Samus felt drained, tired. She felt like she wanted to lie down and sleep, thus erasing the sight from her memory. Moving was becoming a struggle, its own fight taking place on a separate battlefield. Grit coated her visor and she shakily wiped a portion of it clean, but it did no good in getting her out of this hell.

Ridley still stood in front of her, exactly like she remembered him. The ancient dragon spat fire and his eyes blazed fury. His shiny black body gleamed under the light and Ridley cackled at Samus' inability to stand, an overbearing presence that loomed in front of her existence.

He is here, the thought popped into her head of its own accord. The murderer…the demon…

Be calm, the other presence admonished. Stay focused. You can get through this.

Her teeth were chattering violently, the noise distracting within the helmet. Samus fumbled with her arm cannon as her left arm supported her upper torso, her elbow jiggling as it supported her weight. As soon as she saw her reticle float over Ridley's outline, she clenched her fist as fast as she could, despite the trembling of her fingers, her arm gently bouncing from the recoil of the energy bolts she unleashed in his direction.

However, Ridley stood and let the shots wash over him. The bolts merely dissipated as they made contact with the dragon's armored hide, sparking uselessly. Samus was firing in irregular intervals by this point, her despair making her grip grow weaker and weaker. Unfazed by the assault, Ridley rumbled in amusement and lashed out his tail again, flipping Samus head over heels and she crashed on her back, temporarily stunned.

"Pathetic," Ridley grumbled, his claws scraping away the debris formed from his crashing arrival. He glanced over at where Gray Voice and Mother were positioned, a look of incredulity apparent in his eyes. "This," he gestured to Samus, "is not a 'weapon' worthy of my attention. It is disobedient and cannot even put up a decent fight, much less stand."

"While I would usually be quicker to defend my work, Ridley," Gray Voice said tonelessly as he watched, "I have to agree that you are right. Samus' movements have been severely restricted since your arrival and are unusually sluggish. Mother, any clarification?"

The spherical monitor swiveled in the direction of the neutralized Samus, who was now crawling along the floor on her chest, her legs unable to support herself. "There are no injuries to report to Samus' body," Mother announced. "Therefore the problem seems to have been manifested from an emotional reaction instead. Prior records could indicate that the presence of Ridley has caused this duress, causing a psychological lockdown."

"Post-traumatic stress disorder," Gray Voice realized, his gaze mixed with sadness and frustration. "This certainly is an unfortunate development."

"What? Disorder?" Ridley barked in the background. "What are you talking about? Are you telling me that you were going to offer me a defective product as a token of this partnership?"

"Your continual interference is the only thing destabilizing the product, Ridley," Gray Voice shot back. "I would advise you to wait and be patient. Let us see what becomes of this scenario."

Meanwhile, Samus groped at the seals of her helmet, sweat pouring down her face. The interior of the suit suddenly became stuffy and she was now aware of its constricting embrace around her lungs. She tried to inhale but she was not receiving any air. Samus felt her face grow warmer and coughed, splattering the interior of her visor with spittle. She fumbled at the neck seal for a few seconds until she suddenly lost her concentration, and the Power Suit fizzled out of existence, leaving her in her military uniform on the ground, uncovered.

Samus gasped in the musty air of the chamber, drool trailing from her mouth. Air flooded her lungs, causing her to hack uncontrollably. Her arms shook and she collapsed to the ground, dirt beginning to coat her uniform, soiling the black surface.

Whimpering, Samus dimly became aware of the stench of rotting flesh before the hot breath of Ridley passed her by. She didn't dare turn her head, knowing that the dragon was mere feet away, looking down on her with an expression of disbelief.

"Another unexpected surprise, Gray Voice," Ridley crowed sourly. "It appears that the interior of your superior weapon contains nothing but a human female." His nostrils flared and his eyes slanted. "Then that explains the unique stink that I've been detecting this whole time I've been here. You mean that the soldier that you were offering me as a compatriot is nothing but a weak…worthless…human?"

