Chapter 5: Remains of SR-388

The Space Pirates are a curious bunch. They stop at nothing to get what they want. I've beaten them down again and again. I've shot their flesh, I've spilt their blood, I've broken their bones. They just keep coming back. Especially that Ridley. Every time it seems to die, it comes back. I don't know what to do anymore. He'll be looking for me. I know him well enough. We've grown on each other.

It let out a snarl that rang in its comrade's ear holes. Mandibles opened and closed as it quickly turned its head. Its partner walked towards the other, its head moving with quick motions like the head of a bird. The dark eyes of both of the aliens blinked rapidly, trying to focus in on the object before them. The yellow goo cringed and flinched on the ground. One of them poked it with its claw. The substance latched onto it, but began to weaken. It fell to the floor with a slushy thud and plopped into a blob again. One of its edges reached out, almost like an arm, but couldn't get much farther than a few inches before retracting back.

The dying X was only a minuscule part of the wreckage. Space Pirates scoured the crash site, searching every little bit of the carnage with sensing devices and scoping technology. Twisted metal was littered across the bottom of the crater. Splotches of X was common , as well. The Pirates walked through it, scanning every inch of the site. They were looking for something and it was pretty clear what they wanted. They needed a clue. Not only to my whereabouts, but to what caused the infection of some of their soldiers.

SR-388 had been all but obliterated in the crash from the B.S.L. But several destroyed portions of it remained floating in the impact area. The Pirates just so happened to find chunks of the planet the ship had directly hit.

"Encase those parasites. Send them to Science Team stat."

Veron was a commanding officer in the Space Pirate army. The commander was always on the field. If there was a battle, he was in it. If there was an exploration mission, he was sent on it. Many called him the closest being next to Ridley in the army. That's why many of the Pirates wondered why he was always on the field and not with the dragon himself. Still, he wasn't one to question. He wasn't noticeable by battle scars or lost limbs, but rather, his claws. Veron had gone under voluntary experimentation when the first of the Elites were fused with Phazon. He was one of the few that rejected the specimen. How that was possible was unclear, but the rejection wasn't completely successful. His claws grew to an immense size. Before Phaaze was destroyed, his claws had veins of Phazon running through them. Now, those bumps and distinguished capillaries were dead, blackened tissue.

I had encountered him before. Only once, but it was enough. When Ridley raided K-2L, he was alongside him. He didn't do anything. He just stood there. It was an odd sight. Out of all the Pirates there, who were all destroying the colony, he just stood there. His gaze shot right through me. He was thinking. What he was thinking was not of my concern at the time and still isn't to this day. However, the more and more I try to convince myself of that, it still keeps coming back in my mind.

"Sir, yes sir!"

Veron nodded to the Pirate and turned. Before him was like everything else around him: more wreckage. He gave some signals with his claw, gaining a response from three other Pirates. His scaly feet stamped on the burnt ground as he made his way towards his ship. Even though these Pirates were the scum of the universe, they were by no means idiots. They were intelligent, crafty and artistic. That artistic side was shown in their spacecraft. Veron's ship, Absolute, was a marvelous creation. It had a gothic look to it. Almost like it was created by gods.

The hatch clicked open and the door slowly landed on the ground. Pistons slid down steel poles, granting Veron access into the craft. His claws clanked against the steel. His head kept forward as he made his way through the grand ship. Pirates of all different shapes and sizes move throughout in a steady pace. Jet-pack wielding Pirates flew through the rooms, making adjustments to anything and everything.

The final door slid open. The room was empty, except for all the gadgetry in it. Control panels and computer screens riddled the far wall. He made his way towards them. Sitting down on his commanding chair, he clicked away at the buttons before him. Suddenly, a panel on the ceiling cracked open and an enormous screen descended before him. Blue light flashed through the blackness of the screen. Static streamed across it.

"Computer, open Intercom Channel V-24."

"As you wish, sir."

This computer wasn't like Adam. He...it didn't have a personality. This one was as monotonous and computerized as any other computer. How someone could interact with it for long periods of time was beyond me. I'd go crazy hearing that same tone relentlessly.

"This better be good, Veron."

The message was coupled with the screen fading to a new image. A video streaming. A menacing figure was posed before him. It's eyes glowed a bright yellow. It's brown skin looked leathery. Claws curled from its digits. A long muzzle filled with razor-sharp teeth hid an intimidating tongue and a bottomless gullet.

"It is, sir, it is. We've managed to recover some GF tech from the crash site."

"Veron, I am not interested in what the humans are using. We have more than enough of theirs."

"Yes...more importantly, we've discovered remains of the X."

"...Very good, Veron, as always. Get that-"

"We have already sent it to Science Team. They should have the specimens shortly."

'I see. Good work. Keep me updated."

The channel switched off. The screen faded back to the bleak black and rose up into the ceiling again. Veron got up from the chair, spun on his heel and made his way back outside. Veron casually walked out of the ship, the door rising up into the craft behind him. Pirates began to dug into the ground and sift more and more into the wreckage. Salutes graced Veron while he walked by.

Thoughts of Ridley raced through his mind. Ridley had always been like a partner to him. He know that Ridley was superior to him, but he never felt it. He knew how Ridley treated the rest of his troops. It was almost like he cared. To some extent, Veron cared for Ridley, as well. They had known for each other for decades. Their relationship became more of a friendship rather than some connection the military made between them

His attention, however, was grabbed by a waving Pirate. Yelps and growls got into Veron's ears. He quickly turned and ran towards the soldier. The Pirate continued to move metal and iron away from his finding as Veron made his way towards him. Happy snarls left his throat as the digging continued. Veron reached him as the Pirate singled out his find.

"What is it, soldier?"

"Take a look at this, Commander. I think it may be some sort of armor."

Veron snatched it from his claw. His eyes peered at the orange substance before him. It was as hard as diamonds, yet a bit flexible. Veron ripped a small device from a band strapped to his hip and put it between his eyes and the object. A transparent screen folded out of the device. A green mapping came across it as information popped up left and right. One circular bit of info expanded and covered the screen.

"Substance identified as of Chozo origin. Not enough material to determine use, specific area of origin and date of creation."

He didn't need those last bits of information. He knew exactly what it was. It was unmistakable. The Pirate before him got up on his feet as Veron strapped the device back on his hip. He still, however, stared at the object. His gaze was permanently frozen on it.

"Sir, do you know what it is?"

"Go get Ridley on the main line."

"What should I tell him?"

"Tell him...tell him the Hunter was clumsy. She left a bit of herself behind."