Welcome to the fifth chapter of my Metroid fanfiction.
In this chapter, Ridley arrives at his new home with the Space Pirates and grows up.
As always, I only Dr. Anna Ripley, Ridley's adoptive mother, and Lieutenant Jacob Kain, the Federation Marine who defended him. Ridley and the Space Pirates are owned by Nintendo, Saturo Okada, Gunpei Yokoi, Hiroji Kiyotake and Yoshio Sakamoto.
Without further ado, please enjoy the latest chapter of The Cunning God of Death Rises.
The Space Pirate Mother Ship
Ridley looked despairingly through the bars of the crate at the three Pirates seated around him, talking among themselves. "That smug bird-brain! If this little guy was a fully grown, I would have him stab that Chozo straight through the gullet!" One of them said angrily, clicking his mandibles and his claws menacingly. "Quit your whining. We have what we came for. That old turkey will meet his end soon enough." Another responded irritably, piloting the ship. The first Pirate simply muttered bitterly in response as the massive, purple mother ship drifted into view.
No sooner had they arrived at the large hanger bay, Ridley struggled to remain standing as he felt the crate being lifted up into the air, the scenery changing to several insectoid beings staring intently at the returning Pirates and their cargo.
After an uncomfortable few seconds of the crate bobbing up and down in time with the footsteps of the Pirate holding it in it's claws, Ridley was relieved when he was finally placed down onto a solid table. With his young mind still filled with curiosity of his new home, Ridley slowly crept to the door of the crate to take a look outside the confines of his temporary prison, only to recoil in fear when another bug-like face appeared in front of him.
"So this is the little ankle-biter that had that Chozo so scared. Interesting..." the face said, disappearing a moment later. The door of the crate then opened and Ridley, seeing an opportunity to escape, rushed out to freedom as fast as his small, young legs would allow him.
However, just as he crossed the threshold, the baby Space Dragon was grabbed by a blue claw and brought to eye-level with it's owner. Struggling in the Space Pirate's grasp, Ridley screeched and tried to bite the insectoid being viciously in a bid to escape. This made his captor laugh. "Feisty as well. We're lucky he wasn't killed. He will certainly make our raids easier." the Pirate said, carefully examining Ridley as he desperately struggled to free himself.
"A human female hatched this creature, Captain. From the data that came with him, we understand his name is Ridley. From the way the Chozo acted, we can only assume he killed and ate her, along with a Federation soldier." one of the lower-ranking Pirates told him in a mixture of respect for his superior and disgust at his human enemies. "Is that so? Hmm, looks like little Ridley here already knows whose side he's supposed to be on." the Captain remarked as he finally settled the infant creature on the table, already impressed with the newest member of his crew.
"Take him to the science labs. He can stay there until he's old enough to have his own quarters." he ordered. "Yes, sir!" the three Pirates before him said in unison. Grabbing Ridley and throwing him back into his crate, the trio left the Captain's quarters and headed down the hall towards the laboratories. With each step of the being carrying him, Ridley grew more and more angry. His young mind cursed all those who had wronged him in his short life, wondering what he had done to deserve the harsh treatment he had received.
As he and the three pirates arrived at their destination, the baby Space Dragon was promptly dragged out of the crate and dumped into a tank with a few small plants. Looking at the retreating form of his newest care-givers, Ridley made a decision. He never allow himself to be as helpless as he had been these last few days.
The Federation Marines who abandoned him, the Chozo that had rejected him and now these Space Pirates who clearly saw him as nothing but a pet or a tool. They would all pay dearly for what they did to him. Then he would take control of the galaxy and rule over all life with an iron claw, crushing all those who dared to defy him.
Fourteen years later...
As the years passed by, Ridley grew larger and stronger. He grew two more long purple legs with deadly claws on the ends of each limb. His mouth became a long and narrow muzzle with many razor sharp teeth and his tail extended to a whip-like weapon with an equally razor-sharp, blade-like spike at it's tip. His white down had begun to shed until only a small amount remained and the beginnings of large leathery wings grew on his back.
However, the Space Pirates he had been growing up with had begun to tire of their charge. It seemed to them that no matter what trouble Ridley caused or what crew members he ate, the captain would let him do as he wished simply because he was the last survivor of their masters.
Eventually, a group of Pirates armed themselves and staged a mutiny, intending to overthrow the captain and kill Ridley, finally ending his trail of death and destruction. However, the attempted take-over ended in disaster. The captain's army easily overpowered them, leaving only ten left and, after much consideration, the captain sentenced all of the remaining mutineers to be Ridley's next meal. Looking at his new prey with his large red eyes, the Space Dragon licked his jaws in anticipation.
As one of the unfortunate mutineers looked at his own terrified reflection in the black pupils of Ridley's eyes, he felt all his remaining courage leave him as the Space Dragon chuckled darkly before speaking. "I'll give them a ten minute head start. It'll be more fun that way." Ridley said menacingly. No sooner had Ridley made his announcement, the doors to the corridors outside the hanger bay opened and the ten mutineers scurried out into the corridors, running for their lives.
As he patiently waited for his hunt to begin, Ridley laughed internally as he imagined the fear and helplessness his prey was experiencing as they delayed their inevitable deaths. Once he felt that ten minutes had passed, Ridley climbed up the walls and onto the ceiling of the hanger bay, the bulkheads creaking in protest as they supported both the now adolescent Space Dragon and the structures they supported.
Heading for the nearest door leading out of the hanger bay, Ridley looked behind him to address the captain and the loyalists. "I'm afraid I must leave you all for now. I have a ten course meal waiting for me." he said wickedly as he opened the door and disappeared into the dark corridor to catch his prey.
And off Ridley goes to hunt down the mutineers. Will any of them survive?
As always, I only own Dr. Anna Ripley and Lieutenant Jacob Kain. I do not own Ridley or the Space Pirates.
I hope you have reading this chapter and I hope to have the next chapter posted as soon as possible.