Before Gray Voice could argue, Ridley swung his arm, catching Samus in the middle. With a whump! as the air was removed from her lungs, Samus was airborne for a second before her back impacted onto a large rock that had been dislodged from the ceiling. She screamed from the pain, the sensation feeling like she had just been stabbed.

She was not given any time to recover for Ridley shot his face to within a foot of Samus', forcing her to look straight into his reptilian eyes, seeing the cold-bloodedness embedded in them. Samus gulped, only remembering the fire that had killed her mother, and the laughter that the creature in front of her had uttered. Her own cries echoed in her head and the onslaught of tears began to mount up, already preparing for their charge. Everything froze in Samus' mind, unable to respond correctly as she faltered.

Ridley sniffed the air once more, taking great interest in Samus' reaction before he pulled back. "Gray, something is wrong," he hissed.

The Chozo huffed under his breath. "And what could possibly be the problem now, Lord Ridley?"

"This female…she's different," he tilted his head in Samus' direction. "Why is this one so paralyzed by fear? Many of her kind have exhibited cowardice in my presence, yes, but look at her! This one is practically catatonic. It's like she has seen me before in some way."

"That could very well be a possibility," Gray Voice admitted. "You see, Samus was the only survivor of the K-2L invasion, an attack which you perpetrated. We brought her here after finding her alive on that planet and she had been under our care for a few years afterward."

Recognition to that fateful day flashed across Ridley's face. His jaw opened a bit, revealing every one of his sharp teeth. He whirled back to Samus, who was still trying to push herself away, as if the rock she was lying against could swallow her up and offer protection from the rapidly approaching storm.

Something connected in Ridley's mind and he shot out an arm, unleashing a dreadful roar at the same time. His talons wrapped around Samus' head and dragged her over to him, her feet scraping on the floor. Samus could not utter a sound even if she tried, for the pain of Ridley's nails digging into her flesh combined with the mental shock had driven her to the point of complete paralysis.

"This pitiful creature?!" Ridley bellowed in disbelief. "This human survived that colony's destruction while my forces did not?" He swiveled his head to face Gray Voice. "And you chose her to be your ultimate weapon?"

When the question failed to produce a reply from either Gray Voice or Mother, Ridley responded by lifting Samus head up so that his eyes were glaring inches from her skull. Samus moaned as Ridley's claws gouged long scratches on her head, causing several trickles of blood to run down her face. "You lived…how is that possible?" Ridley snarled. "You managed to avoid that afloraltite explosion which completely decimated the surrounding area? Even I could not escape the inferno! I was engulfed in it for so long that my armor melted, my wings disintegrated, and my heart almost stopped beating. When the fires finally died down, I had to resort to scavenge vital nutrients in order to begin my regenerative processes."

Ridley gnashed his teeth, dripping saliva on to the ground. Samus continued to whimper in his strong grip, unable to open her eyes. Ridley looked miffed at Samus' lack of speech but continued anyway. "It was a horrible process, but you would not believe what I had to do in order to survive. Go on, take a guess at what I had to feed from on your pathetic world to rejuvenate myself. No, nothing? Well, I'll tell you anyway. It…was…flesh!"

The word bounced around the chamber, the revolting implications not producing a reaction from Gray Voice. Mother remained mercifully silent and Samus continued to shake.

"Charred, half-cooked, raw, it did not matter!" Ridley raged. "Somehow, I managed to acquire enough nutrients by consuming the bodies of your kind, tossed every which way from the blast." Ridley's tongue snaked out for a brief second as he shook Samus in his grip. "But, no matter what I had to eat, the flesh from humans always tasted disgusting. I can still detect the foul palate on my tongue from your presence! How I desecrated myself that day, by consuming your kind. To this day…I still consider it a transgression!"

