Disclaimer: Again I own only Maximus, btw this chapter is parallel with the "Dredd" chapters, it's also the second world based on the original Metroid Prime, we'll be learning more about the Space Pirates and what they are planning with the other members of the Alliance, that's the stage name for the group of villains introduced so far.

Chapter 8: Way to the Dawn: Riku's Rematch with Ridley?

Riku and Xion stood with Mickey in front of Master Yen Sid's desk, they both bowed there head to the old wizard, "Master Yen Sid it is a honour" they said in unison, the wizard nodded at them and brought up what looked like a giant star map from his desk, it covered the ceiling, Xion looked round in wonder.

"I have called you here for a special reason Dark Sword Meister Riku, you are to be tested with the use of the power of light, and Mickey had informed me of the dark powers that exist within you, as you should know anyone who relies too much on the power of darkness may risk becoming a Heartless"

Xion looked over at Riku, she was worried about him, lately she could tell he was being rather distant and she was sure the power of darkness was beginning to overwhelm him. Riku didn't say anything just kept the same focused expression.

"Which bring us to the test you must take, one of our allies The Galactic Federation have reported a Space Pirate freighter called the Orpheon has sent out a distress call, this could give us a chance to infiltrate one of their main vessels and find out some valuable information to give us a tactical advantage, which is why I'am sending you and Xion to investigate the damaged freighter and bring back any information you can gather"

Riku nodded and was about the leave when Yen Sid spoke again "And you must reframe from using any of your dark powers for this mission, you must rely on your own strength and skill, if you tap into the darkness then you will be expelled from the Academy" Xion looked outraged "No! Your being way too harsh on Riku, so what if he had dark powers. He would never betray us and you know that!"

Riku raised his hand to shush her "He's right Xion; I've been using these dark powers Maleficent awoke inside me for too long, I have to learn how to fight without them" he said, he nodded to Mickey "I'll make you proud boss", Mickey chuckled and shook Riku's hand "Just come back alive Riku"

Yen Sid brought up a hologram of the ship in one hand and in the other hand the hologram of a Space Pirate "Be on your guard Riku, the vessel may be damaged but the residents may very well still be alive and dangerous" he warned, Riku nodded and motioned for Xion to follow him, she bowed to Yen Sid and Mickey before running after him.

"Master Yen Sid, do you think he'll be ok?" asked Mickey, he couldn't help but feel that even for Riku this was too much pressure, he had known Riku ever since he was small boy and he had never saw or felt as if he would be a threat. "We have to look at all possible risks to the Academy Mickey, your faith in Riku has clouded your perception of the possibility that the darkness inside him may be more out of his control that you might think" said Yen Sid stoking his bear, Mickey frowned, something didn't seem right.

KHROS

Riku and Xion made their way to the Gummi hanger in silence, Xion wanted to say something but she knew from experience not to interrupt him when he was in deep thought, she folded her arms behind her back and kept walking, "Xion" he spoke up causing her to stop and look at him, he had his arms folded and with his eyes closed and frowning "I need your honest opinion on this" he said, she felt somewhat awkward.

"Sure Riku, you can tell me anything" she said smiling, Riku took her hand "I need you to promise me something, if this all goes tits up, you get yourself out, Sora would never forgive me if something happens to you so I want you to promise that you will survive this"

Xion looked shocked, she had never seen Riku that serious before, "Wow what Master Yen Sid said must have really affected Riku" she squeezed his hand and nodded "Of course Riku whatever you say but it won't come to that, you'll be fine I know you will" she said softly .

When they reached the hanger they were greeted by the Gummi ship hanger operators Chip and Dale, "Hey Riku how ya doing!" said Dale in his high pitched voice, "Heading off to deep space are you Riku?" said Chip, Riku nodded "Yeah so I counting on you guys to have my ship ready for deep space flight" the two chipmunks jumped up and down in excitement.

"Don't you worry Riku; we've upgraded your ship for maximum deep space travel, you are clear for launch whenever you're ready" they both said jumping up and down.

