Chapter 2

Ridley.

The name seemed to work as a key, unlocking more of the hazy memories hidden from the creature until then. Names, places, and images soared through his mind as the name sunk in, returning a large chunk of information to his consciousness. These revelations only served to anger him more. It also helped him realize why he'd been having such a problem believing those scientists had been his creators as well as adding to the disgust he had for this new organic and much weaker body.

And the real clincher was that this human in the Galactic Federation Commander uniform seemed to be enjoying this. He looked so smug as if he were reveling in the fact that Ridley, the most feared Space Pirate Commander was nothing more than a weak bodied organic being laying bound and helpless before him.

If he had been free at that very moment he would have torn out this man's throat. But he could do nothing and this human being towering over him knew that and he was enjoying it.

Ridley, as he was addressed as such and his memory also confirmed that was who he was, bared his teeth at the Commander. This didn't even bother the human as he knew the threat in the action could never be carried out.

"Come now, there's no need for such a reaction." The gloating human began.

"No need?" Ridley hissed, not believing what he was hearing. "Look what you humans have done to me! "

"We actually brought you back the life," the man said. "so you actually owe us for that."

So he had died which made his final memory before awakening in the tank make sense, The world falling apart and the searing pain. But maybe this man was lying. Maybe he hadn't died after all. Maybe they had found his body and did something to it and that was why he was in this new form.

"I don't believe you." he growled.

"It doesn't really matter if you don't believe me," the Commander said,sitting down on the slab of metal bolted to the wall that obviously was supposed to be a bed of some kind. He continued to stare down at Ridley. "Seeing as the proof is right in front of you. But if you need an explanation I will give you one. Zebes is gone. Blown up. It no longer exists in any solar system except in tiny little pieces."

What?! Ridley's eyes widened in surprise at this. How could the planet be gone? But he shouldn't have been wondering that. He knew that the planet most likely had done just what this human said it did because of his own memories.

"Surprised?" the Commander asked, taking in Ridley's reaction. "You should be thinking about how you wound up here and not about the fate of your home planet. "

Why should he? This man would most likely tell him anyway. There had to be a reason for this.

His silence was enough. "As you are full aware; you are still alive but in this body. I don't know how the mechanics work exactly but the science department did it by creating your current body then placing your mind inside it. We managed to find your head in all the planetary rubble floating in space. We froze it to prevent deterioration and here you are." he stood up. "If you have any questions about that process I am sure Dr. Ivory and her team would be willing to fill you in."

Ridley didn't want to ask them anything, he wanted to kill them. This form they'd given him was weak and pathetic. If they were going to bring him back why hadn't they just created a replica of his real body to put his mind in?

But this man was already explaining why even as he tried to figure it out. "As for the form you have now. I believe its pretty obvious why you were given it. This body is far less dangerous than your reptilian space dragon body. We can't exactly have something as unpredictable as you walking around in something like that."

Ridley let out a growl, squirming against his bonds and giving the man a look that meant death. "I'll show you less dangerous," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Get this things off me and we'll see how harmless I am."

"No, that's not going to happen." the Commander was heading for the door. "You see, you're an important asset, even if you don't know it." he opened the door but paused before he headed out. "I would advice you to just accept the fate you were given. It will make things much easier for all of us, and don't even think of trying to escape again and rejoining your fellow comrades. They're dead and the few remaining pockets out there we're trying to locate will never accept you now."

and with that he was gone, leaving Ridley to lay on the floor, a seething pile of rage.


Samus Aran, after spending some time alone on Tallon IV after the loss of Zebes where she had been raised by the Chozo, was on her way back to more familiar space. She'd gone to Tallon IV to seek some solace in familiar surroundings. While she had not grown up on the world the Chozo ruins reminded her of Zebes and gave her some comfort while she mourned the loss of all the things she considered dear to her. She'd also managed to allow herself to take some solace in the fact certain creatures that had haunted her were finally out of commission and would no longer be an unwelcome part of her life.

Namely Mother Brain, Ridley and Space Pirates, though she was sure there were still some lurking about on some of their other home worlds. Maybe they'd find something else to do with their time now that all the metroids were gone, including the infant she'd gone to Zebes to retrieve. It was a shame it had to die, as it had shown that the creatures could have been used for the good of the Federation.

Samus sighed as her ship hovered over the Galactic Federation home world Daiban. She had promised to pay a visit to Admiral Dane once she'd returned from her time of mourning. The Federation official had told her before she left to take as much time as she needed, as he understood what it was like to lose everything. She was grateful for his understanding and wanted him to know she had returned and was feeling better.

But she didn't go to the planet right away, suddenly feeling apprehensive. She leaned back in her seat, allowing herself to deactivate her power suit for a moment. She didn't know why but something told her she should wait a little longer before she actually touched down.

The feeling didn't make much sense because she was not considered an enemy down there and nobody would be angry at her about what happened. It wasn't like she'd known that Mother Brain had set the planet to explode if she were to ever be destroyed. That hadn't happened the previous time she'd defeated her.

But would the federation blame her anyway? Did they say one thing to her face but think something else behind her back?

She hit herself in the forehead. Why in the world was she even thinking such things? When had she become to obsessed with how people felt about her? It never bothered her before.

Maybe she wasn't completely over it after all. But then again nobody expected her to be. Even the chozo ghosts had told her it would take awhile before it stopped hurting so much and let her know how she was feeling was a normal thing.