Finally fed up, Ridley furiously hurled Samus to the ground, a few drops of her blood staining his claws. Samus hit the floor hard and immediately began clutching at her arm after a small pop had been audible. Samus curled up into a ball, twitching in agony. Tiny gasps could be heard emitting from her as she tried to form words, but all that could be understood were fragments, completely unintelligible.

Ridley's long mouth curled into a deadly smile. "Humans…so fragile. They never have demonstrated the type of resilience when faced with the death of their own kind." Now he lowered himself down to the ground, emulating the pose of a predator about to pounce. "Perhaps my being here is fortuitous, human. Your precious mother might have been assimilated into my body so that I could live, you know. She could very well be here," he said as he pointed to his shoulder. "Or here," as he now indicated his wing. "It probably doesn't matter. I would have had to be desperate to consume such a creature as cooked as she was. Direct hit from a fireball like that probably burned her to a crisp. The thought sickens me, frankly, for I would usually be loath to even scavenge from such a mangled corpse."

Blinking, Ridley waited for Samus to speak but only got more frustrated as she jerked around on the ground, twitching in fear. Ridley swung his arm again and shunted Samus back a few feet, making her roll around limply. "Does that not disgust you, human?!" he roared, wanting a reaction. "The very thought that I might have eaten your family does not raise a word of protest out of you? Acknowledge me, you pathetic worm! Acknowledge me!"

A derisive snort drew Ridley's attention away from the still Samus. Gray Voice walked around, a sneer on his beak. "If you're going to continually smack Samus around, Ridley, then your list of allies will become rather shorter. Why do you persist in interrogating her if she has proved herself unable to speak when you're around?"

"Because I want to know exactly why you thought that welcoming her into our ranks would be a good idea!" Ridley screamed. "She can't fight, she can't talk, she's useless! Face it, Chozo, you have offered me a product that is broken!"

"Your continuous handling of Samus is not exactly helping matters much," Gray Voice pointed out. "See the way she's clutching her wrist? You probably snapped it from throwing her down too hard."

"A broken wrist will be the least of her problems once I am through with her. I had been promised technology and weapons by Mother Brain and your only direct contribution has been a half-mute human who can't do anything but cry! You are pitiful, old man!"

"Watch your tongue, Ridley!" Gray Voice said sharply. "I have been lenient with you this whole time but you underestimate Samus' capabilities. I will not overlook any direct insults towards me or my work and I am fed up with your attitude. If you would just give Samus the chance-"

"Chance?!" Ridley barked in a laugh. "Give her a chance? She's had plenty of chances to prove to me that she is nothing better than a weakling! And yet, I still find myself waiting. I'm not known for my patience, Gray Voice, and I'm personally tired of arguing over this topic so I think that I shall put it to an end right now." He lifted Samus up in his grip once more and held her up. Her body caught the light and her blond hair shimmered from the blood matting it down to her skull. Ridley opened his mouth and prepared to spout a long gout of flame, roasting the human in his hands. Smoke rose from the dragon's nostrils, his gut baking.

"Stop!" Gray Voice shouted as he ran forward. "I warn you, Ridley, if you damage Samus any more I will break off whatever agreement you made with Mother. Samus is my bargaining chip for this whole arrangement and I will not see her eliminated by your hand!"

Ridley's wings furled up and he gave an incredulous snort. "You don't have any say in the matter, Chozo. She is mine to do with now, and I have declared that she is of no use to me. Why would I keep such a creature as baggage? She would even do poorly as a pet." Ridley's eyes glanced up at the ceiling as a thought came to him, the beginnings of a smile already tracing up his face. "But…I'll grant you a final ultimatum in this case. I will allow you some respect and drop the matter if you fulfil one condition to me."

"And what would that be?"

Opening his skeletal hand, Samus collapsed to the floor, still holding her wrist. Ridley's wings beat the air once and he stepped away, drawing himself to his full height as he pointed at the human. "I should think that it would be obvious. I want you to kill her, of course."

