Garnak's blade hissed as it sliced clean through yet another pirate, while at the same time firing his pistol at several others. One pirate attempted to tackle him from behind, but the Gorast warrior back-flipped over the attacked while simultaneously cutting it straight down the middle, splitting the enemy in half. These opponents were pitiful compared to what he was expecting. He needed a real challenge.

Suddenly, a green sphere soared past his head, barely missing him. The orb exploded as soon as it hit the chest of a nearby pirate. Garnak turned to face his attacker. It was none other than Weavel, his weapon trained on the Gorast warrior.

"I've been waiting for you, cockroach," the cyborg pirate stated. "I want to end you myself." With that, he activated his energy sword, the orange blade hissing ominously as it appeared.

Garnak eyed the pirate warily before holstering his pistol and gripping his energy sword with both hands. "I would be lying if I said that I did not wish for a rematch as well," he admitted. "Our last bout was cut short."

Weavel chuckled. "Then this'll be the deciding round." That said, the two combatants charged.

-o-

Ridley sauntered towards Samus and Ayame, clearly confident in his own victory. Without her own Power Suit, Samus wouldn't be able to do much against the dragon. Ayame quickly materialized her armor, aiming her Arm Cannon at the pirate commander, who cocked his head in amusement. "You think I'm intimidated by you?" he asked with a laugh. "That's cute. Now kindly go and die in a gutter somewhere. Samus is the one I want, kid."

"If you want her," Ayame announced as she began charging her weapon, "then you'll just have to go through me!"

To this, Ridley laughed again. "Have it your way, brat." He stretched out his wings and released an ear-piercing roar as he lifted off into the air. He immediately began unleashing a series of fireballs, each exploding as they struck the ground. Ayame quickly took hold of Samus's hand leaped away, launching a volley of Seeker Missiles at their enemy. He simply breathed out a larger fireball, which enveloped the five missiles right before exploding. "You'll have to do better than that!"

Ayame cursed and pulled Samus along as she ran. "Where's your Power Suit?" she asked.

"The pirates have it locked up somewhere," Samus replied. "They were likely going to start researching its technology after they executed me."

"Well, then we're just going to have to delay that a little longer," Ayame said with a determined look. "Mr. Higgs? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah!" Anthony replied over their comm-link. "Did you get to Samus?"

"Yes! But we need to find her Power Suit! If the pirates master its technology, the whole galaxy could be in for a lot of trouble! I need you to keep their attention until Samus and I get back!"

"Got it!"

Samus had a genuinely surprised look on her face. "Anthony's here?"

Ayame nodded. "So are Connor and Garnak, one of the Gorast," she said as they came up to a large door. "I originally wanted to do this alone, but they wouldn't let me. Honestly… I'm thankful that they're here with me today."

Before Samus could say anything, she heard Ridley's roar as a fireball flew towards them. "Move!" she shouted as she tackled Ayame to the ground. The fireball collided with the door and blew the obstacle to pieces.

"Stay right where you are!" the dragon bellowed as he hovered in the air far above them. He was already charging up another attack. He unleashed a furious blast of fire at them. In response, Ayame charged a bolt and unleashed her attack. The colliding spheres exploded upon contact with each other.

"Samus, go!" Ayame shouted. "Get your suit! I'll hold him off!"

"No!" Samus retorted. "I'm not going to leave you with him again!"

"I'll be fine! Go get your armor, fast!" She didn't give Samus a chance to respond as she sprinted toward Ridley, her Arm Cannon at the ready. Samus watched with wide eyes as her adopted daughter rushed to face her nemesis. She clenched her fists at her sides. She turned and dashed off out of the room to find her Power Suit.

Ridley slammed into the ground on his feet and stood to his full height, towering over just about everything in the massive chamber. He glared at Ayame with those vile, yellow-orange eyes of his. "I can't tell whether you're really brave or really stupid, kid," he admitted mockingly to the girl. She stood in front of him, not making any signs that she had acknowledged his statement. Ridley grinned evilly at her. "I can taste it already. Your blood is going to be delicious." He then charged at her on all fours, flames surrounding his mouth.

Ayame took a stance and aimed her weapon at the dragon. "Bring it, you overgrown iguana," she said as she began charging the Plasma Beam.

-o-

Samus ran down the empty halls of the research center that neighbored the execution chamber. Thanks to the "execution," there were no pirates to stop her from getting her equipment back. All she needed to do was find the room where they were keeping it, suit up, and then she could give her enemies the ass-beating that they deserve.

She turned a corner and continued down the hall until she came across a militia pirate, who panicked at the sight of her and seemingly forgot that he had a gun. He attacked with sloppy punches, and was quickly dealt with thanks to a lightning-fast roundhouse kick to his neck, snapping the bone there and killing him off instantly. Unfazed, Samus continued her trek.

Eventually, she came across a door with a sign next to it that read (in the pirate language of course) "Weapons Research." The door opened automatically when she approached, and she entered the room. The walls were lined with experimental weapons and armor, most not being of pirate origin. Computers on the walls ran constant simulations of how the different weapons worked, from electrocution and explosives, to complete disintegration. Samus immediately knew what she would have to do once she got her gear back.

She eventually discovered her armor in a stasis chamber across the room. She smirked and headed straight for it, but froze when she saw someone she had thought dead a long time ago. A man in dark blue and green armor stood leaning against the pod in which her armor was held, his face a single, green, vertical line.

"Long time, no see, Aran," said the dreaded bounty hunter known only as Sylux.