S1-123
An ancient foe
9:13 AM
04/13/3272
Planet Earth - Old Russia
The Steppes
Music
Destiny - The Journey Home
It was another day on Earth, although it was raining, and thunder was crackling. Michael, Samus, Jenny, DL-2671, Arc-Rod, and TN-9684 touched down in the Cosmodrome to patrol the area.
Just then, Variks came on the line. "Detecting unusual bio-sign. You investigate, yes? You are only the Guardians in the area."
"Right. Let's check it out." Michael acknowledged.
"{I'm getting coordinates from Variks's Ghost. Looks like that bio-sign isn't far. It's in the Mothyards.}" Rocco reported.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Mothyards
Upon entering the sector, the Fireteam found nothing but large footprints, as well as some recent damage. Metal burns and massive claw marks on the rusted airplanes. "These claw marks, they look... familiar." Samus said to herself as she inspected them.
"Bio-sign is on the move. Head to the Forgotten Shore." Variks transmitted.
"Let's get over there and take a look." Michael ordered. The Fireteam called their Sparrows, then hightailed it all the way to the Forgotten Shore.
Planet Earth - Old Russia
Forgotten Shore
There it was. A massive creature resembling a sort of dragon, and it was destroying the Cosmodrome!
Michael's helmet acquired the ID.
SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES
1. ...
Just one word.
Ridley
"It's... Ridley?!" Samus exclaimed.
"If he didn't learn his lesson all those centuries ago, he will now!" Michael proclaimed, pulling out his Spitfire.
"You're right. It's different now! This time, I'm not alone!"
"[You will never be alone again. We're with you the whole way through.]" Arc-Rod stated.
"[Weapons ready.]"
"[Ridley has threatened my Pilot's mother. This will NOT be taken lightly.]" TN-9684's Laser Core was online and ready to fire.
Music
Metroid: Other M - Ridley
In one moment, Ridley picked up a nearby seafaring vessel and threw it at the group. The Titans caught it, then tossed it aside, ready for a fight. Ridley flew up, with an orange light growing from within his mouth.
"DL, ground him!" Michael ordered. The blue Vanguard released a full salvo of homing rockets, hitting Ridley in the left wing, causing the seemingly immortal Space Pirate Commander to lose altitude and crash, with a large flame blast missing the group. He got back up, then roared at them.
Ridley reeled back for a devastating punch, but Arc-Rod stood in the way. When Ridley attacked, Samus's Titan caught the fist, then released Electric Smoke. The electrified vapor was shocking Ridley's entire body, but he wasn't done. Ridley managed to throw Arc-Rod out of the way, but the Atlas-class Titan quickly got back up, pulled out the Arc Cannon, and released a powerful electromagnetic blast, zapping Ridley's right shoulder and angering Ridley, who turned his attention back to the Titan. He grabbed Arc-Rod, then punched through the hatch, revealing an empty cockpit. Unfortunately for Ridley, that wasn't enough. A full payload of missiles pelted him in the face, making him let go of the Titan.
Armor-piercing rounds were being shot into Ridley's back. It was DL-2671 and TN-9684. Ridley flew towards the two Vanguard-class Titans, but ended up attacking DL-2671, grabbing on and lifting him into the sky. Luckily for the blue Vanguard, his Electric Smoke tanks were ready. Ridley began building up a powerful flame breath, but was surrounded in shocking smoke that electrocuted him, causing Ridley to drop the Titan.
Michael took his chance and formed three Andromeda Cannons, then opened fire, knocking Ridley back out of the sky.
It was Jenny's turn to bring the pain. She took out a Pulse Blade and threw it at Ridley, landing it in his left eye. TN-9684 shot Ridley in the right wing, keeping him on the ground so Samus could unload a Super Missile.
He was nowhere near done, but just as Ridley spread out his wings to become airborne again, Taken rifts appeared, surrounding him. "Taken detected! The Shadow. He is here." Variks transmitted.
Music
Destiny - Long Live The King
Out of one Taken rift came a trail of black particles which came together, revealing the Shadow. "This one's new. What is that?"
"That is Ridley; the one who killed Samus's parents a long time ago." Michael informed him.
"A good reason for me to kill him." Ridley seemed to react in fear from the Shadow's presence as the Taken King approached him, Darkscythe glowing, ready for the Grasp of Death.
"Hang on, Death. Wouldn't he be more useful as one of your Taken?" Michael suggested.
The Shadow then stopped to think about it, and the Darkscythe's glow soon faded away. "You make a good point." He turned back to the ancient reptile. "Ridley of the Space Pirates, a new fate has been chosen for you. Welcome to the Taken." Ascendant energy formed a circle on the ground around Ridley, opening a Taken rift that slowly enveloped the Space Pirate Commander, corrupting his body, sending his knowledge to the Shadow's literally infinite intellect, and erasing Ridley's will, integrating him into the Shadow's Taken army.
Just as soon as Ridley vanished, he reappeared, transformed by the Shadow, and with a new ID.
SCANNING...
ENTRIES UPDATED
1: Ridley
Eye of the Night
"From what I've gathered from his mind, I can say one thing. He will never return from THIS defeat."
"So he's one of your Taken now. I'm glad to be rid of him."
"I'll put him to good use. Don't worry, Samus."
Ridley came to his own end. He is now one of the Shadow's Taken.
See you next time.