Chapter 4: Heroes Corrupted

Dark Samus gains the upper hand and corrupts the hunters...

No time for relief though, as a blaring alarm promptly sounds and Aurora 242 announces the impending impact of the stellar object in four minutes. There's no on-screen timer, but you still need to make this quick. Exit Generator C and work your way back through Cargo Dock C (save your game along the way if you wish). Aurora 242 urges you onto the main control tower, which lies at the top of the Cargo Hub area. As you enter Cargo Dock C you'll witness the meteor burning through the atmosphere, so time is something you can't waste now.

Enter the narrow tunnel in the alcove ahead and lay a bomb to launch yourself up into the connecting tunnels. Roll through and move through to Conduit C. A Pirate Militia barges through the damaged walkway section blocking you path, so thank him quickly and run through the area. Blast any Crawltanks along the way, then as you climb up the wrecked corridor remember to spin around and leap up to the opposite platform where your exit awaits. Move through the Maintenance Station and quickly fry the group of Aeromines trying to slow you down.

Exit ahead to finally make it back to the Cargo Hub chamber. Head right and roll through the debris to find the control room elevator door awaiting. Activate the hand scanner on the door to open it wide, then move past the door beyond. Immediately stop as you step into the Tower Elevator and wait for the lift to arrive ahead. On board are all three fellow hunters, except this is your only chance to scan Rundas and Gandrayda - so scan them both now before stepping onboard.

As you cruise up the elevator shaft listen to the comments from your fellow hunters (remember, this is your last chance to scan Rundas and Gandrayda). Rundas' final comment sure hits the spot, but it won't be an easy task this time round. Upon arrival at the control tower, the group rushes into the command chamber as Samus quickly activates the main cannon's control station, priming it to fire. But the group soon realise they're not alone.

...But not without loss as the planetary cannon obliterates the meteor.

A glowing blue orb suddenly smashes its way into the control tower before revealing the form of Dark Samus within. The other hunters open up on the target without effect, Dark Samus simply shrugs them off and returns fire. After missing a direct hit on Samus - the group prepare to face the Phazon being before it surprises them with a concentrated Phazon beam attack, leaving all four stunned and unconscious, all sporting glowing blue Phazon radiation on their bodies.

The coward then streaks out the window, knowing that its work here is done. Samus then manages to remain conscious just long enough to fire the cannon, sending a bright blue lancing beam up into space. A relay satellite diverts the beam directly into the meteor, completely obliterating the target and saving Norion.

Victory for the Federation, but not without great cost.

Samus awakens from a month-long slumber aboard the Olympus in the care of a friendly Female Fleet Trooper. Once her view focuses you'll be greeted with some bad news straight away: a biohazard scanner before Samus reads "Status: Corrupted." Listen to the Fleet Trooper as she recounts the events on Norion - the Federation rescued Samus and her fellow hunters before discovering that their bodies are now self-generating Phazon, something of great potential when combined with PED technology.

Samus' new Hypermode boasts devastating firepower.

Sure enough, the Fleet Trooper reveals that PED technology has been integrated into Samus' Varia Suit. This allows her to utilise internal Phazon energy as a potent weapon, and drastically changes her appearance to something of a combination of human and Chozo design. Eventually you'll begin a simulation of Hypermode as training targets emerge from the floor of the MedLab chamber.

Follow the on-screen instructions to enter Hypermode, giving you a funky grayscale depiction of your surroundings. Fire you weapon at the training targets to see bright blue energy blasts instead of regular fire. Hypermode uses one energy tank per use, so you'll need to avoid excessive use of the powerful altered state. Refer to the Hypermode Guide for all the intricate details.

Before releasing you, the Fleet Trooper advises that Aurora 242 awaits your presence in the Aurora Chamber near the bridge, so we'll be heading there next. Once you regain control take a moment to scan all the objects in the chamber, including the Female Fleet Trooper (last chance) and the Phazon and Phazon Enhancement Device entries for your Logbook.

The new PED Suit combines Chozo and Federation technology.

Exit the chamber and move through the following observation corridor (try out Hypermode again to blast the blue Phazon panels - notice the energy refills popping out of them are identified as Phazon units?). Chat to the PED Marine on your way through, and take a peek outside to see everything back to normal above Norion. Enter the adjacent elevator shaft and power it up via the hand scanner. Ride it topside and enter the corridor beyond to find yourself back up near the bridge. Save your game nearby before entering the bridge if you wish.

Once back on the bridge (notice the destroyed frigate outside the viewport has been quickly replaced), look for a PED Marine standing guard at a nearby hatch (feel free to go explore the briefing chamber, and you'll find two mechanics repairing the wall Pirate Militias destroyed down in the Flag Bridge Access chamber). Speak to the PED Marine to be granted access. Step inside the lift chamber and hop on the lift to ride up to the Aurora Chamber, where a GF Marine opens the massive blast doors for you.

Inside lies the heart of the Olympus: Aurora Unit 242 - currently a massive round tank filled with an opaque liquid. It's not much to look at now, but be sure to admire the amazing architecture of the chamber before stepping up to the communications platform (the friendly GF Marine beside the door will offer directions). Activate the center panel to initiate communications with Aurora Unit 242. The massive biological supercomputer then reveals itself, floating within the liquid inside the huge tank (now where have you seen something like this before??).

Meet Aurora Unit 242 - a vital advisor for your later missions.

The Aurora's booming female computer voice greets you and explains the situation. A few weeks back the other hunters slowly awakened, all of them now equipped with their own PED equipment. Sent to different locations to deal with Pirate trouble, each one eventually severed contact with the Federation. Now with Samus the only one left, it's up to her to find out what happened to each of them and to complete their original missions.

Two other planets known to the Federation weren't as lucky as Norion - other meteors (now known as Leviathans) impacted the planets Bryyo and Elysia, burying themselves deep within their crusts. It's now completely clear that these Phazon-filled monstrosities are just like the incidents that occurred at Tallon IV and Aether. Rundas was sent to Bryyo, your first objective. With 242's blessing Samus returns to her ship in the docking bay (how did they bring it back up from the planet I wonder?) and enters orbit above the planet.

Once seated in the gunship's cockpit, Aurora 242 announces that from now on you won't be able to dock with the Olympus, but they'll remain in contact throughout your missions to offer advice (and keep you company). Feel free to check up on your recorded statistics and use the biohazard scanner to learn that Samus' body is currently 10% corrupted by Phazon (ew). When you're ready to depart simply press the central helm control panel and select the planet Bryyo from the stellar map. Select the Cliffside Airdock location and watch as Samus exits Norion orbit and enters hyperspace.

Next Chapter: A Broken World Ravaged by War

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