Riku and Xion thanked them and made their way inside the ship, the interior was much wider than before and there were several new pieces of equipment added to the cockpit, Riku sat down in the pilot's seat and prepared for launch, "Hey Riku if you open the hatch next to you you'll find something interesting" Chip said over the coms, Riku opened the hatch to find a small tablet, "What's this for?" he said.

"It's a scanning device, it can used to scan enemies and the environment to learn more about them, it could come in very handy" they said over the coms, he nodded and pocketed the device, "Ready?" he said to Xion, she buckled him and then gave him a nod "Blast off!" he shouted as the ship flew out of the hanger and into the realm between.

KHROS

Space Pirate Data

Entry Log 09.992.3

Fall of Zebes

Zebes has fallen. All ground personnel are presumed dead, either killed by the Hunter clad in metal or in the subsequent destruction of the underground facilities. Our research frigates Orpheon, Siriacus and Vol Paragon were in orbit at zero hour and managed to retreat. Frigate Orpheon is now docked at Vortex Outpost. Orpheon's cargo appears to have a 100% survival rate: Metroids are healthy but on restricted feeding schedules due to uncertain supply status. We are ready to begin research on the Metroids and other promising life-forms. Security status remains at Code Blue: no signs of pursuit from the Hunter.

Entry Log 10.023.7

The Hunter

Security Commandissued an all-points alert after the fall of Zebes. The alert concerns bioform Samus Aran, also known as the Hunter. Subject is a female hominid, and is heavily armed and extremely dangerous. Subject uses a powered armorsuit of unknown design in battle, along with a number of potent Beam and concussive weapons. All combat units are instructed to terminate Aran on sight, preferably in a fashion that will allow salvage of her powered armorsuit and weapons. A considerable bounty will go to the unit who delivers Aran to Command. Dead or alive, it matters not.

Entry Log 10.229.2

Contact

Scans of theSpiral Sectordetected a massive energy spike emanating from aWanderer-classplanet identified as Tallon IV. Scout reconnaissance was immediately dispatched to the center of the spike, a land mass at the heading mark 40.08.08, returning with planetary samples and atmospheric imaging. Analysis shows the energy source to be an unstable radioactive material of enormous potential. We are unable to form an accurate risk-assessment at this time, but we are unlikely to find an energy source this powerful again. Analysis will continue but currently Tallon IV appears to be a viable secondary headquarters.

Entry Log 10.308.0

Artifact site

Field team reports are in on an aged structure of alien design built on the surface of Tallon IV. Studies show this structure projects a containment field. This field bars access to a prime source of energy within a deep crater. Science Team believes the field is powered by a number of strange Chozo artifacts. Studies for possible resting places for these talismans have begun. As the field could hinder future energy production operations on Tallon IV, we must dismantle it as soon as possible. If this means the destruction of the Chozo Artifacts, it will be done.

Entry Log 10.891.0

Meta-Ridley

The reconstruction of geoform 187, code-named Ridley, was recently completed. After his defeat on Zebes, Command ordered a number of metagenetic improvements for him. Though aggressive, we were able to implement these changes in acycle. The metamorphosis was painful, but quite successful in the end. Early tests indicate a drastic increase in strength, mobility, and offensive capability. Cybernetic modules and armour plating have been added as well. We believe our creation, now called Meta Ridley, will become the mainstay of our security force, a job he will certainly relish.

Entry Log 11.234.9

A New Alliance

Recent changes in Pirate Command have led to the recent mining of the energy source known as Phazon. This neurotoxin possesses lifelike characteristics, the ability to mutate organic life forms into far more powerful specimens. As for the outside races that have recently collaborated with the Space Pirates, we have yet to know there true intentions of what they need this energy force for, we believe it could be used as a weapon of mass destruction but our leader Meta Ridley has assured us that this group can be trusted.

