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Post by Ridley on Aug 11, 2021 6:56:21 GMT
The faintest of beeps from a monitor within the Cunning Death, the Space Pirates assigned to observing any notifications of their targets location. One of these Space Pirates would turn towards his commander, his leader, Ridley.
"Lord Ridley, we've located the station holding the Metroid!"
"Perfect. I'll be heading in myself."
"Are you positive? There are several squadrons of Federation Troopers guarding the gateway."
"That's why I'm going in alone, all the carnage for me, and me only."
"Of course, Lord Ridley.."
The monstrosity made from years of mistakes of his creators had departed towards the flagship's hangar, yet as he stood at the doorway, ready to launch, his twisted brain began to emit the strongest of pain- The abomination had begun to recount his failures, his "successes", his flaws, and the usurper who controls his mind: Mother Brain. Yet he knows there is another within, next to the voices whispering into his mind, puppeteering him into his horrid actions, or rather, who helped roar over his crippling pain, and greater emotion. He recounted his first loss, against the predecessor of his greatest enemy. A failure that stung greatly, worsened upon his finding of the man's daughter. An innocent little girl, who just wanted a friend. SHE JUST WANTED A FRIEND! But perhaps a part of him knew who she was, perhaps he knew if he took her request, it would all end. The desire to lie to himself.. No. That's a coward's rationalization. It'd be the end of power. The RUSH. And he could not deny himself his desires. And that inevitably led to another embarrassing defeat. Destroyed by that man again. To learn his daughter had been rescued and his own hesitation had led to her survival continues to infuriate him even now.. Not even the end of that, came the folly against the damned Banished many years later. Dymas. The arrogant wretch. His only advantage were his numbers, without them, he would be NOTHING!! The thought of his loss was nearly as painful. It was intolerable. When he had the chance, there would be no hesitation. He will DIE. BY. HIS. HANDS. Worse yet, his reencounter with HER. Though he could tear her down with words alone, it would be of no surprise that she inevitably broke from her chains, and, though it was his preference as well, fought with actions. Perhaps he could have even one! Maybe he had her on the ropes, GAH! He doesn't even remember anymore- He can barely remember these events precisely, only the emotions they wrought in their path. Irrelevancy aside, he'd have won if not for him interjecting, aiding in her escape- In her victory- He died, his own father, abandoning and disregarding him, no faith, no love- Just hate. Hate. HATE! That, that hurt the most out all. Not even his nemesis has topped such. Yet. However, he was given something he had never known. The peace of death. No voices. No reason to lie, to.. To excuse. Just, peace. Just nothing. Just void. But that was taken from him by his own people. He was brought back into a part metal shell. They even tried to control him, trying to harness his strength with an AI, which he overcame with his own mind, his own incomprehensibility. To no surprise he slaughtered the whole station! Leaving no surprises-- Though he could not predict the reaction that came, a search party. He never thought humans cared for Kromus, the fools. Even he knew the worthlessness of the species. Not even worth crumbs. Out of a desire to see it to the end, he decided to visit these people. Not to save them know, but to take in the atmosphere of death, once more. But even he was unready for what had come next. The "Parasite Queen" they called it. Pah, it would have been dead immediately had it not been for the damn control chip. Some damage received, but nothing significant. If anything the abomination had removed the chip holding him back. He could let loose, and when he did, it stood no match, no amount of fire, or power it mustered ceased his berserk assault. It was actually quite glorious. But his denial of peace continues to drive him mad. Every time, he is denied the right to sleep easy. To be at peace. Such ruins one of his few victories.
Yet this could be a blessing in disguise, all of these memories, the pain associated with them, ensured to drive him furious.. And he much so enjoyed killing in a rage-filled frenzy.