"H-Help…" Samus coughed weakly. "H-H-H-Help…m-me…"

Gray Voice fixed Samus with a long, hard look. He clasped his hands behind his back as he regarded the feeble woman. It was hard to tell what the Chozo was thinking, for his gaze expressed sadness, anger, and even a bit of disappointment. He lifted his eyes and saw Ridley hovering over Samus, expecting him to make the next move, his teeth bared eagerly. With a regretful sigh, Gray Voice straightened his already erect back and gave a curt shake of his head.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Ridley," he said, glancing away purposefully.

Ridley tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Is that an outright refusal or is there an underlying reason for your skittishness to shed blood?"

"It is a metaphysical aspect that is prevalent in all Chozo," Gray Voice explained. "I am physically incapable of killing Samus."

"I doubt that," Ridley huffed. "Killing something is easy. All you have to do is point a gun and fire. Hell, you can even strangle her with your bare fists, I don't care which. Are you going to throw this chance away to save this human's life? Is that what I'm supposed to glean from this?"

"Absolutely not," Gray Voice snorted. "What I'm telling you that it's just impossible for me, or any other Chozo, to kill or even hurt. We have a working mental guard that reacts violently whenever we do harm to another living creature deliberately. It would kill me if I were to kill Samus outright, you see."

"That is unacceptable!" Ridley spat. "How can you possibly become part of the Space Pirates if you do not even have the will to take a life, Gray Voice? Killing is our way of life and if you cannot accept it, then what use can you bring to me?"

"Stop with the childish outbursts, Ridley. The Space Pirates respond to leadership, not just feats of brute force. Now, my terms have been set, for you cannot kill Samus lest you risk my departure from the ranks, and I cannot kill her for you due to the natural handicap of the Chozo."

"So it seems we're at an impasse," Ridley grumbled.

"So it seems," Gray Voice acknowledged tiredly. "But, I'd suggest that you consider my next words carefully, Ridley." He pointed to the now-fainted human on the floor. "Samus is still a child and she has yet to reach her full potential in terms of her capabilities. Once the shock wears off, we may be able to convince her to join us yet. There are ways of manipulation that have proven satisfactory with the results you seek."

"You mean torture."

"Call it whatever you wish, the outcome will be the same. Samus will be able to utilize her Power Suit once her mind is fully concentrated and we will then release her to join our ranks. Don't be too hasty to write her off simply because she fared better than you in an attack that you instigated in the first place!"

Ridley lowered his head down to the ground, almost like if he was considering swallowing up Samus in a single gulp just to get rid of the need to debate. His eyes flickered over to Mother's monitor, but the AI remained silent. He mentally huffed; if the AI was not speaking up, then it probably shared Gray Voice's point of view. Well, if he was outnumbered, then better to wash his hands clean.

"Fine," the dragon conceded with a disgusted wave of his clawed hand. "She may live, for now."

"I'm glad you could see things my way," Gray Voice said with a tight smile. "But we must not delay any further. Sooner or later, the Federation could catch word of Zebes' occupation, and before we become embroiled in another argument, I would suggest that we check on the status of your troops in the next room, and of your latest acquisition. We must be prepared for any eventuality."

"Sounds reasonable," Ridley nodded as he turned towards the large doors in the corner. He got maybe five steps before he halted in place. Craning his neck, Ridley gestured towards the still unconscious Samus on the ground. "Did you have a plan for the human, Gray Voice? Do you think it is wise to simply leave her there unshackled?"

"Of course not," Gray Voice shook his head. "She is to be with us at all times. I would not risk the chance of her escaping our clutches, at least not when she is in this state."

"My thoughts exactly. But, since you seem to be somewhat preoccupied, I hope you don't mind if I am the one to transport her?" Ridley said this with a grin as he bared the claws on his hands.

"You can drag her to the lab for all I care," Gray Voice dismissed. "It makes no difference to me now."

The Pirate patrol clomped over the grating, causing the metal to rattle with their heavy footfalls. The four bipedal aliens lazily scanned the corridors as they moved down the cavernous hallways, occasionally sniffing the air for any hostiles.

