"So what was it like aboard the BSL station?" Twilight asked curiously, once more taking notes much to the amusement of many around her.
"A lot like Bottleship, actually," Samus replied. "Same sort of atmosphere of abandonment, same sense of always being watched, same sense of danger just out of sight..."
"We really should have caught what was going on a lot sooner," Spike murmured dryly.
"Another bio-weapons research facility, complete with Metroids?" Rainbow asked.
"And even a Sector Zero," Samus confirmed. "Although it was a while before we discovered it. Just getting into the station itself was a trial..."
As Samus landed the ship, Adam sent over the map data for the Main Sector that Melissa'd managed to access so far. "We'll send you map data for a sector as we get it," he added in communication. "For right now, you should investigate the source of the reported explosion, the Quarantine Bay. That's where the containment capsules of samples from SR388 - and your infected suit parts - were stored." The indicated location was illuminated on the map. "Since we don't know the cause of the explosion, exercise extreme caution. Remember, you have a brand new suit and no power ups to help you, Samus. Spike, keep a close eye on her."
"Will do," Spike confirmed.
"I'll be alright," Samus promised.
"Link up with us at the Navigation Room on the way," Adam instructed. "We may have more information for you there. In the meantime, we'll work on data for your suit to restore your latent abilities."
"Thanks," Samus confirmed, cutting communications as the pair disembarked from the ship. The hangar bay was a dull green, very similar in appearance to that of the Bottleship, an unpleasant reminder in this situation. The door at the end stood open for the pair, the only sound Samus' foot-falls and Spike's claws clicking against the floor. The halls they passed through were stark gray with grated floors. The doors that were closed had no power flowing to them, and could not be opened. As such, the pair took the path through only open doors. The path led straight to the Navigation Room, which they activated to communicate with Adam and the others. "Adam?" she asked. "Any new information?"
"We have detected bio-signs in the Quarantine Bay," Adam replied worriedly. "Exercise extreme caution. We have no idea what could be there."
"Life signs?" Celestia asked, surprised. "What could that have been?"
"The X Parasites in the samples, freed somehow?" Luna suggested.
"That's what we found out," Samus confirmed.
Entering the Quarantine Bay, Samus and Spike made their way around the fallen containment capsules. Before long, they found the same creature they'd encountered back on SR388, the one that had released the X Parasite that had infected Samus. It leapt to the attack, and Samus quickly shot it. As the flesh dissolved, an X Parasite appeared, floating around the room. Spike and Samus quickly withdrew to the Navigation Room to confer with Adam.
"Come in, Adam!" Samus stated as soon as she activated the console. "There was an X Parasite! It had somehow taken on the shape of a creature. When damaged, the Parasite revealed itself!"
"It seems all the specimens the field team brought back were infected by X," Melissa added. "I've just now gotten access to some video logs, and every single sample container had X Parasites in them. I still can't get much data, though."
"From what I've been able to determine, the X can mimic their prey," Ghor supplied. "Once the prey is fully consumed by the X, the Parasites will take on the prey's shape, both to interact with the environment and hunt down new prey. We have a scan of one from before the explosion."
As an image of the gelatinous organism appeared on screen, Adam continued. "The parasite invades the host, rapidly reproduces, then kills the host, retaining the DNA of the host in its body, with the capability of recreating the host."
"I know how they spread," Samus countered. "That nearly killed me."
"But it didn't hurt Spike," Adam continued. "As we'd determined, the Metroidal aspects of his DNA enabled him to absorb the X completely in much the same way Metroids could feed on them, as best as we can determine. And between his genetic code and the Metroid cell culture in the vaccine, you should be able to as well. Absorbing free floating X without a host should instead replenish your suit resources."
"Based on my projections," Ghor added, "this may also restore latent abilities, should you absorb a large core X with compatible DNA information stored inside. So you should pursue free-floating X at every opportunity."
"Understood," Samus confirmed.
"According to my data," Melissa spoke up, "this station is home to many different species of creatures...some quite violent. We should make it a priority to keep the X out of the breeding environments, both to protect the creatures and to prevent the X from gaining access to more powerful forms while you're still weak. Unfortunately..."
"Unfortunately?" Samus inquired.
"We've already detected massive bio-signs here," Adam clarified as the area in question lit up on the map. "The X appear to be gathering. This may be our chance to exterminate them, but you're only at 10% combat capacity. Even with Spike's assistance, survival projections are low."
"I'll make do," Samus replied firmly. "Just open the path."
Adam stared at her over the comms. "Alright," he agreed finally.
"I've opened Level 0 hatches, the grey ones," Melissa continued. "They'll be blinking as you approach them. Shoot them with any weapon type to trigger the mechanism."
"Will do," Spike confirmed as communications were cut.