Disclaimer: I do not own the Metroid Franchise, although after Other M, I'm convinced I could do oodles better. Hell, I'm convinced ANYONE could do oodles better. I only own Creer Andromeda
Author's Note: A re-write from a classic from years ago, I bring you Metroid: Entourage.
Metroid: Entourage
Metroid: Zero Mission
Prologue
My name is Creer Andromeda. I'm a member of the Galactic Federation Marines, and one of the best in Platoon 07. What makes me so good? Some would say it's a clever mix of having a library of real-life situations to fall back on in times of need, and a quick wit and quicker trigger finger. I'm more inclined to believe it's because of my heritage. I was part of a Federation experiment to infuse the blood of the Chozo, an ancient bird-like race who seemingly died out years ago, into a living, human test-subject. The result was me, more flexible then the average man, faster, stronger... you know. Six-Million Dollar Man shit.
Apparently, their technology can only be accessed by Chozo blood, so the implications of having a soldier infused with Chozo blood would be many and varied. Ancient as the Chozo were, and peaceful, they had the most advanced weapons and equipment in the known galaxy, making their technology rare, and very hard to come by. The boon of having a Federation Backing proved useful fairly early in my career, as a shipment of technology from SR-233 had yielded an in-tact Chozo Battle Suit and, being the only one who could activate it, I was given the honor to pilot it.
The Chozo have some impressive technology, everything from nano-muscle enhancement, all the way to micro-reactive armor paneling. The normally ten foot suit condensed down to fit an average human frame quite nicely, fitting me just where I needed it. Bonded and locked to my genetic signature, it would have been a pointless, fruitless endeavor for the Federation to attempt to remove the suit, so I was gifted it by my commanding officer, Adam Malcovich.
Adam was about as close to a father as I had, outside of my actual family on Ceres Station. He taught me everything I knew, and even a few things I didn't know I knew until later. I'll never forget what Adam told me when he ordered the suit assigned to me. "The suit's yours, Creer. But I'll be watching you. You're still a member of the Federation, and my Platoon... just remember that." I wouldn't regret staying a member of Platoon Seven, and even when it was time for me to leave, I still felt I had a connection to the Platoon. Adam did not throw me away, you understand, quite contrare, he released me from the Platoon, because I was making everyone else look bad. I felt, and coincidentally was, unstoppable, and I knew it. I wouldn't however, stay at the top of the list forever.
It was a few weeks after I left Platoon Seven that Adam called me to his office. He had the usual calm in his voice as I sat. As he made a habit of, he offered me a cigar which I refused as a habit. I think he was just trying to get rid of them. As disgusting as Synthagars were, they were argued to be a healthy, non-addictive substitute for regular tabacco cigars. They tasted like ass with a slight overtone of shit. He faced me, and in his dull, mechanical tone, he told me he had an assignment for me. My recent re-association with the Galactic Federation, combined with what he knew of me already, and the powers; both apparent and latent, had made me a perfect candidate for this job.
"Creer, you've heard of a planet called Zebes, right?" He spoke, a hologram of a dustball appearing from the projector on his desk. I shook my head slightly, the name being alien to me. "Didn't think so. It's on the very fringe of Federation Controlled Space, so it stands to reason that it would be a perfect base of operations for Space Pirate raids on Outer Rim Colonies and supply ships. Several convoys have gone missing around Zebes, and the higher-ups are concerned. We've sent three platoons to investigate, and the first one is the only one to report in." He pushed another button on his desk and activated an audio player. "This was their communication."
"Galactic Federation Platoon 08, Sergeant Miles Jupiter reporting. We've just landed on Zebes, and already we're on edge. The surface is barren, no life whatsoever. Initial scans of the surface indicate that there are twisting corridors and tunnels just below the surface, creating a natural maze. We'll set up base here, and investigate later." He turned the player off.
"That was their first, last, and only communication. All attempts to investigate Zebes with military power has failed. I need someone I can trust to look into it. Maybe a smaller vessel can slip onto Zebes without whatever is on it noticing, so I'll be sending you along with some backup."
"Riggs?" I asked, smiling and remembering my buddy from training. Anthony Riggs underwent the same Heavy Weapons training I did, specializing in Plasma technology, while I went the explosive route. We had a standing poker game every Tuesday night.
"No." He answered plainly. "Lieutenant Riggs is currently pre-occupied, as is the rest of Platoon Seven. No, I'll be sending you in with someone new." He pushed a third button. "Send him in." He spoke, the door to the left of me opening, a bulky figure appearing in the frame. Whoever this person was, wore a very similar suit to mine, except this one was yellow in the places where mine was blue, and red where mine was white, her pauldrons were angled down and smooth while mine went straight out and had ridges down their length. We both had cannons mounted to our arms, but mine was on my left hand, while his was on his right. The visor on this duplicate glowed a soft yellow, as mine glowed red, and a chozo symbol on his chest where a Federation Emblem was on mine. I did a slight double take, as did the other.