"SIR! SPACE PIRATE SHIP DETECTED ON THE RADAR!" Roared one of the sensor technicians, to which one of the workers immediately sounded the alarm. The few squads stationed there immediately got moving, putting on their gear and equipment, their left shoulder pad marking their squad designation.. "Alpha Squad", "Beta Squad", "Gamma Squad", "Kappa Squad". Their Squad Leaders were unsurprisingly the first, yet the Squad Leader of Alpha Squad, deemed a veteran given the fact he was one of the first who enlisted under the Federation's new military, and also due to his experience under his long service, was already ahead of even them. Though his original Alpha Squad was no longer with him, he remained, persisted. The other Squad Leads themselves met this category, the originals either continuing as soldiers, chose an early retirement, or dying in combat. Yet he viewed the current Squad Leads no differently, for they were his fellow Soldiers, his brothers- His sisters. Flesh and blood, to him, was enough. But even they were still trying to catch up.
"Man, for an old man you're pretty quick on your feet.." Joked the leader of Kappa Squad, codename: Rush.
"I'm thirty-two, Rush."
"Eh, potato-pot-ah-to."
"Who the fuck says pot-ah-to?" interjected the Squad Lead of Beta Squad, codename: Hawk
"Language Hawk."
"..<b>Right</b>." She said, clearly displeased.
Yet with that, the Squads split up, Alpha Squad Lead, left Rush, Hawk, and Onslaught to station themselves and place their very spirits between the invading force, and the baby Metroid. Before he had arrived, he met up with the designated transporters to help, well, transport the Metroid to safety, and out of enemy clutches, as well as requesting other nearby squads to aid them . The other group rushed towards it's containment room, finding it to still be safe. "Alright, we need this thing out ASAP, whatever's coming, it certainly isn't friendly, so don't expect any mercy to the time restraints. Command, how long until backup arrives?" He questioned, receiving a quick response. "ETA: 30 minutes." As the team of transporters moved quickly to remove the Metroid's container from the hinges, Alpha Lead could not help but pause and reflect..
His name is Johnson Tel'ak Femmind. The Squad Leader of Alpha throughout the years. He was born on a Confederation controlled planet, though later moved to one controlled by the Galactic Federation. The Femmind family had always been descended from men and/or women who served the military, to the point it had been deemed tradition. Yet with this tradition came the strain, the abuse of the next generation. The harshness one must live within the family, nearly all who were born with it's name were known to become cold and distant at a young age, with various mental problems, most notably that of anger. When he was born, he was no different, though he specifically had been named after a hero of humanity, whom fought against various menaces to the galaxy, to all creation, and saved it from disaster on multiple occasions. He was treated terribly, if not moreso than his sibling, if anything his older sister treated him just as terribly. No one would have blamed him if he had become a menace to society, a bastard who damned the military for all his problems. What he did instead, however, could warm one's heart.
When the time came for him to serve, he did so willingly, forgiving, and letting go years of pain, hate, and rage behind. He was given immense praise for his ability to lead and his own natural instincts for physical action and combat. He was, in other words, a perfect soldier, and a fine leader. He was then assigned to Alpha Squad, deciding to give himself the codename of "Monarch". His squad was one of misfits to say the least. Though they were trouble, through experience and his own support and discipline, they became perhaps the finest he could ever know. And yet. No amount of training could salvage them, as they were slaughtered by the Space Pirates, and he had done nothing to save them. He was also informed to be a candidate of one of the Federations special operations units, however this was declined for unknown reasons. Despite the mere two years of service, he has had, perhaps, the most experience any soldier could get in such a short amount of time. Too many to list. Besides, he had better things to think about, as he suddenly received a radio message from the Troopers. It had come from Rush.
"HE'S TOO MUCH SIR- WE CAN'T HOLD HIM O--" Before an abrupt end, as a bladed tailed had pierced through the poor soldier's chest.
