The militia pirate had led them to a large, domed chamber, with a large pedestal in the center. A number of security drones were flying about, constantly scanning for any intruders. Ayame readied her Arm Cannon as Anthony and Connor checked their weapons' ammo. Garnak had his clawed hands on his energy sword and a small handgun that were hanging from his belt.
"This is where the execution is to take place," the pirate told them. "May I go now?"
"Unless you want one of us to kill you, no," Ayame stated bluntly. The pirate sighed in response.
"I thought as much."
They stood in a spot where the drones wouldn't find them and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. Minutes became hours. Ayame soon found herself becoming impatient as her foot began tapping against the metal floor. This was odd for her: she was normally a very patient person, a trait she had picked up from Samus after years of living under the bounty hunter's tutelage.
Connor didn't miss this. Even with all of her armor on, it was easy for him to see that she was under some extreme stress. He knew he could never comprehend what was going on through her mind at the moment. The woman who had raised her like her own daughter was about to be executed by the very group that had taken her real parents years ago. He could never truly understand what she was feeling. "Ayame…" he muttered to himself.
"Yes?" Ayame replied curiously.
"I… nothing. It's nothing." He turned away from her, not wanting to show his concern. Ayame had plenty to worry about already.
"Quiet!" the militia pirate said with a bony finger held up to his mouth. "I believe it is about to begin." The three humans and one Gorast looked up over their cover, and sure enough, swarms of pirates began marching into the chamber, surrounding the pedestal.
"There're so many," Connor said. "We're completely outnumbered a hundred to one."
"More like a thousand to two," Anthony stated. "This isn't gonna be easy."
Garnak nodded his agreement. "You humans have a phrase for this kind of situation. I believe it is 'we are screwed,' is it not?"
"Sheesh," said the voice of Gear in their communicators. "I thought I was a downer."
"Stay quiet, guys," Ayame instructed them. "We'll have to wait for a good time to strike. Gear, do you think you can make a distraction when I give the signal?"
"Sure," Gear replied. "I can blast them all with missiles and lasers and stuff."
"Then lock onto our coordinates and wait until I give the order."
"Roger that."
At that moment, a pair of large doors opened at the other side of the chamber. Ayame readied herself. "Stay prepped, everyone."
"What about me?" the pirate asked.
"You stay there, pirate," Garnak ordered.
The militiaman crossed his arms and huffed at the non-pirates. "My name is Ra'jik."
"Whatever," Ayame said. She kept an eye out, constantly observing the horde in front of her, watching for the right time to give the order.
-o-
Samus walked with a calm, collected look on her face, no fear evident in her eyes as she approached the execution stand. The Space Pirates had jeered at her, throwing insults and hatred at her. She took it in stride. All of that hatred form the pirates that she received simply meant that she had done quite a number on them, a fact that she was proud of. As she walked up the steps on the pedestal, one of the pirate generals began to read her "crimes" off of a list.
"Samus Aran, better known as the Hunter," he started, "you have been found guilty of 72,611 murders, destroying fifteen of our facilities, and even annihilating four planets. Have you any last words before you die for your crimes?"
"I'm surprised that you pirates can count past two," Samus stated with a smirk, earning her an uproar of anger. She then began serious once again. "Even if you do kill me, there's someone else you should fear. Someone who has the potential to be even more of threat to you all than me. You should never underestimate what a human being is capable of." After that, she was silent.
"Very well," the pirate general said as he raised his hand. A group of pirates armed with rifles readied their weapons.
Samus showed no fear. If this was to be her fate, then so be it. Her only regret would be leaving Ayame. Forgive me, she thought. Just as the executioners were about to fire, however…
BOOM!
And explosion tore open the ceiling, letting Pirate Homeworld's acidic rain pour in. through the hole in the ceiling, Samus's gunship barreled in, launching missiles and energy blasts at the pirates, who had been caught completely unawares. This made Samus smirk again. "That's my girl," she said proudly.
-o-
"Go!" Ayame ordered to the others, leaving the militia pirate behind. She began blasting pirates left, right, and forward, with Anthony, Connor, and Garnak at her side. Garnak's blade pierced and slashed through bodies as he fired his handgun – which was launching small bolts of energy – into the crowd. Connor and Anthony's assault rifles roared with flashes of light from the barrels as they gunned down as many pirates as they could.
"I can't remember the last time I had this much fun!" Gear shouted to them as he continued his assault. "'Boom' go the missiles!"
"Remind me never to tick him off," Connor said.
"Noted," Ayame answered as she sprinted through the horde. After five seconds of sprinting straight towards the pedestal where Samus stood, her Speed Booster activated, sending her tearing through the pirates between her and her adoptive mother. She then crouched, sliding a few feet, then leaped forward with the Shinespark technique that came with the Speed booster. She landed just in front of Samus, who didn't even flinch.
Ayame quickly deactivated her armor and wrapped her arm around her mother. "I'm so glad you're okay," she said almost tearfully.
"I'm happy to see you, too," Samus said with a smile. "But I think we should hold off on the hugs until later."
"Right," Ayame agreed, releasing Samus, reactivating her armor, then destroying the bonds on Samus's wrists. "Come on! We have to go!"
Just as they were about to flee, however, a terrifyingly familiar screech-like roar filled the air, and a huge form crashed into the ground. "I don't think so," said the dark, sadistic tone of Ridley.