Dark Alpha Splinter

A Dark Alpha Splinter was the result of the Ing merging with an Alpha Splinter, turning it into a Dark Energy-spitting giant Dark Splinter.
==Battle==
Samus Aran encountered a Dark Alpha Splinter in Aether's Great Temple in the Temple Sanctuary. After Samus had dealt with numerous Dark Splinters and momentarily battled the Alpha, a Black fog appeared and shortly engulfed the large Splinter, turning it into the Dark Alpha Splinter. Samus is unable to stop this transformation as the Alpha Splinter possesses much durability to withstand Samus's current arsenal. Soon the transformation is complete and the Dark Alpha Splinter commences with battle.
The creature attacks by strafing close around its target, trying to keep it in front of itself. It begins attacking by first launching a blast of dark matter to attack from a safe distance, then immediately follows up with a leap forward at high speed, attempting to slam into its prey and stab them with its sharp legs. It continually repeats this predictable pattern until defeated. All Samus would need to do is simply dodge and return fire to eliminate the threat. Both the creature's size and darkling host provide the Dark Alpha Splinter with a great longevity, making the battle last for a while. 
Once defeated, the creature falls, leaking of dark matter fluid. It then explodes in a short blinding light, soon revealing its source of brightness. The Ing that possessed the creature had the Energy Transfer Module, which Samus receives as a reward. The group of Ing which appeared and possessed all of the Splinter creatures within the Temple Sanctuary were about to steal the planetary energy from the Energy Controller and end their war with the Luminoth.
==Manga==
The Dark Alpha Splinter also appears in the Episode of Aether manga, however it was depicted as a far larger creature than in-game, as well as having a body capable of reflecting beams. It was also not fought in the Great Temple, rather, it was seen in a different GFMC Compound than that in-game, and attacked Klaus Schneider until Samus intervened. Klaus urged her to kill the creature before it was possessed by the "black fog", but she was too late, and her weapons were useless until she performed an Overblast. Later, another attacked, and Miguel Luis Garcia assisted Samus in destroying it. The latter Splinter was more in line with the in-game boss.
==Logbook entry==
==Development notes==
Paul Tozour was responsible for the artificial intelligence of the Dark Alpha Splinter.Kiwi Talkz. "#138 - Paul Tozour Interview (Metroid Prime 2 & 3, Boss Design, A.I., Leadership, Four Swords etc.)". YouTube. June 25, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022. (starts at 58:17)
Unused Logbook data exists within the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc. Here, its scan greatly differs from the final version, providing more information on the creature's natural behavior. It appears that some parts of its scan entry were moved to the Alpha Splinter's scan in the final, a creature that isn't listed in the Bonus Disc's Logbook. The Dark Alpha Splinter's placement in the Data Network is of a beta branch, being placed within the "weapons" portion of the Sub-Guardians section. This hints that the creature may have been originally supposed to be guarding an obtainable weapon. Curiously, the Bonus Disc scan mentions that the Dark Alpha Splinter is unable to create a cocoon. Although it is unknown if a Dark Alpha Splinter can indeed create a cocoon, an unpossessed Alpha Splinter has the capability to create a cocoon as seen in the final game.
==Trivia==
*Just like with the smaller Dark Splinters, a Dark Alpha Splinter bears a heavy resemblance to the Warrior Ing encountered later on scattered throughout Aether.
*Oddly enough, the Dark Alpha Splinter is actually easier to kill than the regular Alpha Splinter. This is because it leaps towards Samus's exact location, whereas the Alpha Splinter predicted where Samus would end up after dodging and leapt at that point. In terms of strength and resistance, however, it is superior to its light counterpart.
*If the Dark Beam is hacked, the Dark Alpha Splinter can be frozen the exact same manner as a Dark Splinter.
**There appears to be a slight difference between a frozen Alpha Splinter and a frozen Dark Alpha Splinter, despite visibly appearing the same when frozen. One difference is the legs. A Dark Alpha Splinter's frozen legs appear more solid purple and colorful.
*Unlike its unpossessed counterpart, the battle can be completed "normally" if Power Bombs are used via hacking.
==Gallery==
Boss darksplinter5.jpg|Samus battles the Dark Alpha Splinter.
Npc echoes-4.jpg|Samus scanning the Dark Alpha Splinter.
Dark_Alpha_Splinter_(manga).jpg|Episode of Aether
Dark Alpha Splinter Frozen (Gamecube).png|The Dark Alpha Splinter frozen with the Dark Beam (via hacking or Sequence Breaking).
Dark Alpha Splinter (Dark Visor).png|The Dark Alpha Splinter seen with the Dark Visor (via Sequence Breaking).
Bonus Disc Dark Alpha Splinter Logbook.png|Logbook entry from the Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Bonus Disc.
==References==
ru:Темный Альфа Сплинтер
Category:Bosses
Category:Darkling
Category:Aether
Category:Great Temple
Category:Splinter Family
Category:Predators
Category:Darkling Ground
Category:Paul Tozour