"Hello." I spoke simply as I looked them over.
"Good afternoon." The second spoke, their voice sounding rather mechanical.
"Creer, this is Samus Aran, a Bounty Hunter, and currently a Contractor with the Federation. You'll be working with him." My eyes shifted under the visor from Adam to Samus, then back to Adam.
"Adam, no offense, but this guy doesn't look very seasoned combat wise." I turned to Samus and spoke clearly. "How much combat have you seen, exactly?"
"None." He answered plainly.
"So, basically Adam... you want me to play babysitter."
"Your job, Creer, is to investigate Zebes. Samus says he's been there before, so he'll be going with you." Adam spoke, clearly dodging the question. "If you have to teach him a thing or two in the process, all the better."
"Very well, sir. You said something about a small ship. What vessel will we be taking?" He bent over his desk and slid a card to me, which I took in my free right hand.
"This access card will get you a Tetrion Class scout ship. It's small, agile, and fast. Perfect for your needs." Adam mutters, starting to turn.
"You forgot 'only equipped with one seat' in that description, sir." I added. I had a pretty decent relationship with Adam. He found my 'unofficial' and sometimes 'uncalled for' comments quite refreshing most of the time, and wasn't afraid to embellish on them. He gave a nod at my comment and smiled.
"Yes... it appears I did. Any objections, Creer?" Grumbling under my breath, I shook my head. "Good. You leave immediately." We were thrown out of Commander Malcovich's office without so much as a 'good luck'. I felt like a felon being led to execution...
"Sooooo..." I stretched out as we walked. "See any good movies lately?" I muttered, hoping to strike up a conversation.
"No." He replied coldy.
"Read any good books?"
"No." Came the same chill response.
"Watch any-"
"Is this your idea of work? Needless conversation?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. It is. I feel it makes things a little easier on me, and anyone else. I take it you're the 'Mr. No Talk' type, use your weapon to speak for you."
"You'd be right." He answered as I rolled my eyes. I could tell this was just going to be a beautiful job...
Our quiet walk ended in the docking bay of the Galactic Federation Headquarters on Earth. Tetrion Class scout ships where small, agile vessels that could slip in an out of most situations without so much as a scrape. Did I mention they were small? Arriving at the one-seater ship, I groaned, looking it over.
"Sooooo... how are we gonna work this... should you sit in my lap... or am I sitting in yours?" I muttered idly, putting my free right hand on my hip. Not even a titter out of Samus.
"Why don't you just stand?" He droned, walking towards the ship and climbing in, the hatch opening as it sensed the key.
"No. Sense of humor. Whatsoever." I droned, rolling my eyes at the overbearing lack of humor my new partner had. I climbed in right after him and surveyed the inside, the cabin barely large enough for one person, but it was possible to squeeze two in. Standing behind the seat, he powered up the ship, the small vessel taking off.
-Planet Zebes-
The ion storm outside shook the ship back and forth, jarring me around inside the tin can. It had been a quiet flight, Samus pulling us in and out of Hyperdrive without so much as a word.
"Planet Zebes..." He finally muttered, staring out the viewing glass of the ship. "I called this planet home once... long before terror haunted the caverns below..." Rolling my eyes unseen under the visor, I waited silently for us to land. I was so ready to be out of this tin can, away from Crazy McMonologue for a bit. The ship lurched as we pulled into the atmosphere, the hull turning white hot on the outside. Samus pulled us into a crazy dive and managed to level off seconds before impact, landing us nicely Pulling the hatch open, I motioned for Samus to follow.
I just prayed that this was one of those missions I'd live to regret.
-Mission Clock: 0:41:32-
The ceiling above us was high, a good hundred or so feet over our heads, Samus looking around, almost as if he was searching for something, or someone, in particular. His visor grew to a bright green as he searched around more.
"What, exactly, is it you're searching for?" I finally asked. Before he could answer, a screech pierced both our ears.
"Him." He answered, looking straight up.
"Who?" I asked, looking up along with him, my visor switching to Thermal Mode.
"Him!" He spoke once more as a figure in the ceiling above, which I originally thought to be an ornamental statue, unfolded it's wings and screeched, dropping to the ground. It was a large Space Dragon, a rare species descended from the Dragons on Earth. They say that when the earth became too inhospitable for Dragons, they took to the stars, never to return. This one was large, standing about twenty feet tall, sporting about an equal wingspan, and it's tail added another good eight to ten feet to it's length. Samus seemed unphased by the creature, her weapon trained on it.
