Part 8
I run back down into the volcano (probably the second time I've had to backtrack at all in this game) and make a leap of faith downwards, leading to a small slope which goes back into a corridor. I see the Sector 3 elevator in here and in the next room are some Zebesians who are dealt with easily (but are still the best part of this game!).
After another corridor full of mooks I arrive at another generous save point followed by a room filled with lava and a grapple hook beam. So Adam, I assume I can authorize my grapple beam now, right? Right? Nope. I return to the previous room after looking around everywhere and Adam tells me to head to Sector 2, where there's a "high probability of survivors" and that we'll have to "deal with that freak of nature" later. Yes Adam, I'm sure that won't come back to bite you in the ass at all, but at least this isn't a blatantly stupid option for him to ask of Samus unlike making her do a hell run through a volcano with no protection.
I return through the previous corridor back to the space pirate room and run past the fire bugs since there's no reason to engage them, only the door is locked. Cue that...clawed bug miniboss thing again, god game why do you do this. It's just as easy as before, so no issues, and I jump onto the elevator to Sector 2 (Adam won't even let you try to go to Sector 1 or 3 again, what? Can't I backtrack? How am I going to get those items I need the speed booster, power bomb, and super missiles for?).
A level 4 warning is in effect in Sector 2, caused by an irregularity in climate control. "Please wear protective gear." warns the computer. Oh I'll try to computer, but only if Adam authorizes me to do so. I wouldn't want to follow safety protocols without permission.
The entire area is frozen over, and that pretty much dissuades me from continuing further at this point as I've got some things to do. Sector Phendrana Drifts will wait until tomorrow.
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Geologists will date anything.