Behind Cold Metal
Chapter 9: Higher Accommodation
The following morning, Meta Ridley walked into Samus's cage to see her sleeping.
"...Samus..." he said. "Wake up Samus. Your sleeping time's up" he said. Samus begun to wake up, yawning and stretching her arms.
"Ugh....I never sleep this late..." she said to herself. "....Have I overslept?"
"Yes, you have" Meta Ridley said. "But that is not the important topic right now. I said yesterday that I would accommodate you to a higher classed cell" Samus remembered the offer, and suddenly realized that she had to find out why.
"Meta Ridley...why are you doing this? I'm your worst enemy, and you're treating me much better than you should. I guess the same applies for me in a way..." she said. Meta Ridley started to think to himself.
"Ugh...she's realized" he thought to himself. "I can't let her know why. But she hasn't been killing me either. She's fully augmented, so why doesn't she kill me right here?" he thought.
"Um...let's not get carried away here. Follow me" he said. He then stood up and walked out of the cell. Samus started to follow him.
Samus took the time to scan her surroundings and try to etch out a map of the area with her mapping system. If only there was a map station, she thought. But she was surprised at how Meta Ridley knew where he was going, through twisting corridors and such. But he arrived at a large door and stopped.
"Oh no..." he said quietly. He didn't expect Samus to hear him.
"What's wrong now?" she asked. Meta Ridley cursed himself for being too loud.
"...Listen, I need you to do me a favour" he said.
"Favour? Why would I do that?" Samus asked again.
"Just do it, please" he said. Samus sighed and looked down.
"What is it then?" she asked.
"I need you to look weak and vulnerable. Plus, I need to drag you across the floor as we go through this room" he said.
"What for?" she asked again.
"My minions, the Space Pirates, if they see you walking beside me, and not belittled, then they will judge me and think that I've grown soft. I know you would not do a favour for the Space Pirates, but my image is very important here. If it falters, my life is pretty much ruined. I cannot stand the thought of a revolt" he said. He then turned around. "It's a lot to ask, but will you do this favour for me?" he asked. Samus looked down and thought for a second.
"I don't like the idea of getting dragged on the floor by you" she said. Meta Ridley felt frustration build inside him. Samus was about to refuse, but she thought deeply and decided to go with her heart instead of her mind.
"...If I pretend to look out cold, and you carry me across your shoulder, then I'll do it" she said. It wasn't Meta Ridley's idea of making Samus look small, but it would have to do.
"...Fair enough. But I expect a favour returned here" he said.
"I already have, half-brain" she said. "I could just walk behind you, looking all sweet and pretty and damage your image, in which..." she said.
"Fine, fine! Enough already, I'll carry you..." he said. "Hop up on my shoulder. You'd better look damaged, or else" he said. Samus said nothing as she climbed up onto Meta Ridley and lied down. She looked as limp as she could.
"Good enough for you? She asked.
"It'll do. Now remember, not a word" Meta Ridley said. Then, he opened the door and started to walk through the large hall, where a mass of Space Pirates cheered as he walked through. Meta Ridley gave his usual waves, but there was a quick pace in his step as he rushed to reach to the other side of the open roof hall, where his large, ten storey tower stood, high above the rest of the metal castle.
Upon walking to the door, he entered a password and opened the door inside. He walked to the elevator and closed its doors.
"All clear. Now get off of me" he said. Samus sat up and jumped off Meta Ridley.
"Well, they fell for it" she said.
"Of course they did. Now, your cell is on floor two. I am on floor ten, just for your knowledge" he said. Then, he thought a little again.
"Why'd I just tell her what floor I was on? I really feel weird right now..." he thought. The elevator begun to move upwards into the tower's heart.