Below the grated floor, though, Pyonchi, Kreatz, and Mauk crouched silently as they waited for the Space Pirates to pass by overhead. Dim lighting streamed down through the cracks, casting grid-like shadows on their faces. A dusty smell emanated from the crawlspace, causing all three to wrinkle their noses so that they would not unleash an unwanted sneeze.

Once the Pirates had gone through the nearby hatch, Pyonchi resumed leading the way. Kreatz and Mauk dutifully followed, keeping their movements quiet as they slowly crawled on through the tight area.

The rabbilis had led them to another access point after they had finished scaling the mountain range, giving them an alternate route into the facility. Almost immediately, the trio had found the place swarmed with Space Pirates, but Pyonchi had led them to a small maintenance tunnel which was unguarded, providing them a means to sneak through the place without alerting any guards. So far, everything had gone off without a hitch, but no one was stating the thought aloud.

Pyonchi rounded a tight corner and pawed at what appeared to be a dead end. The maintenance shaft appeared to terminate at a metal wall without warning, just a blank canvass at which denoted the end of the line. But, the rabbilis was acting in a way that made it obvious to Kreatz and Mauk that there was something of interest on the other side of the wall.

Putting trust in their guide, the two crawled to the wall and found four locking pins holding the surface in place. They quickly unlatched them and gently slid the surface open a crack, revealing an unexpected sight.

What was alarming at first was the fact that they appeared to be situated at least three stories above an expansive chamber. Close to them, a tall pillar with wires trailing on the ceiling and over the floor spilled out into the extent of the room. In the middle of this column sat a sphere containing some kind of liquid, a piece of technology so old moss was starting to grow around it. It had a very alien look about it of the kind Kreatz and Mauk had never laid eyes on before.

Their eyes followed the trail of wires across the ground and everyone murmured in surprise as they saw a dozen cylinders positioned near the doorway in rows of four. Pirates were patrolling between the cylinders and their patterns also included five larger vats set directly on the far wall, much larger than the cylinders closest to the access hatch. Kreatz fumbled in his pack for his macro-binoculars and switched them on to run in low visibility.

"You see the elders yet, Kreatz?" Mauk whispered to him as he slid the hatch back, leaving a crack for Kreatz to look out of.

"Not yet," Kreatz frowned. "I'm checking out what's in those cylinders, though."

As he looked through the lens, Kreatz scrunched his face up in concentration, trying to penetrate the shadows spilling from the tanks. With a click of a new filter, the image around the subject, but it perfectly illuminated what sat in the rows upon rows of cylinders.

Space Pirates, each one inhabiting its own tank. They floated in a dead-man's position while the liquid submerging them frothed furiously. It almost looked like the Pirates were getting boiled in these tanks from Kreatz's point of view. But before he could shift his attention, he saw a new ridge of spines begin to protrude from the Pirate in the tank through the broiling foam. The thing's head began to elongate as waves of energy rippled through it and the implications quickly registered on Kreatz of what the Pirates were doing.

"They're altering themselves," he breathed out loud as the rest of the Pirates summarily twitched in their cylindrical tanks. "The Pirates are using the technology of the Chozo to adapt their bodies to the harsh environment of Zebes."

"Guess that explains why we found that mutated Pirate out there in the wasteland," Mauk grimaced. "Still no sign of the elders?"

"Still searching…just one more…aha! Found them! Control room in the corner, top right."

Kreatz passed the macro-binoculars to Mauk and scooted out of the way so that his friend could now see. Mauk sighted through the lens and nodded in satisfaction. "I count thirteen in total," Mauk reported. "No idea how many elders there were to begin with but that will have to do. We have about eight hours left, so we have enough time to extract them."

Mauk zoomed in, squinting as he focused the sights and made a sharp intake of breath in surprise. "Wait a minute…" he mumbled.