KHROS

"nine thousand nine hundred and ninety seven, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety eight, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine, ten thousand!" shouted Sora as he finished his first exercise of the day which consisted of ten thousand push ups, five thousand pull ups, hand to hand combat with Maximus, Zidane and Aht and channelling his soul force to use Trance.

So far he had been able to achieve the soul force necessary to activate the transformation but had yet to achieve a full transformation. In the outside world they had only been gone for four hours but in the chamber they had been training for nearly a month.

The schedule went as followed, they would all wake up at seven in the morning, have breakfast, wash, then they would start various training exercises including numerous push up , pull ups, weight lifting and running, then they would have lunch, after lunch Aht would teach Sora how to use his soul force and how to connect with his partner, then came the hardest part, either Maximus or Zidane would take Sora deep into the chamber and fight him in hand to hand combat while in Trance.

It was difficult to say the least; Sora was no match for either of them and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't beat them, he was getting better and he could at least survive more than five minutes against them.

Maximus had said that to achieve Trance it "Came from a need not a desire" which he didn't really understand, did he need Trance to protect his partner? Or did he need Trance to defeat powerful enemies. He wasn't sure because he hadn't transformed yet, but he had been thinking how to, and he had recently come up with a plan while doing his push ups.

When Maximus said it was ready to start Sora stopped him "I have an idea Max" he said sharply, Maximus stopped speaking and listened to what he had to say "I want you to go at me with everything you've got, even if it kills me" Sora said simply, Aht and Garnet gasped while Zidane looked surprised, Maximus's face remained neutral, he simply nodded.

Aht and the other backed away as Sora prepared himself, Maximus transformed and flew up high into the sky, "You sure about this!" he shouted, Sora clenched his fists and concentrated "Just do it"

"Final Flash" shouted Maximus as he shot a massive beam of golden light towards Sora. Sora stretched his arms out and braced himself, he caught the beam, but it took him nearly all of his strength not to collapse. He kept his eyes closed and tried to envision Kairi in peril.

The he saw it again, jet black hair, amber eyes, a sneering face as she lay down in a pool of blood. She looked up at him with a heart broken expression "Why did you leave me Sora?" she cried before coughing up blood and going still. "You're so weak Sora, she'd still be alive if you could just let go. Release the madness inside you, go wild" the voice in his head spoke as several other voices spoke in his mind

"Come on Sora, I thought you could do better than that!"

"Sora don't ever change"

"It comes from a need not a desire"

"Mom and Dad would be proud of you Sora"

"Your heart is what will lead you to the Light"

"I wouldn't pick anyone else as my partner"

"TRANCE!"

He shouted the last part in his mind as he felt his soul expand, the need to protect his friends and prevent the vision he had seen from happening, that was what he had to think about. His hair turned blonde, his eyes became green and his muscles became more toned and larger.

He fired the beam back at Maximus who was just able to dodge it, he looked down at Sora in astonishment as Sora kept powering up "He did it" Maximus said to himself as he hovered back down to the floor, Aht, Garnet and Zidane all cheered.

Sora kept powering up and was losing control; the change had been too much for him. "Sora you need to calm down, try to focus your mana" said Aht as she made her way closer to him. He tried but he couldn't hold it and suddenly powered down, reverting back to normal. They all crowded around him, Garnet healed him and Zidane helped him up, they all looked very happy and pleased "We're all really proud of you Sora" said Maximus grinning.

Sora looked up and grinned back "Round two?"

KHROS

Riku and Xion had been flying for several hours now, they had passed several planets and were now very deep in the solar system orbiting the star FS-176, they were approaching a large black battleship which was orbiting a large planet that looked desert like but with water.

"That's Tallon IV?" said Xion, Riku brought up the scanner and used it to scan the planet, "Mass: 5.1 trillion teratons, Size: 13,400 km diameter and an oxygen rich atmosphere, yep looks like the place" said Riku as he read the readings.

They found a place where they could land, Xion transformed and Riku activated his armour to protect him, he looked over the ship and whistled loudly "Wonder what happened here" he said to himself, there were pieces of debris everywhere and there were huge holes in parts of the ship.

