Nemesis

"The DRAGON?" Owens asked disbelievingly. "You can't be serious."
"Unfortunately I am," Samus responded sadly.
"But that's madness! isn't it? He'll kill us all, if he has the chance, right?" he gestured to Gul 'Gen and Houston, who were studying the tilework on the floor. "Right?"
"Unfortunately, Jack, it seems to be the only way. Ridley is the only pirate who is still able to be found," Gul 'Gen stated.
"And how may I ask is he able to be found?" Owens proposed.
"You may not ask, I simply know where he is." Gul 'Gen was beginning to get irritated by the human's constant questioning. That's the problem with humans. They would be so much more effective if they had a little faith. The old Chozo thought.
"Where is he now, Gul 'Gen?" Samus asked.
"Ridley now resides on the volcanic planet of Firenzia," Gul 'Gen reported.
"I've never heard of that planet," Houston said, which is strange, since he was an intergalactic cartographer before he joined the military and eventually went bounty hunter.
"Is it really that surprising? If I was Ridley, I wouldn't want to be found either. he's actually quite lucky, he found a volcanic AND uncharted planet." Samus almost had a sense of disdain in her voice.
"Well, how will we find the planet?" Owens asked.
"I have the planet's exact coordinates, you can upload them into your ship, Samus."
"Jeez, what don't you have?" inquired Owens.
"A species," was all that Gul 'Gen said.

