A/N: Man, It's been quite a while hasn't it? I figured I'd just get the last chapter updated without too much fanfare. But this one? Not so much. I really missed writing this story, honestly. In the two years (!) it took me to deliver a new chapter I never stopped thinking about this story. But man, I done been through some shit! The little kid that started this story has since grown up! Would you believe me if I told you I was fourteen when I uploaded my first chapter? And thirteen for my very first draft? For those of you mathematicians out there, yes, I'm pushing twenty. Halo Prime has been a part of my life for: Seven. Whole. Years. And I still have not given up. I made a promise to see this through to the end. And when I make a Promise…

I keep it.

So enjoy this chapter, if you've been reading since day one I appreciate you, and I thank you for your patience. To my newer viewers (zing) I appreciate you as well. Stick around, there's more to come.

To some recent specific reviewers:

Trninjakiller- Before, when I was young and brash, I'd get into an argument with you at which point I would detail each and every one of Samus' abilities, stats, and feats of glory, compare them with Master Chief and systematically inform you of just how broken Samus really is compared to him. Truth be told if I was writing every character completely accurately, there'd be no story. The G-Fed alone would have crushed the combined power of the UNSC and Separatist forces, but if it were to somehow last until Samus got involved, Samus would systematically eliminate every major Halo character that there is without much effort.

But I'm not going to do that. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.

P.S. I in fact know quite a lot about Halo. I began writing this story shortly after Halo 3: ODST came out. So in hindsight, it looks like I had a few inaccuracies. Really that's just because Halo writers don't know a goddamned thing about consistency. In my defense, I was able to predict the Spartan IV program nearly to a T.

Joel- Anyone who's ever played Halo knows Spartans, (and Marines [and Army Soldiers {hell even the Elites in Halo 2 and 3}]) especially Halo IV Spartans, exist to die. Even so, Spartan IVs are known to be highly effective Shock Troops, but much more prone to dying in fair combat than Spartan IIs. So yeah, Spartans die. That said, the UNSC and Separatist forces were able to push a superior opponent out of the Solar system all the way back to their home territory where they laid siege so impressively that Samus Aran likened it to a Space Pirate Raid.

Not bad for two completely shattered empires, don't you think?

Dilligaf- Terribly sorry that you feel so strongly for those characters. Are you aware that they are fictional? And that even so, this is a fanfiction with no actual bearing on Halo's actual story? And that even so if you read the rest of the story Fred, Kelly, and Linda are very much alive? Even though Samus killing them is, in fact, highly "likly" I didn't write that. So your criticism isn't just unappreciated, it's just wrong. But whatever, I've got to sacrifice a thousand virgins to the Metroid gods.

Think I've found my next one.

ON WITH THE TALE!

Chapter 32

The Silent Hunter

Samus remained undetected as she traveled back through the Eastern Wing, keeping a brisk pace the entire way. Once she arrived at the entrance to the laboratory, Samus stopped to take a tactical assessment. She observed three Brutes on guard, two Bodyguards, one Chieftain. They seemed to be aware that Samus was around, but had no idea of her current position. Also in the room was a computer console that seemed to be accessing some kind of machinery. No doubt it was related to the stealth tech the Pirates were analyzing. Samus deduced that she would have to access that console to get the stealth gear, but she can't access the console until the Brutes were cleared out of the room. But the room was small enough that they were all within visual and audible range of each other. She would need to spread them out somehow. She remained hidden, staying above her enemies for the most part, but moved all around the area looking for something she could use to her advantage. She eventually came across a Power Generator. She assumed it was connected to something in the room the Brutes were standing in, but wasn't sure what. At any rate, she activated her cannon arm and used the Energy Scythe to carefully cut the power lines. As she did that, all of the power in her area shut down.

Huh. This worked better than I thought, she thought.

"Argh, damn it! The powers down again! You, go check it out!" she heard the Chieftain say.

Samus' enhanced senses allowed her to "see" the Brutes, even through the darkness. Every sound their bodies made (including heartbeats) allowed her to zero in on their position. So Samus was able to carefully plan her assault when the Brute activated his flashlight to investigate.

