Bounty Hunter's Buddy 4 - (Metroid, SI)
Warning! This chapter opens up what I would define a 'limited xover'. The story will be mainly set in Metroid, but Nintendo is Nintendo, so it feels fitting to add another popular franchise to this without any major plot-related stakes.
Grand General Adam Malkovich was unsure on how to tackle the current situation at hand.
It's been five years when his 'gamble' had backfired to the point of the Federation losing two of their best agents in the field. To say that he had been furious would be an understatement as... Adam had cared for these two. Ian had ranted so much and had gone as far as threatening to resign if something wasn't done to retaliate for this decision and... Adam took a smart path to reclaim some vindication.
While he was in no position to outright lash out without risking his position, Adam had the tools to start a 'soft' crackdown within the military leadership. Without Ridley, the Pirates had lost a major aggressive leader, which should have led to a degree of success for the Federation- so, by flashing some of the censored news that his superiors had tried to keep secret through anonymous means, the public was enraged over the poor conduct of the high political and military echelons.
It was nothing short of a slow and disgusting coup that ultimately shredded through the oldest generations within the military, and spared just a handful that ultimately did the trick. The promotion to Fleet Admiral of one Castor Dane played a major role in the shake-up.
The man loathed the pirates and refused to consider leniency when handling the 'galactic number one foe'. He was a warhawk, but, differently from some unsavory figures, he was keen to spare strategy in his planning and provide the best solution to any issue. Effective, ruthless, and motivated by a huge sense of vengefulness as he was orphaned during the first few years when the Space Pirates appeared.
Fleet Admiral Dane had a single goal in mind, which he made Adam familiar with: the Pirates were a threat, there would be no mercy, and all resources were to be used to modernize the military.
Politicians of similar caliber were soon yapping the same tunes: better budgeting for the military, and an effort to improve the quality and not the quantity of the army. To Adam, this was the first serious step in years and... five years after that dreadful mistake, Adam could tell that things were finally turned for the best.
The pirates were still a threat, but the better-organized marines were making good efforts in reclaiming planets lost in the last three decades, and the losses of the past were a nightmare that no longer haunted the present.
Still, Grand General Malkovich was not without his own plights. To be quite specific, his higher rank dictated more painfully secret problems to solve privately. The biggest of them all was the full report on why the Chozo created the metroids, and why the government had rejected any attempted bill trying to just 'exterminate' the Metroids.
There was a sense to it - the Metroids were not the kind of monsters that one could just let be without risking for the pirates to find a way to snatch some and weaponize them against their own forces. Adam had started to work on providing Ice Blasters to all his best troopers, but the fact that a Metroid's weakness was a combination of ice and 'highly-explosive missiles' meant that a single weapon wouldn't do.
No, the situation was a bit more complicated over the ramifications of elimitating all Metroids: the X Parasite was something that not even the advanced Chozo had found a less dangerous solution to. The Metroids were born to be the X's natural predator, hunting and stalking the parasite to devour it.
This older threat was supposedly 'petrified' into a fossilized frame meant to keep the Metroids away. It worked in most occasions, which meant that removing the Metroids would only make the X a threat. And as the concerns over Metroids grew within the lesser political groups of the Federation, Dane was forced to call for a meeting of all major officers to discuss the topic.
"We need to find a way to not only destroy the metroids, but also the X. Such an effort can't be undertaken by a small group, but we can't deploy a too large force without leaving our front open to attacks from the Pirates," Dane summarized the issue, looking around at the large table presided by numerous high-ranking leaders of the Federation Army and Navy. "I want to hear answers, gentlemen and gentleladies."
The round table exploded with suggestions. Some smart but still demanding resources that couldn't be provided, others were outright insane and claimed the kind of technology that was risky to use and may lead to worse scenarios if the X took over the operators of such devices.
Adam remained quiet. Not because he had nothing to say, but rather because what he had in mind was not something everyone could be made privy of. Not until he made his case with the Fleet Admiral.
Dane had an annoyed look on his face as his head tilted around while paying attention to each speaker, but soon his gaze was aimed at his terminal, his eyes narrowing at the report Adam had sent him across the table and... an intrigued look soon appeared on his wrinkly face.
"Malkovich," Dane interjected the umpteenth speaker that was finishing his proposal. "Bring up the mad proposal you have. Spare what details you think are unneeded."
The Grand General nodded and stood up from his chair. "As you all know, the Federation can't spare resources to successfully acquire a victory on SR388. However, it is a must that the Metroid threat is properly removed at once while also taking care of the X menace before it has a chance to properly unfold."
There were nods and intrigued looks aimed at him.
"Which is why I have styled a report with a single goal in mind: I wish to hire an agent, a bounty hunter, that has experience in handling deadly solo missions and that has the equipment to face this sort of challenge."
The curiosity morphed into shock.
"A single agent?"
"A lousy bounty hunter?!"
"We have some good ones but... who?"
The room was loud, and it took for Dane to call for order before Adam provided the bluntest answer.
"I wish for the Federation to hire the services of Agent Brian Dillon in vanquishing SR388."