As the Troopers held their positions, guns aimed to the door, ready for whatever may arrive through it, their fear began to build up, their hands getting slightly shaky. There was only but a pause, as the soldiers waited, and waited.. No one would normally take this long, especially an enemy desperate to get inside. Yet they would not let their guard down, every man and woman prepared themselves for whatever surprise this monster would throw.. And then--
A harsh smash against the door, their guns remaining in position, refusing to falter or run. Perhaps a mistake, as the door were soon torn open, the sound of metal crumbling against a much greater force echoed the halls that soon replaced this sound with ceaseless gunfire, nearly every shot pummeling into the flesh. If it was any other ordinary lifeform, they'd have probably overwhelmed them.. But Ridley was never ordinary. He was cursed to be special. To be <b>perfect</b>. With each round dumped, his body would only regenerate faster and faster. Reeling back his head, his throat swelling with powerful heat, he unleashed a terrible flame upon those who would resist his might... ...And yet, those who ceaselessly suffered from the attack never stopped firing into the abomination, and though they screamed, it was one of pain. But one of passion. Rage. The rounds continued, even as the frontlines withered away into ash slowly but surely. He simply moved one even as rounds continued to clash and burn against his endless flesh. With the next line, he rose an arm, and cut through their then alive bodies, as metal and flesh gave his claws passage, as the parts fell to the floor. Though they tried to use explosives it would not work, for again, his flesh recovered. With each body that fell, and as the shots remained ceaseless he began to grin a cheshire grin- He began to smile devilishly, without remorse as he cut them down, one by one, or, more accurately, five by five. Yet they never ran. They took their deaths with valor. With pride. With- Well not dignity. Especially if one knows what happens with the body upon death. Except, for one. Rush had moved far back to inform Monarch of what had transpired while those who stood the line fell to the wrath of the Death God. "HE'S TOO MUCH SIR- WE CAN'T HOLD HIM O--" He had begun to speak, before the tail blade of the Cunning monstrosity had pierced through his chest, killing him almost instantly, as Ridley walked off towards his destination with a despotic laugh.
Monarch paused only briefly, before turning towards the Troopers he was stationed with, and the transporters who clearly did not have enough time to remove the clamps. "Command, what's the ETA now?" To which he received another quick answer. "ETA: 15 minutes." He recollected the tragedy of his original team, how he made a choice.. And that choice led to their demise. He chose his own life, and the lives of the innocent, over those he should have protected as well. They were too out of his reach. Yet.. If given the opportunity to change anything, he would do none of such. Unless the scenario had changed, he wouldn't change a thing. He's already forgiven himself, reconciled, with himself. And he returns to this choice again. It was without question, what he should do. "Alright, all of you, get everyone on the station out of here, ASAP. Be quick, be silent." He had ordered without hesitation, though his associates disagreed. "What?! You want us to go? We can't leave the subject to be captured! Even if we don't make it, we should at least die fighting!" One roared in angry disagreement. "You won't. I'll stay behind to keep the little one safe. You won't be sacrificing yourselves today, brothers and sisters. Now go, that's a direct order." He said calmly, yet the others made sure to display their clear confusion. "But-- But why sir?! At least come with us!" Monarch chuckled, shaking his head.. He thought about his answer, his explanation. And he was content with what he uttered. "Good men get to go home, see their loved ones. Good men get to die for those loved ones. But I'm not a Good Man. I'm just a Good Soldier, and Good Soldiers die for Good Men, and what those Good Men are willing to die for." Though another soldier was about to add and argue, they finally decided to stop arguing, and follow orders, guiding the transporters to safety, and leaving Monarch with the Baby Metroid.
He moved towards it, staring at the creature. Ever since he had been stationed here he had guarded it. He had even began to speak to it when no one was around, sometimes singing melodies, making small talk. Treating it, like he would any other. Now, he smiled under his helmet, placing a hand to the glass, something the creature, somehow displaying the emotion, found confusing. "Goodbye, Little One. Live well." He took a deep breath, his eyes filling with resolve, as he moved his gun into proper positioning, turning to face the door which had suddenly been bashed open, by you know who.
