps but I know they won't be able to find me. No one will.

The Monster Within

The Metroid transit elevator dropped down its shaft slowly, as if trying its best to drag out my anticipation. The human stood opposite me, he was shivering out of cold fear, as if he had pathogens in his body. He did, but in another sense, more of a parasite that would take over the brain waves and 'hijack' the body. This I learnt later, if I had known before then they're might have been a chance.

The empty elevator was a chilling sight, as if the security of the TSC had been erased. I was more cautious of this human than any others, I didn't know what was wrong with him, I didn't even know his name. "What is your name?"

"People call me SR1"

"A numerical name?"

"It refers to my rank, Gamma as well as a user name in the systems." I didn't seem to reassure him, he looked haunted and in his eyes I saw a dark, foreboding look hidden within. The Metroid Prime level came up and SR1 began hyperventilating and began muttering of what I presume was human obscenities. He opened his mouth to scream but no noise came out, a darkness spread over his skin, shrouding him as if in shadow. His eyes pleaded with me as if I could stop his pain. His face erupted in some hideous dark being, something I sensed was pure evil, a being made mad by years of exposure to high doses of radiation. It bared its teeth at me, all I could do was laugh, it was compulsory as if i had inhaled Nitrous Oxide. I couldn't react in time and the creature grabbed me and threw me against the wall. My ribs began to hurt and pain seared like a hot poker through my spine. The start of my torture.

The monster began stabbing me with its long sickle-like claws like a butcher preparing meat, the armor could only do so much. I saw my blood on its claws and felt myself slipping away, on a boat on water floating away into the distance. Something awoke deep inside me, a killer instinct that was now also my protector, my vision blurred and I let the evil inside me engulf my entire being and let loose power within.

All I felt was the urge to survive, the urge to destroy and to rip apart, to cause as much pain to this creature as possible. I lashed left and right, striking its face and its body, I too now had claws and sharper teeth. I began to rip apart at its neck, sucking in its inner fluids like some vampiric metroid. Then my human self awoke again, the only thoughts I felt was those for SR1, if I killed this monster, I would kill SR1 as well. I couldn't live with myself doing that.

Shadows

At the colony I felt I was fully accepted, I seemed to know quite a few people now and to react around them; Kuro chan, a female human with purple hair, could become very cranky at times or Lunaar who was by any creature's standards slightly crazy. I feel now I am not as uptight, although the snake gave me a terrible shock , I did recover. Unfortunately life is never boring in the TSC as I found out only two light cycles after the snake incident - I was in the Metroid Transit elevator.

The elevator was quite large, at least 20 metres wide and about just as long. It was used to transport personnel as well as large specimens and goods. I was on my way to Deck I when at Deck B the elevator stopped. A male human stepped on the elevator and glanced at me, then turned back to the notes he was holding, he seemed very induced into his notes, almost bending into them.

A omnious shade came up behind him, tinting his TSC outfit, dulling the glinting metal. This semi-transparent object wanted to attack him, but not on my watch, I darted forward past several crates to where the human was. I jumped and fell through the shape. It dissipated and I half-expected the human to think I had tried to attack him, but he was very unaware I had done anything, he was swaying slightly as if dazed. "Are you ok?" I asked, no reply, " Excuse me, can you here me?" The human blinked and looked at me as if I had popped out of nowhere, "Where am I?"

"On the transit elevator" The human looked genuinely shaken, his forehead crinkled as he began to think intently on what happened. He examined himself, "Is there something weird about me? I looked at him, he was human, "Yeah, you're human"

"That's not what I mean, there's something wrong with me, something has got its grip on me" I explained the black shape floating very close to him. "Its come back, I have to get out of here!!" He was very worried, I could smell the fear coming off him, the dark side of me poised to strike. He ran to the elevator controls and tried to open the door, but it was sealed and the override was in the cabin. I was stuck with a possessed human on an elevator which was going somewhere. Where? I didn't know.