"So after beating the Nightmare again, wither did you go to next?" Luna asked curiously.
"Well, because of all the damage the Nightmare did to Sector 5, we couldn't go back the way we'd come," Samus explained. "Instead, we were forced to take another path to find our way back to a Navigation Room. The only path available was an underwater path only accessible via my Speed Booster, which I could use underwater now that I had my Gravity Suit effect back. This path led us into the lower portions of Sector 4, actually."
"Which means this is where you picked up those Diffusion Missiles?" Rainbow asked eagerly.
"Yes," Samus admitted. "We found that we couldn't actually get out without unlocking level 4 security...and once that was done, I decided it was better I have the upgrade than risk the SA-X getting ahold of it, or any other X for that matter. Thankfully, we quickly found out that as long as Spike was far enough away from the epicenter when the missile went off, the Diffusion effect wouldn't hurt him."
"After that, we made our way back to the Sector 4 Navigation Room," Spike continued. "There, we received...unusual news..."
"I see you collected the Diffusion system," Adam commented as communications was opened.
"Once we were forced to unlock Level 4 Security, it was either get it or leave it for something else to get," Samus explained. "The good news is that it doesn't effect Spike unless he's too close to the epicenter."
"That is good," Adam confirmed. "You may need it before too long. We've received...an unusual signal."
"A signal?" Spike spoke up immediately, remembering the strange garbled signals they'd been getting along their communication frequency throughout the journey.
"From Sector 6," Melissa explained. "It...it was from the S.P.I.K.E. On a distress frequency."
"What?" Samus demanded, stunned.
"The S.P.I.K.E. is in Sector 6...and calling for help. Calling you."
"Was it a trap?" Rainbow asked eagerly.
"As far as we were able to tell, no," Samus explained. "From all reports of its behavior, its organic components had been infected by the X, but its cybernetic components were enabling it to fight off the infection somehow, but it wasn't able to keep it up any longer. And...the distress signal began as soon as we unlocked Level 4 security."
"Then...when all the security was unlocked, it must have concluded that station security and secrecy was no longer a priority," Twilight concluded. "At that point...it decided its survival was its new primary objective...and since you unlocked the security, you could be called to assist it."
"Possible," Samus admitted. "We never did get straight answers, unfortunately. Besides that..."
"When they reached NOC, I had to inform them that the SA-X was actively hunting them," Adam explained. "They had to get in, find the S.P.I.K.E., take whatever action was appropriate, and get out."
"So in we went," Spike continued. "We went deeper into the Sector than ever...and we found something strange..."
As Samus and Spike went as deep as they could go, they found an area sealed off by a security gate, the switch to unlock it on the other side, apparently designed to open from the inside or a security code only. As they stood there, a computerized voice spoke up. "Warning! No entry without authorization!" The message repeated on endless loop.
As they listened, a loud crash could be heard from back the way they'd come, along with a loud metallic shriek. Turning, the pair raced to see what had happened.
In a wide room with a deep pool of water covering the floor, they found the S.P.I.K.E. It seemed to be writhing, struggling against itself as it smashed repeatedly into walls and floor, letting out the occasional shriek as it tried to reach its own back, scratching at its brain case. The case was cracked open, and a large, tumorous yellow growth pulsed there.
Samus leveled her arm cannon, ready to shoot, but couldn't get a straight shot. "Spike! Can you get it to hold still long enough for me to shoot?" she asked as she readied her Dragon Plasma.
"On it!" Spike confirmed, lunging forward. Leaping up, he landed on the S.P.I.K.E.'s back, grasping the growth and pulling. The S.P.I.K.E., apparently recognizing a helping claw, shifted side on to Samus, lowering one wing. Samus fired.
The growth was torn from the S.P.I.K.E., damaging its organic components somewhat as it staggered, but leaving it uncorrupted by the X. The growth, however, landed in a broken wall segment amongst damaged mechanical components...which it immediately began to absorb.
"What the-" Samus began before throwing herself into the water as a Plasma/Wave blast erupted from the hole.
Samus, Spike, and the S.P.I.K.E. turned to face the hole as a fully functional S.P.I.K.E.-X clambered out, looking between the three as it determined the greatest threat.
As the beast roared and lunged forward, Spike and his robotic counterpart lunged in, attacking it from both sides even as it tried to lunge for Samus. Samus, for her part, sent her Dragon Plasma straight down the beast's throat, damaging its beam system and making it rear back even as Spike and S.P.I.K.E. attacked its wings. The beast then leapt into the air, countering with missile systems, locking onto both Spike and Samus. However, S.P.I.K.E. raised its wings, taking the blows for them both, its already damaged chassis starting to crack. With a snarl, it lunged up and grappled with its Parasitic copy.
The two nearly identical creatures reared and spun, tearing at each other until it became impossible to tell which one was which. Samus growled under her breath. "I've got a shot...but it'll hit both brain cores..."
Spike looked up...and for a moment, his eyes locked on his robotic counterpart's. "...take it," he stated firmly.
Nodding, Samus fired, her shot punching through both brain cases, causing the S.P.I.K.E. to crash to the ground as the parasitic copy revealed the X-Core within. Before Samus could take a shot, the S.P.I.K.E. unloaded its arsenal into the membrane, shattering it and allowing Samus to absorb the X.
Wave Beam Ability Recovered
Beam pierces walls
Dragon Auto-Fire adaption...complete
Diffusion Effect restored to Beam Weapon system via Dragon Auto-Fire
Spike, for his part, walked up to his robotic counterpart, gently lifting its head. It looked up at him for a time...and then the light in its optics went dim.
"Mom..." Spike finally spoke up. "I...need a Power Bomb..."
Nodding, Samus triggered her suit to dispense one, leaving it up to Spike to arm it. He set it to a longer than normal timer, then set it inside the fallen bot's brain case. He then turned and slowly walked away, Samus by his side.
As they left the room, the Power Bomb went off, destroying the last trace of the unit.
The table was silent for a time. Spike refused to meet anyone's eyes at first...until Ember caught his attention. She gently touched the Bloodstone in her scepter to her brow, and nodded understandingly. Spike nodded back. No more needed to be said.