In the space of a few miliseconds, a burning sensation burst through Rista's wrist. She fell to the ground, knowing instantly was happening.
Even so, by the time the thought of the bomb exploding finished in her mind, it happened...
The pain faded away, leaving Rista gasping for breath on the cold metal. Tiny black dots littered her vision as she lay there; the rushed clicking of Samus' shoes reached her ear.
"Rista, what happened?" Samus asked, alarmed, as she knelt by Rista. A cool hand felt her forehead. Rista groaned and sat up, shifting her weight onto her elbow.
"It didn't detonate," She murmured to herself in disbelief. She stared at her wrist, where a deep red rash darkened.
"What didn't detonate?" Samus asked, giving Rista a hand to pull herself up. Rista just shook her head.
"Um, it was nothing," She lied. " I think I need some sleep." She started to walk off, but Samus grabbed her wrist, the bad one, and the contact burned. Rista gave out a small cry.
"No, something is wrong with you," Samus insisted. "Come with me. I want to give a full body scan to see what's wrong." Rista just meekly nodded and followed her into the scanning chamber. It was small, dark closet with a few scary looking knobs and buttons on the outside. Rista let Samus strap her up and breathed in deeply as the door shut. Now was not the time to get claustophobic.
XXXX
Bill slammed his fist down on the console with fury. The blasted thing didn't work, and whoever was responsible for the make of it would pay, he would see to that. He flung the control across the room, letting it skitter across the floor before crashing into the wall. He kicked his chair, knocking it over with a loud clash. After this act, he paused, breathing deeply. Such activities wore him out at his age, and he was not exactly in peak physical condition.
The door hissed open and a Pilate commander entered. Bill cursed him out in heavy Piratian before returning his attention to the situation at hand. Those girls were getting too pesky for his taste, and he would have to do something about it. But how?
XXXX
The mechanical arm withdrew itself from Rista's arm, with Samus' supervision. She nodded in relief as Rista sat up from the medical table and rubbed her stiff arm.
"Hurts like heck," She whined under breath as Samus came to check on her.
"Yeah, well whatever that thing was, you should be glad it's not in your body any longer," Samus said, handing her a weak painkiller, the only kind she had that could help Rista. Rista popped it down. "It might have caused a serious infection if it had."
"Yeah, whatever," Rista mumbled as she took a sip of water. "Is this going to make me drowsy?" Samus nodded, causing her to sigh. "All for the better I guess. At least I'll get some rest before we hunt down Bill once and for all."
"Are you sure you don't want me to go alone?" Samus asked her. "I mean, you've been weakened and-"
"No!" Rista snapped, a little harshly. "Why let you have all the fun for something I've worked for my entire life. No, this is both of our duties, and we will work as a team."
"I'm not a team player."
"Well, I guess you'll just have to get used to it then." Rista paused dramatically before adding gravely, "And Samus, just try to remember one thing.."
"Yeah?"
"I'm older. I call the shots." Rista grinned. Samus rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression.
"Alright gradma, what's the plan?" Rista's face fell, but she soon regained in an attempt to act like she really knew what she was doing.
"Um, that's easy," She assured Samus. "We'll, uh, just follow the same pattern as before, but this time, we go out together. You know what they say, the family that gets shot at together, stays together."
"You know, that didn't work all those years ago when they were shooting at us in K2L."
"Samus, just shut up."
XXXX
Bill drummed his fingers against the metal arm of his chair. He had calmed down considerably, after reminding himself that senseless anger was not going to get him anywhere. At first, he wanted those brats dead because they were Miranna's children with another man; now it was much more personal.
He was tired of playing games. He would kill them, nice and quick. He would not waste his time with such elaborate plans as before. The more simple the plan, the more effective the outcome.
He jabbed down on the intercom connecting him directly to the Grand Commander of his units. A hologram popped up, a twisted, scarred Pirate face glaring at him. Commander Flirnick was the most brutal and ruthless of his commanders, but he was not to be hindered unless it was an emergency. He would only be called out if all else failed, and usually, he refused to take part in Bill's petty revenge wars.
"Ret?" He snapped. Bill straightened his composure.
"I have a job for you, Commander," Bill told him. Flirnick completed a gesture that would be the human equivilent of an eye roll."Rista Nevaria and Samus Aran are in posession of a very valuable and powerful Pirate weapon," He lied. "All previous attempts to retrieve it have failed. If we do not act soon, they will take it straight to the Federation where it will be used to wipe out the rest of your kind."
"Tyur nasha comk retre himtu junkt geusha?" Why haven't I heard of this before?
"I didn't want any of the upper echelons to find out. They are getting sick of me, Commander, and any more mistakes on my part would result in my downfall. I have tried to keep it secret, disguising it as my mission to wipe out the Nevaria girl. The Aran is infamous to the Pirates anyways. If you were to be the one to kill her, then you would probably be put in charge of your own Unit."
"Un termic hurckyt muish." You're a terrible liar. Bill laughed as Flirnick's beady eyes narrowed. He continued in fluent Piratian. "But you are correct in that Aran must be dealt with. I will take care of her, and I will accomphlish the one task you have failed to do. After this Werster, I will see to it that you are removed and properly dealt with by the higher authorities. It was always a bad idea to bring a human into the ranks, and I will be entertained in your execution. Perhaps they will give me the joy of fulfilling it myself."
"If only all of your kind were as smart," Bill said. "But as long as they are dead, I can rest in peace. Now go." The hologram disapeared, leaving Bill with a sadistic smirk on his face. No one got away with threatening him like that. They would always pay. He pushed another button, and a new face popped up.
"Commander Jono, I hate to report that Head Commander Flirnick has violated Code 12-24X and must be dealt with. I leave it in your hands to collect units and execute Commander Flirnick and any troops that might follow him." Code 12-24X...mutiny.
Author's Note: There shall be action next chapter! It will probably be the last, but I sometimes change my mind on that. I have decided that I will follow through with my original plans and make this part one of a two-part series. Why? I never just wanted to leave it with this one story, and I feel there is so much more for me to cover with Rista and Samus. I would make it apart of this story, but starting it as a squeal gives me more room to start it in the future setting, introduce new characters and delve into another part of their past.
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