This time the reaction was less louder, but noticeable. Some were shocked at the name, remembering the one that was responsible for killing Ridley and removing the temporary leader of the Pirates, Mother Brain. There was weight behind his candidacy, but some others were quiet due to a specific reason.
General Maxwell Dillon, grandfather of the aforementioned bounty hunter, was surprised to hear that option. He was perplexed as he looked at Adam with a mixture of uncertainty and interest. And while some still retained skepticism over the topic, Adam's line had it won.
Dane liked the idea, and he liked the untold option of relying on a miniaturized bomb that would simulate a small frigate detonation. The plan was for Brian to descent into the deeper layers of SR388, as closest as possible to the planet's core, and trigger the detonation countdown of the device before leaving.
It was suicidal to a normal agent, but Adam trusted Brian to do the job properly. He had thought to leave it to Samus, but the woman had been the least pleased to be fired from her post. In his mind, she had all the reasons to not take the task.
Brian was different on a more moral and mental level. He was less emotional, but he was also aware of the 'big picture' behind some of those missions. It was needed for SR388 to be destroyed and... he was their best shot.
After the meeting, Adam was about to get back to his battleship and plan the words to use to the 'emergency only' communicator number he had to reach Brian, his steps interrupted as he found a certain old man waiting by the transport ship that would take him back to 'safety'.
"Grand General," The old Dillon saluted and Adam nodded before saluting back. "I have a request."
"General Dillon. How may I help you?"
"From my understanding, you have means to contact my grandson. I wish to... talk with him before the mission."
"I can make him aware of this request. It will be his choice."
The old man nodded and then offered a smile. "At least I know he is well, yes."
"They both are," Adam assured, and he decided against mentioning the short message Ian got four years ago about Samus and Brian's private wedding. An event 'needed' due to a 'twin development'. "And I am sure he will tell you as much."
That satisfied the old general and the two officers soon bid each other a good day as Adam got to his shuttle and flew back to his flagship.
Now that the tough part was over... it was time to face an even tougher one...
It sure feels weird to not have to fear about an EMP bomb wrecking your flying house when you have settled in a planet far away from the Federation's reach.
Then again, it is even weirder to find this very planet in this universe - I guess that Nintendo had a crossover megaverse going on without us knowing but... we both found peace in Alrest. Ah yes, the world shown in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 existed and we were living in it.
We were also able to shape a 'native life' with a deal we had with those we consider now our neighbors and closest friends on the planet. A chance at peace in Leftheria in exchange of data that could be used for a machine to cease the 'reunification' issue between Alrest and Bionis, once the same planet that was split through something known as 'The Conduit'.
The separation process had ended years ago, but the reunification would actually doom both planets due to the life there being ruined by a pseudo-big bang event. The device itself was not as tedious to create in theory, and I personally helped in creating it as a way to cement a safe haven for myself, my wife, and my kids.
That was three years ago, and now I could safely say that the fruits of that effort had paid off quite well as shown right now.
"Here we... go," I hummed happily as I delivered the cute onyx-made cat decoration to the counter of my workshop, three tiny heads suddenly appearing to study the pretty work. "Whaddya think?"
"It's amazing, dad!" Virginia Aran squeaked happily, and her twin brother, Max, nodded in agreement. "You were right, Mio!"
The aforementioned cat-eared Gormotti human beamed with pride.
"Duh, of course Unca is that cool! He is going to also teach me how to do that when I am bigger!"
I chuckled and reached out to pat her head much to the cat-girl's delight. "Now, now. That's if you keep an interest to such a dull subject."
"It's not dull, Unca!"
Sighing in relief, this little encounter confirmed once more how good of a decision it was to settle in this place. I had been reluctant at first due to all the potential issues that could come up in due time, but I took a bite at the bullet and it got us in a relatively pleasant situation.
"Still, I hope you remember that we will be visiting later for dinner, yes."
"Hm-hm!" Mio assured with a confident nod. "Mama Pyra remembered, same for Mom Mythra and Mommy. Dad is... he almost forgot because he thought you two had a fishing session."
Well, it was that day of the week but... I had thought of skipping on that since it had been a while since we had a dinner all together as a close and big family.
"I see. Well, your papa is a bit of a dummy at times. But which dad isn't?"
"Unca is not!" Mio puffed her cheeks. "So I don't get why dad is always so dummy!"
More chuckles, but soon the trio was off to another happy adventure with the rest and... I was back to my chores. I had become a technician in Leftheria, making a tiny profit in helping fixing tech that required some attention.
It wasn't much, but we all had enough in this place to never fear running out of food, shelter, and care if needed.
Yet, not even a hour into my business, and I froze up at the noise of a... communicator going off. Not just a normal communicator, but one that I remember priming to be used by a single individual worthy of trust. And as I went to answer and got told what I was asked to do...
Well, let's just say that I had a bit of a fight with Samus over my decision to take this mission.
AN
Next time Samus POV at the big dinner to handle the missing SI, and then a reunion between Grandfather and Grandson.