Kreatz looked over in apprehension. "What is it, Mauk?"

"I recognize the Chozo in the middle," Mauk said as he adjusted the focus, looking at a particular wizened Chozo with sagging feathers around his jowls, one with a long beak and a tall, proud head. "His name's Platinum Chest. He's the one who lobbied to the Federation on behalf of my people to become a part of the galactic society. It's enraging to see him in a position like this. He had no reason to support us but he did so anyway and now he's the one locked up in a cage."

"Cheer up, big guy," Kreatz elbowed Mauk playfully. "Think of this as the perfect opportunity. You now have the chance to return the favor to your benefactor, Mauk!"

Mauk grinned behind the macro-binoculars. "I guess you're right, Kreatz. It would be a pleasure to show my appreciation in some way. But…we have a problem."

"If it's the three guards you're referring to down there, I wouldn't worry. We can take them out no problem if we-"

"I'm not worried about the Pirates," Mauk shook his head. "It's what's in those large vats over there. The ones by the door. They're full of those odd floating creatures that Old Bird warned us about."

"What? Let me see!" Mauk held the macro-binoculars up and Kreatz maneuvered into position. He lifted his gaze up and his jaw dropped a good inch as he saw the beings in the tank float, defying the laws of gravity. "Ohhh…" he groaned. "Yeah, you're right, Mauk. They're definitely Metroids. Got about ten in each tank so that makes at least fifty in total."

Pyonchi brushed his tail nervously and Mauk grimaced. "Fifty…" he sighed. "That's just perfect. If they get unleashed everyone in this room is certainly going to be dead. I'd rather not become part of that statistic, Kreatz."

"Neither would I," his friend said as he checked the ammo in his submachine gun. "So that's why we're going to do this quiet and smart. Only shoot the guards when they're facing away from the vats. I'll circle around and free the elders while you-"

A clanking sound from the opening of the laboratory doors cause Kreatz to shut up instantly. He hunkered back as the sounds of a commotion began to arise. As the doors rumbled open, long shadows began to play havoc across the floor. Mauk swore silently, annoyed that their chance to act had been lost. He slid the hatch door shut even further, allowing only a single sliver for everyone to look out of.

"Oh boy," Kreatz mumbled as a large creature, one that resembled a dragon, strode inside. This being was at least four times larger than Mauk and looked far more deadly. Kreatz seemed to be shrinking more and more at the fearsome sight while Mauk tapped his shoulder.

"There's a Chozo down there," he whispered as a tall form skirted around the huge beast. "But…it's odd. It looks like he's helping the Pirates."

"Who cares?" Kreatz sighed. "We can't very well get down there now. Not with that huge bastard in the way. I mean, look at him! He takes up the whole room!"

"Wait a second…" Mauk murmured, surprised as he saw the huge forms adjust themselves. "The dragon's carrying someone. Looks like a person."

"So who is it? Another elder?"

Mauk turned back to Kreatz, a funny look on his face. "It's Samus."

Ridley rudely deposited the faintly stirring Samus at Gray Voice's feet as he stalked over to the vats containing the Metroids in the corner. He sat on his hind legs as he got within a few meters, drawing himself up so that he could bask in the green glow of the nutrient liquid that surrounded the organisms. Light shone through the membrane of his wings, highlighting the huge veins that webbed underneath the surface. The contrasting light gave the dragon a hellish quality, only intensified from the red glimmer from his eyes.

"Ah, yes!" Ridley sighed in anticipation, gently stroking the glass. "A magnificent specimen, Mother. Now…this is a bio-weapon of a grand design, Gray Voice! It's only a shame that you were not the one to offer this to me initially."

"Actually," Mother reported as she swung her monitor close to Ridley, "Gray Voice was the one who created the very first Metroid specimen, with my help of course. As much as I relish the credit, I feel that I must make it clear exactly whom it should be delegated to."

"How magnanimous of you," Ridley growled as he now fixated Gray Voice with a glare. "So…you have more surprises up your sleeves than I thought, Chozo! Well played indeed."

