"It wasn't only her blood my mother gave to keep me alive; her youth and her own life was sucked up into the syringe that fed me."
— James Eastman, Grave of the Vampire
Metroid dissection continues to provide more questions than answers. Our research teams have isolated the energy conduits that run from the invasive twin mandibles to the energy core in the creature's quadripartite nucleus, but the manner in which a Metroid actually extracts the life force from its prey remains an utter mystery. The victim does not lose blood or any other vital fluids, and yet the Metroid extracts energy; identifying this energy is our central problem. It takes no physical form, and yet without it, the victim dies. We will continue to research this matter, as the isolation of this life-giving essence could be the key to our ascendance.
— Space Pirate Log 11.420.7, Metroid Prime