**********************************************

Samus, Owens, and Houston traveled through hyper-space for the next three hours until they finally made it to the black marble that is Firenzia. From space, the planet looks similar to a chink of obsidian with red dots all over it. When they landed however, they learned that the planet was much more exiting. The ground was spongy and crunched when stepped on, and no matter where you were, you could always see a volcano blowing it's top somewhere close by. The planet was exceedingly small, only as large as our solar systems Mars. And it was possible to traverse around the equator in less than a day. However, even at that size, there was still no way that they would be able to find Ridley themselves, He would have to find them himself. Which is not a problem, he most likely already knows we're here, Samus thought.
After about an hour of walking the desolate planet's surface, they started to see hopeful signs: They saw huge three toed foot prints in the ashy ground. They saw scorch marks where there was no magma to be found. And after another thirty minutes, they hit paydirt: A large hole/cave that looked to be dug into the ground. It was about eight meters in diameter and there was no telling how deep. There also seemed to be light resonating outward from the cave.
"Looks like we found our friend's pad," Samus said dismally. "I don't think we'll go in. He may not try to kill us if we don't walk into his house." And just as Samus said these words she felt warm clawed hands close around her bare neck; they had come unarmed, a bit risky but they wanted to avoid a battle.
"I must say Ms. Aran, I'm impressed," a deep, raspy voice hissed. "For a female, you have balls."
"Yeah, and if I had a dick this is where I'd tell you to suck it, Ridley," Samus retaliated.
"Ironic, isn't it Samus, all of the times I have battled and fought you, you were able to parry all of my attacks. Aand now, here we are, and all I have to clench my fist just slightly and you would die right here and now."
"Yes, But you won't do that. You know that Prime is among us again. And you know that if you kill me, there will be no hope in stopping it. Plus, I think you still have some honor underneath that burning hide of yours, and killing an unarmed unit on a peace mission would defile the very meaning of the word."
Ridley's claws were still around Samus' neck. At this point, they looked to Houston and Owens. Houston had activated his very Samus-like blue armor and was pointing the arm cannon at Ridley's face. While Owens had taken out the pistol that he had secretly brought and pointed that to Ridley's demon-like mug as well.
"It's okay, you guys. He's not gonna kill me, you can stand down," Samus said in a genuinely casual manner. At this, the fire dragon released his grip on Samus and beckoned to his cave.
"I will not kill you all because I am aware of Metroid Prime's return. And I would like to facilitate his destruction so as to avoid all of our horrific deaths. So come into my humble cave, and we will discuss my knowledge of the biology of the creature," Ridley said in a sophisticated way.
"You expect us to just walk into you house?" Owens asked quite rhetorically. "You could kill us with your eyes closed in there! Absolutely not, there is no way that I'm going in there."
"You aren't very trusting, are you Jack Owens?" Ridley asked with a sneer.
"How the hell did you know my name?" Owens tried to conceal the fear in his voice.
"Space Pirates, led by me, attacked the Constanoga five years ago. You were on that ship, you were the only one who survived, and I never forget a face or a name, you see."
"It's all right, Owens. you can trust him this time. We'll be okay," Samus said.
"Fine. I'll go in. But I still will not trust him." Owen's was eyeing Ridley suspiciously when Samus noticed something.
"Hey, where did Houston go?" she said. Armstrong Houston was nowhere to be seen. Samus suddenly chuckled to herself and started down into Ridley's cave. The other two followed, and sure enough, there was Houston sitting on a boulder deep in the cave. He had moved around a second boulder and was now making himself at home with his feet up on his makeshift ottoman. Ridley pretended that the man didn't exist and started to speak:
"I'm guessing you came here because you know that I know more about Prime than anyone at this time," he said.
"Something like that," Houston responded.
"Well, from the pirates studies on the creature, this is what we have found: Metroid Prime can have a possibility of three forms. I believe that Samus is the only one, besides that Chozo of coarse, that has seen it's third form, which is a gelatinous blob-like thing with multiple tentacles. You see, Prime cannot survive in this form, it produces too much power and this form is to simple and weak to sustain it. This form is also know as it's core form. In order for Prime to survive it must take a second form, or base form. I believe that the Chozo gave Prime it's first base form, the one that Samus fought, and that it's first base for gave it it's personality. Which is why all of it's minions have those blue tentacles and some can cloak and send plasma through the ground. And finally, after coming in contact with certain materials and such, it will reach it's first form or it's acquired form. The first acquired form it took I believe was simply from shelled crustaceans on the planet where the Chozo created it. And then it assimilated weapons from us when it broke out of it's containment paddock on Tallon IV. It's acquired form never stops assimilating weapons and armor and other such things. It will continue to grow stronger with the continuation of things it comes in contact with."
"So, how do we kill it?" Owens asked. Ignoring him, Ridley looked to Samus.
"Ms. Aran, I believe that after you defeated Prime's bas form it latched onto you with a tentacle, what was it like?"
"It was similar to a hunter meteoroid's siphon tentacle, only instead of sucking energy out of me, it felt like it was pulling at my soul."
"But it got you suit instead," Ridley went on. "Well, I think we can all agree that Prime has now take Samus' phazon suit and has bonded with it to use as it's base form. Well, here is my theory: If Prime could steal Samus' suit from her, why can't Samus take it back? If she accomplishes this, Prime will be once again be stripped of it's base form, and if you STAY AWAY from it, it will die."
"I'm impressed Ridley, very impressed," Samus said while nodding approvingly. "But may I ask, how will I be taking it back?" she asked.
"Go back to your old bird friend, I'm sure that if he new how to find me, he could somehow make you a siphon beam of some sort for your cannon."
"You want to come with us? you would be a good ally to have," Samus said suddenly. Ridley acted as if he was expecting this.
"Samus, you know that, while we have battled you on a passionate level before, that most of the time I was just following orders. I would love nothing more than to make an ally out of you. We have been enemies long enough. However, I cannot help you on this mission. I'm a wanted dragon you know. if I was to come within five thousand miles of the nearest GF Space station, my cover would be blown. they would figure out that I am not dead but would be quick about fixing that. so I must remain here. but you can do this yourself. I trust that you can. And maybe someday we will meet again, and we will talk about past occurrences, and maybe beat the shit out of each other as well. But now, you must leave without me. I trust that you will tell no one about my whereabouts?"
"Of coarse," and at that, Samus left the cave and began walking back to her ship. Stunned at what just happened, Owens simply said:
"Well, see ya...I guess."
"Take Care of yourself, Ridley," Said Houston, apparently unfazed by the sudden forgiveness that laced the cave.
After about two hours, they found the Archon, just how they left it. The three humans got on board and made their way to the bridge. Once there, Samus began typing on a console beside her captains chair.
"Set course for Brak-Hon,"