"So." The creature spoke, staring at us. "Mother told me there was an intruder in the base..." He let out a little hiss. "She failed to tell me I'd have to open my snack before I could eat it." He gave a chuckle as he looked us over. "I've seen those suits before... Chozo design, if I'm not mistaken... but you lot hardly look Chozo. You look... human." He gave a sniff. "Hard to tell with all that metal on you. I believe some introductions are in order, yes?" He craned his neck closer to us, giving us all a hard stare. "My name is Ridley the Third, son of the great Space Dragon Ridley the Second."
"Rather well spoken for a dragon, Ridley." I droned, adopting a less threatening stance.
"Just because I have to kill you, doesn't mean I can't be civil about it."
"You weren't civil when you killed my parents!" Samus barked, causing Ridley's head to retract closer to his body.
"I say... when was this?"
"The K2-L Colony... I was just a child then..." He continued, the end of his gun opening. "But I have no problem putting you down..."
"K2-L... K2-L... Ah, yes, the K2-L Colony. Tragic case, and tragically not my doing. My father, rest his soul, was responsible for this particular onslaught which you speak of, not myself. Otherwise, I'm sure I would have been more civil. We were just after the ammo, you see. Plasma weapons don't power themselves, you know." I had heard about the K2-L Colony attack. The colony itself was a production sight for Weapons Grade Plasma supplying, among others, the Federation with most of it's ammo. The Space Pirates attacked the colony when I was a boy. I remember my mother telling my father about it. I had heard there were no survivors... will I have to make an addition to Federation Files?
"I don't care. You look like him, and you act like him. In my book, it doesn't matter if it was you, or your father. I'm going to bring you DOWN for that day!"
"Well... I suppose it's all well and good. I was about to kill you and all, and I'm not so dishonorable then to deny my pray chance at first strike, but first... if you'd be so kind as to honor me with your names."
"Creer Andromeda, Galactic Federation." I spoke quickly, giving him no more information then he needed. He gave me a solemn nod as he looked to Samus.
"Samus Aran..." He spoke simply, his weapon never leaving the dragon's forehead.
"Very well then, Samus Aran, and Creer Andromeda. Let us see who walks away this day!" With a great flap of his wings he took off, and the fight begun.
For a giant Space Dragon, he was rather spry, able to dodge both missile barrage from myself, and the occasional Super Missile from Samus. He was getting tired, that much was obvious from my point of view. Hell, all of us were tired, mistakes were being made on both sides, but with two of us and only one of him... needless to say, more mistakes were being made on his part. Blood was now rushing to the surface of his scales, turning his original brown a vibrant red. His movements had become shaky, almost robotic, and very predictable. In one lapse of judgment on his part, one nanosecond of letting us get the upper hand, it was over. A Super Missile slapped him in the face, knocking him out of the air, causing him to crash to the ground before us.
"Gah!" I heard him gasp as he hit the ground, one arm trying to support his heavy frame. "Bugger, those hurt!" He staggered to a knee, then to his feet, but fell on his face rather promptly, his body too broken to support itself now. "I've got to hand it to you two... you're good..." He muttered, coughing a little, a patch of blood splattering the metal floor before him. He chuckled a harsh, raspy laugh which sounded much too painful. "Can't say I didn't do my best, though... Mother's not going to be happy at my failure but... I'll be dead, what do I care?" He gave another pained laugh and finally managed to his feet. "So, Hunters... how does it end?"
"Six of one, Ridley, you're dead regardless." I answered for him, the end of my arm cannon folding up again as I deactivated my missiles. "I'm not going to waste ammo on a corpse." He gave another laugh.
"Wise words indeed!" Coughing twice more, he looked at Samus. "And you? What are your thoughts?"
"I agree. You won't last much longer." Samus droned in response, his weapon dropping to a safe direction for the first time this fight. Ridley coughed a few more times as he dropped back to his knees.
"A clean death... I can't say I'd have given you the same..." His breathing became labored as life slowly slipped away. "Something tells me... this won't... be the last time we... last time we meet..." He struggled out before breathing his last, his arm stretched out to us, almost as if offering us a handshake. For a Space Pirate, and a Space Dragon, he was very formal about everything, even his death.
"You fought well, foe. Sleep now." I droned, turning to Samus.
"It hardly feels real..." He droned, staring at the corpse. "He killed my parents and... now he's dead..."
"It's finality, Samus, and it never feels real. When we get back to GFedHQ, I'll buy you a drink, and we can talk about it, alright?" Samus gave a laugh at my request.
"I might just take you up on that offer, Creer." He gave me a firm slap on my back. "C'mon. We got places to be." We both turned towards the door on the wall, leaving the corpse of the Space Dragon to whatever fate it had in store.