Gray Voice gave an ironic bow. "I'm pleased that you are satisfied with the results of our collaborative efforts, Ridley. I hope that both Metroid and Samus are considered acceptable offers to you."

"I have not decided whether the human is worth the tradeoff yet," Ridley rumbled. "But, I am impressed at the ingenuity of these Metroids you speak of. With them at our side, we will have the ability to ravage this galaxy for the glory of all Space Pirates! They can be our ultimate weapon to highlight the coming of a new era!"

"Again, I am pleased that you find contentment with the potential benefits."

"Oh, I am pleased, Gray Voice. I am most certainly pleased. But…" Ridley stepped all the way around, the beginnings of a fire trailing from the corners of his mouth. "I have to confess that I feel a bit…lacking, somehow. There is something missing from all this but I can't seem to…" He mimicked putting himself deep in thought before he raised his eyes, finally glancing at the control booth parked in the corner, with the hostages still inside.

Ridley beat his wings a single time as he pointed a claw. "Get them out here right now!" he bellowed, the guards frantically rushing to please their master. In half a minute, the Chozo elders had been forcefully pushed out into the open hall, free for Ridley to fixate them with his almighty presence.

Gray Voice glanced back and forth between the elders and Ridley. "What are you doing?" he asked in concern.

"Simply tying up loose ends," Ridley gnashed his teeth. "For we have already taken all of the technology and creations that the elders have given us, there's nothing else that they can offer us now."

"Enough with the grandstanding," Gray Voice scowled. "Just state what your intent is."

"I came here, to this forsaken planet, with the intent to kill something," Ridley admitted bluntly. "I expected at least some form of resistance, something that would give me the opportunity to cause havoc and mayhem. What I did not expect was a complete capitulation from your entire species, thus ridding me of my chance! Now that we have exhausted the Chozo elders of their usefulness, can you think of anything else that they're good for? Do you think they're worth anything at all now?"

Avoiding the deadly breath of the dragon, Gray Voice swiveled his head very slowly, very deliberately. He saw the elders began to cluster in a group, Platinum Chest in the center. They did not adopt a stance of resistance but fateful acceptance. Gray Voice could see the slump in all of their shoulders, denoting how tired they were. It would be a mercy for them to end it like this. No one deserved to suffer in servitude for the rest of their lives.

A quiet moaning drew Gray Voice's attention away from the elders as Samus began to gain consciousness. She was still curled up in a fetal position, her broken wrist held tightly against her chest. Dried blood clung to her forehead and dripped onto the stone floor, the splotches dark in the dim lighting. He regarded her for a second until he realized that he still needed to give his smirking comrade an answer.

With a disgusted shake of his head, Gray Voice refused to look Ridley in the eye. "You don't need my input in order to receive permission," he grunted. "Your mind is made up, Ridley. Do what you like with them."

Ridley narrowed his eyes and began to chuckle, his mouth dripping in amusement. "So…" he rumbled victoriously, "you fully acknowledge our way of life, Gray Voice?" Getting nothing but a scowl from the Chozo, Ridley laughed even harder. "You're more of a cold blooded bastard then I thought. You will make an excellent addition to the Space Pirates!"

The dragon then spread his wings and howled a roar, fire billowing from his mouth, coating the room in smoke and heat. The elders stood stoically, waiting for the inferno to consume them all. Samus, meanwhile, feebly raised her head from the floor and moaned in pain.

A/N: For some reason in the manga, Ridley blamed Samus for the entire K-2L debacle despite her not really having any impact on the invasion whatsoever. That reasoning did not make a whole lot of sense so I purged that without a second thought. Here, Ridley demonstrates a sense of animosity towards Samus based on the fact that she escaped K-2L relatively unscathed.

Expect the next couple of chapters to be dark, dark, dark. Considering some of the previous projects I've tackled in the past, it's going to be right up my alley.