Behind Cold Metal
Chapter 10: Second Recon Mission
Samus had gotten used to her slightly better cell for the rest of the day. Unlike the other cell, there was a clean mattress on the bed and a clean pillow. The toilet was slightly cleaner (but still dirty) and there was a mirror and sink basin next to it. Her food hadn't changed though. Luckily, her water had, for some reason, the water in Meta Ridley's tower was perfectly clean and sterilized, so at least there was some sort of improvement.
She still hadn't been removed from her weapons, but the bars of her cell were bigger and stronger, so she still couldn't escape. But for some reason, she had the feeling she didn't want to escape. She was thinking when Meta Ridley walked in again.
"How are you enjoying your new cell?" he asked upon walking in.
"It's okay..." Samus said quickly.
"I'm going to cut to the chase here. I'm going on another recon mission. I won't force you to join me this time, but if you feel like coming along, then tell me now" he said. Samus started to think carefully.
"Free will? I'd never imagine Meta Ridley was capable of granting such a thing..." she thought. "I could join him again...but if so, I have to find out why"
"Why do you want me to come along?" she asked.
"Uh...no particular reason" Meta Ridley answered.
"Come on, tell me"
"Why should I?"
"Because it's stupid, making me spend time with you for no reason. Why do you want my company so bad???"
"Urk...dammit...uh...I can still terminate you, you know..."
"Come on, what's to hide? Are you scared?"
"I am Meta Ridley! I'm never scared! I laugh in the face of fear!"
"So what's there to fear? Tell me!"
"It's not fear, it's...authority"
"What?"
"You do not have a high enough authority to find out why. Maybe later, I'll tell you"
"...Well, this is new"
"Enough of this. Just tell me, do you want to join me, or do you want to spend the day in this cell?"
"Well, if I stay in the cell, I could get my full three courses for the day"
"...Oh...I guess there might be something to eat on Ether..."
"What, you're gonna bring more Pirate leftovers for us?"
"Stop it! I'm talking about natural produce!"
"Natural produce? What, like the dirty water I've been having for the past week?"
"If you do not answer my request, I'll demote you back to your crappy cell again!"
"Alright, I'm coming!!!"
The two stood there, staring at each other, panting for breath after their rather heated, but also comical argument. Meta Ridley hated being one under a woman. He felt it rather demoting to be under such a thumb.
"...We leave now. You must learn to watch your tongue. In my world, a tongue like that will earn you a painful death penalty" he said, walking out of the cell. "My ship is a few floors up. Come with me"
Samus enjoyed getting the better of Meta Ridley. It was one thing beating him or belittling him during battle, but it was another thing beating him in an argument. She felt somewhat stronger and decided to follow Meta Ridley to his ship, where they flew to Ether again for the second time.