"It looks like it's been cut!" were the last words the Brute ever said, as Samus silently dropped down, snatched the Brute's combat knife, then sliced his throat with it. The Brute's vocal chords were cut, so he couldn't scream out for help, and began slowly drowning on his own blood. Samus decided to keep the combat knife, then snuck back toward the room with the stealth drive. By now, the two remaining Brutes were on alert, so the bodyguard refused to leave his Chieftain's side.

But that didn't matter to Samus, as the cover of darkness allowed her to sneak in right above the Chieftain's head, then drop down and plunge a Combat Knife into his head. The Chieftain began to collapse.

"There's no way she's getting in here boss!" The Bodyguard spoke. In the same instance that the Chieftains body fell, the Bodyguard turned around… and got stabbed in the face by Samus. He collapsed into a heap. Samus shook off the blood from the knife, then traveled back outside to reactivate the power. As she was waiting for everything to reboot, she traveled back inside to activate the Pirate computer. After using her scan visor to hack it, it happily retrieved one of its experimental Light Active Camo modules. Samus happily picked it up. She was about to activate her suit to scan more info out of it, but just then PA system activated.

"-ALL LOCAL FORCES TO STEALTH LAB! SAMUS IS THERE!" Ridley's voice spoke.

Samus had no time to think so she merely attached the Active Camo to here Zero Suit's Core (the glowing pink part) and hoped for the best. Her Camo seemed to activate with a thought, and just at that moment a Pirate Kill Team burst into the room. Samus stared tensely at the Kill Team. They were focusing intently on her position. They stared for what felt like an eternity before a Commando spoke into his com system and said,

"My lord, she's not here."

"Yes she is, idiot. She's using the stealth technology to hide from you! Hmm. Your Metroid DNA scanners won't find her if she's invisible. Shoot up the room, leave no part untouched!" Ridley ordered.

"My lord, that will destroy the data!"

"Did I stutter, maggot?"

"Not at all, my lord," the Commando said, then readied his weapon. "Pirates, fire at will!"

By this point, Samus had already crawled into a nearby air vent, thus avoiding the enemy fire, but the Pirates destroyed everything in the Stealth Lab. They even vaporized the dead Brutes' bodies. After they'd covered every inch of the room in gunfire, they paused tentatively.

"Did we get her?"

Obviously not, as Samus had already made her way back to the Anti-Air Gun, now capable of remaining hidden. Before she entered the room, however she stopped to actually examine her new upgrade.

Light Active Camo acquired! This upgrade can link to your Zero Suit to make you nearly undetectable. Note: Metroid DNA scanners can eventually lock on to your location if you remain still for too long. The camouflage can last nearly indefinitely, but fast movements and weapons fire will reveal you.

Samus Aran took note, then activated the camo again. There were five Commandoes, one scientist and a Commander. The Pirates were on guard now, actively searching the area for her. They knew this was the most important target for her. The Pirates were spread out across the wide open area, and they routinely reported in to one another, just to confirm they were still standing. The Pirate Commander took position near the Command Console for the AA Gun with an Imperialist Rifle, but the entire area around him was protected by a one way shield. Meaning if she was spotted, the Commander could shoot her, but she couldn't shoot him. She would have to find a way to disable the shield. But first, she would deal with the pirates.

One was passing by her at the moment, but she let him live for now because the Commander was looking in her direction. She instead chose to sneak her way behind a Pirate who was checking an air vent for her. As he stood up, Samus clamped his mandibles shut, then snapped his neck. Samus then moved away and hid inside a cabinet nearby.

"Team Destroyer, report!" the Commander ordered.

"Destroyer-One is up!" began the responders.

"Destroyer-Two, responding!"

"Destroyer-Three, reporting in!"

"Destroyer-Five is active!"

"I am alive too!" the scientist responded.

"No one cares, vapor brain!" One of the Pirates responded.

"Silence!" The Commander ordered. "Destroyer-Four, respond!" He waited a moment, then said, "Shit! Check his last known position!"

"At once, Commander!"

Two of the Pirates moved in to investigate "Destroyer-Four" while the other two maintained their search. The Commander aimed kept his weapon trained on the scientist, which unnerved him to no end, because he expected Samus to go for him. In actuality, Samus stabbed one of the Pirates in the throat when he opened the door to the cabinet she was in. She then placed him in the cabinet and climbed back into the rafters.