They'd suggested she also focus on what good had come out of the whole thing as well. Yes the planet she'd grown up on been destroyed but she'd also managed to remove a huge enemy to the universe in the process. Mother Brain was gone along with nearly every space pirate.

Which reminded her that after years of repeated encounters she'd also ended the life of the monster who was responsible for the death of her biological parents and the chozo who had been life a father to her. That brought some comfort to her as it allowed her to finally close that chapter in her life.

And good riddance.

Samus sat up, her suit coming back to normal. It was time for her to touch down. A friend of her's was waiting.


The female human scientist was watching him like a hawk. Ridley sat in a corner of the holding cell, still restrained and angry, watching the red haired scientist the Commander had called Dr. Ivory move around the lab, constantly stopping in front of the window to look in at him. It was really getting on his nerves.

But what could he do about it? He was trapped inside this cell with no way of escape. If what that Federation Commander has said was true he would be there for a long time and nobody would be coming for him.

Why would they? he asked himself. They think I am dead and if they did come they would be looking for a space dragon, not this thing.

No, he was not going to be rescued by the space pirates who were probably somewhere mourning his death. If they cared at all. He hadn't exactly been a kind commander, though that was a given in his line of work. Space Pirates weren't supposed to be kind, they were supposed to be ruthless.

That being said if they did find out he was still alive they probably wouldn't come to find him anyway and as he realized before if they did they'd be looking for a space dragon. If they came and discovered what he was now they'd do one of two things. Not believe him or believe him and leave him there since he was now nothing more than a delicate and useless human.

He shifted his position because his arms were beginning to hurt. Curse these blasted shackles! Why did that whore have to put those things on him? He wasn't violent inside this cell and he had no way of getting out of this place even if he could get violent.

He looked toward the window, tempted to try to get the woman's attention and convince her to deactivate them but held himself back. He still had his pride and begging was far beneath him. So he sat there, staring out the window at the scientists who had entered the room a few moments previous wandering around the room, doing whatever it was they did.

One scientist who came in had stopped by the head female scientist's desk where she had eventually settled into and leaned over the back of her chair to say something over her shoulder. The woman looked up to listen and he could see her nodding her head. Soon the co-worker pulled away and went over to the cell and stood in front of the window to look in at him.

Ridley glared at him, his yellow eyes cold. What did this little flesh bag want? Was he getting his kicks out of looking at what the space pirate commander had been reduced to? Did he think this was interesting? Maybe he was part of the crew who had done this to him and was enjoying the outcome, gloating over it with some kind of sick, sadistic satisfaction.

Ridley really wished he were free so he could rip this annoying little waste of flesh's eyes out.

The scientist's eyes widened and he backed away without a single word which made ridley smirk as he'd actually accomplished something.

Just then the door to the lab opened once more and another person stepped in. It was a man with brown hair and wearing glasses. He was also dressed as a scientist. the new human walked over to where the female scientist stood and started talking to her.

Ridley watched them talking in hushed voices, wondering what was going to happen now. The way those two were acting it seemed they had something planned for him that they didn't want him knowing about.

Finally the woman turned to the window and pressed the speaker button again. "This is Dr. Arms," she said. "He would like to talk to you."


Castor Dane was waiting on the ship's landing pad when she landed, waving a greeting when her ship's vision screen was in view. She waved back,though she was sure he didn't see her do it, what with the green hue in the thick visor plating of the ship's windshield.

Once her ship was safely on the ground and she'd exited it Dane walked over to greet her, putting out his hand to shake hers which she did. "How are you feeling?" he asked her right away.

"Better," she said in a slightly guarded tone. The memories from the events on Zebes were still painful to relive but it wasn't as bad as it had been a few months ago. The Federation had been kind enough to agree to leave her alone during that time but Samus was pretty sure it might have been due to Admiral Dane. "I thank you for asking. It's been a tough few months for me."

He nodded with understanding. "As it would be for anyone who has gone through what you have."

"Yes." she sighed, deactivating her suit so she would be in her more civilian clothing. Not her zero suit but a blue tank top and a pair of shorts. "Tallon IV gave me some comfort." as the faint spectral Chozo ghosts who had come down from the higher plain.

They had helped her come to terms with what had happened on Zebes as well as what she considered her failure. She'd accepted none of that had been her fault. She'd done her best.

"It would be understandable," he agreed. "The Chozo were part of your family even if the ones on that planet never knew you."

"The Chozo are kind," she told him. "I am happy to have gotten to know them." she looked at the sky, a wave of sadness washing over her. "I just wish I could have done more to save their home world."

"You did the best you could," he answered, placing a hand on her shoulder. "That's all any of us could have asked for and who knows? Maybe you didn't fail after all. The threat is gone and we only have a few minor branches to take care of. Without Mother Brain or the rest of the High Command around they will most likely fall apart and move onto more honest practices."

Samus made a rude noise. They both knew that was unlikely to happen. If any pirates still remained they'd try to regroup and find new commanders. She was sure a few of them were out there as there was no chance Ridley, Mother Brain, and Kraid were all there was. "Space Pirates don't work that way."

"I know," he told her. "I wasn't being serious." he gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze. "but I didn't want you to visit me so we could talk about Space Pirates. We both need a day off from those things."

She managed a small smile. "Got anything in mind?"

Castor Dane shook his head. "You will just have to come with me to find out."