He made his way forward and found a large blue door which opened when he got closer, he quickly checked behind him before moving inside, he made his way through tunnels filled with debris, he could see images of the Pirate language which he scanned. He finally reached a large open room, it was filled with test tubes of all various shapes and sizes, and there were dead bodies of pirates everywhere.

"Some serious shit went on down here" Riku said to himself as he inspected on of the bodies "It looks like some kind of severe poisoning and lacerations" said Xion, Riku nodded and looked round, there was a giant insect like monster lying dead, "Maybe they died fighting that thing" said Riku, he continued making his way through the ship.

He saw small insect scuttling around the wreckage, they did not approach him and he simply ignored them.

He then saw a Pirate that was still alive, it was lying up against a wall and its injuries looked pretty severe, he knelt down in front of it "Tell me what happened here" he said looking into its eyes, instead of answering the Pirate let out an almighty screech, forcing Riku to stab it in the head to shut it up. "Dam it, everyone in the entire facility probably heard that" Riku said as he left the room and made his way into another large room.

There was a turret on the ceiling that started firing at him, he took cover before aiming his blade at it "Firaga" he shouted, a massive ball of fire was shot toward the turret; exploding it.

He then was attacked by a Pirate that had only suffered minor injuries; it swiped at him with its energy scythe, Riku dodge and stabbed it through the chest.

He kept moving and soon found the entrance to a large room which ended in the central reactor, there were several fresh corpses, he could tell something was lurking down in the reactor "You ready Xion?" he said to her, she appeared in the blade and nodded to him "Yes"

He jumped down and found himself looking at a giant energy shield with two openings, and then he heard something large scuttle down from the top. A giant insect like monster appeared holding itself above the reactor, it roared at him.

He quickly dodged as it fired a huge beam of green energy at him, he threw his weapon at it but it bounced off its armour, "Damn it! There has to be a way to kill this thing without using darkness!" he shouted in frustration.

"Use the scanner!" shouted Xion, he pulled out the scanner and scanned it "Parasite Queen, weakness discovered in the mouth" it said, Riku then grinned, he had an idea, he waited until it opened its mouth before firing a Firaga at it, it combusted from the inside.

The beast screeched in pain as it fell into the reactor; there was a massive booming noise followed by a massive shockwave that shook the entire facility, then a voice came on over the terminal "Evacuate immediately"

"Shit!" shouted Riku as he ran out of the room and found himself in a ventilation shaft; there were swarms of small insects everywhere. He ran further and further into the ventilation system, he soon found himself in a large room, he heard a familiar screech and looked up in shock.

Above him was a giant mechanical dragon, yellow eyes, pterodactyl like head, huge wings with energy like membranes and a purple skin. Even with these mechanics Riku and Xion knew who this was "Ridley!" they shouted in unison, Ridley screeched and broke free from his restraints, he fired a beam of plasma down at Riku who jumped out of the way.

Ridley flew upwards and out of the reactor, "You coward! Get back here you son of a bitch!" shouted Riku as he bolted through the room, "Riku calmed down, you have to get out of here first"

"Xion that thing destroyed our home, I'm not going to let him escape" he shouted back, he reached an elevator and travelled back up onto where the landing platform was, before he could reach his ship, Ridley fired a plasma beam at it, destroying it. He could only look in shock as Ridley gave one last roar before flying down the planet below.

Xion turned back into her human form, she grabbed Riku's arm and pulled him back into the ship, "What do we do?" she screamed, she could feel the ship beginning to fall, there was nowhere to go, they had no way of escape, he didn't say anything, he kissed her and hugged her close to him "I love you" was all they could say to each other as the ship began to crash to the planet below.

A/N Cliff-hanger! So what's the relationship between Ridley and Riku? How will Riku and Xion survive the harsh landscape of Tallon IV? Can they stop the Space Pirates? Find out in Chapter 9 Ridley's on Tallon IV: Samus Aran is Salvation?

Please Review and all that jazz, thanks and take care.