"Shit! He's dead!" one of the investigated Pirates called out. "Looks like his neck was broken."

"Nothing we can do about him. Buddy up! Check your corners," the Commander called out.

"At once, Commander!" came the response.

The Commander, noticing something off, said, "Repeat that last transmission, all of you! One by one, in ascending order!" The Pirates, somewhat confused, nevertheless complied.

"At once, Commander!"

"At once, Commander!"

"At once, Commander!" The Commander waited a moment and said,

"Damn it, that's only three! She got another one! Investigate Destroyer Five's death!"

"Acknowledged!"

Samus waited until the Pirate lacking a buddy said "acknowledged" before slitting his throat with the combat knife, then removing his grenades from his belt. She then promptly made her way directly under the Pirate Commander's platform. She noticed the Commander took a keen interest in the Scientist wellbeing, hence why she has yet to get to him. But she had a plan. One of the Pirate investigators opened the cabinet the dead Pirate was in, and promptly put three rounds into him out of fear.

"Well if he wasn't dead before…"

"Shut up! Shit, Commander, Five is down!"

"So too is Three," the Commander spoke.

"What?!" they Pirates yelled in unison.

"Yes, I saw his body as I scanned the area."

"Fuck, she's going to kill us all! The Huntress is unstoppable!"

"Calm down, Pirate! We trained for this!" the Commander ordered.

"She-she's everywhere! And nowhere! All at once!"

"Two, remain calm, we can get through this!"

"I have to get out of here! Run while I still can!"

The Pirate then made a mad dash for the exit, to which the Commander yelled, "Lock the place down now!" The scientist paused for a moment, to which the Commander ordered louder "Now!" The scientist did as he was told, and locked the room down via his computer.

"Now there's no way out," the Commander said. "Nobody's getting out of here. You hear that, Huntress! You aren't leaving this room!"

Samus heard him alright, but didn't actually care what he was saying. Samus enacted her plan in the ensuing confusion. She hurled one of the Pirates grenades at the Pirate that attempted to escape. It stuck, prompting him to say,

"GET IT OFF, GET IT O-" before exploding.

The Pirates reaction coupled with the noise of the explosion caused all of the Pirates to look in that direction. After about 5 seconds, the Commander said,

"SHIT!" and then looked back at the scientist, but by that point it was too late. Samus had already smashed his head into a wall and used her scan visor to hack into the system, disabling both the lockdown and the Commander's shield. The Commander spotted Samus as she was darting away, but couldn't get a shot in at her before her stealth engaged. At that point, the Commander put his Imperialist Rifle away, and began tuning his senses. He looked in no direction in particular, and merely stepped away from the railing of his platform. He didn't even regard the Pirate that fled the room, he merely focused.

Samus, still cloaked snuck up on the Commandeer from behind, with her knife drawn. As she went to stab him, he suddenly turned and grabbed her throat! The Commander effortlessly lifted her with one hand and pinned her against the Armor of the AA Gun. Samus attempted to stab him again, but the Pirate caught her arm with his other hand. The Pirate moved his face closer to hers and said,

"This is the Huntress who terrified our people? Our stories paint you as a wraith. An entity. But you? You're just another human being. And human beings are my favorite species to kill." Samus used her free hand to grab her stun pistol and shoot the pirate in the leg. It did not harm him much at all, but jarred him enough that she broke free. She gasped for breath, then attempted stab him again, but he deflected her blade and kicked her toward the railing. Samus barely had time to recover before he struck again. She dodged several punches before responding with a punch of her own to his midsection. He didn't even budge. He responded with an uppercut that sent her tumbling over the railing and onto the ground below.

She landed with a thud, dazed from the force of the strike. As she attempted to get up, the Commander landed right next to her and picked her up by the neck. Samus then materialized her cannon and released a charge shot into his chest. The force knocked him back and forced him to drop her, giving her time to fully materialize her suit. The Commander, not to be outdone, fully materialized his armor. The armor of a Zebesian.

It was the Commander from earlier.

"What do you say we finish this?" he spoke, confidence dripping from his voice. Samus responded by merely pointing her cannon arm at him. He clicked his claws in anticipation.

Here we go…