"Oh? One soldier to stop <b>ME</b>? And what do you think you'll accomplish, waste?" Ridley sneered, to which the Trooper responded simply, and without hesitation. "If you want the Little One, you'll need to go through me." Monarch said with devoted fury, locking and cocking his weapon. Such a display practically made him roar laughing "<b>YOU?!!</b> I never thought the Federation recruited comedians! Well, regardless- If you truly <b>must</b> insist-" Though it would seem as though Ridley had lunged first, an outside perspective could only say that the two had dashed forward at the exact same time. The monstrosity reeled an arm back, and swung for the human soldier-- Yet Monarch had barely managed to avoid it, moving his body lower to the ground and sliding forward, firing his rounds into the Pirate Leader's torso to no effect, as his claws cut against the floor. When he had completed sliding, he then almost immediately rolled to the back of his enemy, the perfect prey to his tail, the thought coming across Ridley's mind. But as it went to strike, the Trooper first fired upon it, messing with both it's trajectory, but also it's accuracy, only nearly dodging it. This was it. The last fight of his career, of his life. He quickly pulled out a grenade from the back of his belt, setting a short timer as he tossed it into his back exploding and causing an enraged scream to emit from the mouth of the monstrosity. Monarch couldn't help but think of all he had experienced in his entire lifetime.
Once, he had been partnered with the soldiers of another planet, whom were far more.. Greedy, than what he knew, so when he had presented more selfless options, he was attacked. He was outnumbered, as well, yet not outskilled- He fought hard to keep them on their feet, refusing to back down to them. His chances of success skyrocketed when a Yaujta had seemingly come from nowhere to aid him, the pair fighting against these traitors with immense prejudice. Yet his alien ally would fall from the last shot of one of those bastards.. He could have taken it's gear, and given it to the Federation, but he chose instead, to bring it back to it's people.
And another time, when he had worked with Spartans themselves, heroes of their time, though soon realizing not all of them were such. He and several other squads had been working with a Spartan Fireteam, made up of what he had been informed were "Spartan IIIs". He can barely remember what the operation was, but he remembers it to be brutal, and a promise he made to himself.. Never to work with them again.
He had fought some Banished abusing their power, he's met with Sangheili whom he managed to earn respect from a few, he's learned and experienced more than any individual ever could in the span of only two years, and with all of it, all of that history, he is content. Content to fight to his demise, content to give everything he has. For a baby that someone he considered a friend brought over. For a child. For the child who came out from pain and into glory.
As he returned to the real world, Ridley reeled his head back to fire a stream of fire, which had nicked some parts of his armor, searing it and leaving burns on his body.. Yet he was undeterred, tossing a knife into the Pirate Leader's throat, which caused a leak of fire, melting the blade and sending the puddle to the floor as Ridley went to cover his small wound. A prime opportunity. Though Ridley swung an arm, Monarch leaped over it, grabbing onto it, climbing, and then quickly latching to the side of his head, before unloading every single round from his rifle into Ridley's eye. With each shot the adrenaline began to course through his veins, as if replacing his own blood.. His mind raced as he recollected each part of his past perfectly. Until he finally unleashed a defiant roar, before a bladed-tip tail pierced through his back. Blood soon emerged from his mouth in the form of harsh coughs, as he was slowly brought to the front of his enemy, reaching for the back of his belt with both hands.. The monstrosity began to laugh in the soldier's attempts "What a futile attempt from such a worthless scumsucker such as yourself. You almost made me <b>want</b> to kill you." He continued to laugh, only to find the Trooper began to follow, giving weak, pathetic chuckles. "Oh? Find it funny, do we?" He said with a mocking grin. "no, you see.. I just remembered a hilarious joke.. a.. colleague.. told me..
What was.. the last thing... the man heard... before he died..?" A simple brow raise, as the Pirate Leader fell into the trap. "What? What was the last thing he heard?" He questioned, moving the soldier closer. "Kaboom." He said joyfully as he simultaneously pulled out a pair of grenades he had grasped. As Ridley suddenly realized what he had just done, it was too late, a violent explosion blasting him into the darkened side of the room, the corpse of the soldier laid right next to the container.
The Baby Metroid, seemingly in response to seeing him lay next to it, began to chirp. No response, as his visor had been cracked open to reveal a smile on his face. The Metroid chirps again. No response. It continued to chirp at the corpse despite the lack of responses it gave.
A certain Gunship would arrive to the Station, it's iconic colors shining against the lights that clashed against it within the Hangar, the sound of a platform raising to it's bottom could be heard, as the legendary Huntress had exited all to check on both the Station itself, and the Baby Metroid.
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