Ridley screamed out in pain, as he narrowly dodged a blast that could have taken off his head from one of the walkers he was ripping apart, the shot going through his wing’s membrane and leaving a bloody hole through the wing before exploding in the distance. The mechanical walkers were bad by themselves, but to handle them while also avoiding or enduring the gunfire of the infantry that were summoned throughout the camp left Ridley with a host of nuisances to be handled, ones that forced Ridley to consider a slow and grueling process to actually address them all at once. He’d long-since been blasted through the garage door by the remainder of the mechanized force he’d sought to completely paralyze, and between the grenades, rifles, missiles and cannons he’d been forced to dodge around, he’d been left firmly on the backfoot.
The Tyrant snarled at his enemies, unleashing a stream of dragonfire the soldiers were all too quick to roll out of the way of the monster before returning fire, and the Lizard’s mind whirred at the possibilities. He’d just begun to consider the merits of utilizing a piece of the nearby buildings as a temporary barrier when deliverance arrived in the form of a network of explosions going through the compound.
Ridley grinned, as he saw the communicators and headset across the infantry break, saw the stutters of their war engines. The grin was not without other motion, for Ridley had not taken even a split-second to move with the sudden interruption. The analytical part of Ridley’s mind evaluated the situation. the chances and the probability that this was a result of his engineer was high and he would have to make sure he considered that in her budget and coming paycheque. What a deliciously devilish little human - ironic that she now served one of her race’s most hated foes. With this, one hard strike combined with the sudden loss of communications and whatever else Omelette got up to would likely crush the morale of a division already flagging in strength.
Meanwhile, the rest of his brain was filled with the glory and ecstasy of being covered in the fresh blood of Skeur dribbling down his jaws, and the explosions of mechs as Ridley moved through the surprised column like a storm of blades. The brief loss of gunfire had allowed the Pirate to swoop in with surprising speed, and in close combat even the mighty titans could not resist his raw physical might. Like wheat before the chaff, and every new bullet hole or bayonet was met with natural weapons that sliced men in half.
The Dragon would have his day.
----
“-
Evori. Evori!”
Commander Khar’s voice rang within her head amidst the tinnitus. She looked up to say something, to greet him, only to find she couldn’t hear anything. Blood ran down her uniform, and she could feel something pooled in her ears.
“
Take it easy. I’ve done what I could to staunch the bleeding, but you will likely be at least partly deaf for some time.” Khar told her, and as Evori’s eyes jumped to life, she beheld an abomination. Burning wreckage, ruined gates, destroyed turrets…
“
Lieutenant, this battle is lost.” Khar’s voice rang in her head, and Evori’s face fell at the statement. “
It took all I had to keep you healed, and I am still coordinating our troops, such as I can… but all base communications are down.”
Khar stood up in front of her, still wearing the Skeur battle armor. “
Ridley. I believe he is the threat my visions warned of. Though I sense he is not alone in this…”
Evori Stood up straight, taking point behind the commander… only for a clawed hand to rest on her shoulders.
“
Lieutenant… Do you recall how to fly my Void Seeker?”
She knew that tone.
“Respectfully,
sir, it is not my vehicle.” Evori responded with a glare. She couldn’t hear her own words, but she could still see the impact on his face as his features softened.
“
It will be soon. The monster can shoot it from the sky.”
“Then we face him
together!”
“
Sacrifices are not just done by those who take them, young one. This I understand. But my life, here and now, cannot be traded for those this monster may take in the future.” Khar replied. It was a simple, even tone and the simplicity within it made Evori sick to her stomach.
“You can’t survive against that monster! What if he just shoots the ship down anyways-”
“
Rautha Sak Ash-”
“Duty is your shield nothing!” Evori spat, pushing the protoss as hard as she could. It didn’t succeed in moving him, but it didn’t matter. “
I’ve been your shield. For these past few years you’ve been protected by
me. not some protoss duty or mysticism or-”
“
Evori.” Khar cut through, and the quiet of the tone filled the woman with more than a little dread. “
You have the fire of the Nerazim, the cunning of your gerudo tribesmen, and the unbreaking heart of house Skeur. I wish I had known it longer.”
“You saw it, didn’t you?” Evori asked after a moment, her heart beating faster in her chest.
“
I also saw a woman, wreathed in flame, but unburning.”
“So you’re just… betting on some prophecy nonsense, then!” Evori spat.
Khar turned, and began walking, the Protoss not looking back as he turned. “
I’ve bet on the woman who has kept me alive these past few years. You have heard my tales. Of Adun. Of Tassadar. Of Zeratul. We are the firstborn. We face the end with pride.”
Evori turned. She knew his mind was made up, and he was still her superior. She wouldn’t be in any trouble with her organization for disobeying his order, but even if she saved him now, that trust they had would be gone. She turned to leave the barracks, a hand on the bedpost before she turned back once more.
“...Don’t seek death for the sake of this prophecy. If you want to take on the big bad monster, you do it with every intention of taking him down, you hear me? Give it your all.”
The protoss turned to her, eyes glowing green.
“
I wouldn’t want to avoid enjoying myself, after all. It has been a long time since I could personally enjoy the thrill of battle.” The old coot replied as shadows seemed to consume his form. She could see so clearly, the centuries peeling from his eyes, and from his voice, both fading before her eyes. To see someone grow so young, so fast, was usually the domain of a time traveler, and she realized this had been coming for a long time.
“...It’s been an honor, sir.”
“
Korshala Adun, Lieutenant Evori.” the old man said, before his face disappeared underneath a veil of shadow.
Evori turned, the elf not quite able to meet his face as she reloaded her rifle with a sharp
snap.
“Until we both meet Adun, Templar Khar.”
------
Ridley chuckled in the fires of an inferno he had created, sending men and machines flying like the scum they were. He had flagged in the beginning, and bled from many pieces of his body. Had he not been able to pick and choose his battles, or if Omelette had failed to give him support, he might have lost to sheer weight of numbers.
Now, though, these facts only magnified his accomplishment in its reality, crushing this base beneath his heels. He had faced a worthy foe, one that left him wounded and bleeding, but he was the victor, and as he looked to the now opened gates, he saw his foes had turned to run, to escape his terror.
The dragon had no intentions of letting them, however. With a step forward, he opened his maw to crush the enemy under a hail of plasma, intent on melting the remainder of Skeur’s forces into a screaming puddle.
A glint of emerald from above stopped him, sending the surprised dragon jumping back in surprise, his moment of clarity allowing him to lose only a talon, instead of his neck.
Clouds of shadow in front of him slowly broke away, revealing an alien not much smaller than himself, a blade of green complimented by a cloak of blue shadow over golden armor.
Ridley rarely deigned to have conversation with his foes, yet this time…
“You will suffer…” The Dragon growled.
“
You know nothing of suffering, abomination!” a voice spoke within Ridley’s head, and the pirate winced despite himself at the harshness of the psionic presence invading his thoughts. “
but I will teach you what I can.”
Ridley lashed out, his tail lashing out like a snake to give the arrogant alien a swift death, yet what he struck were only insubstantial puffs of shadow.
An experimental sniff to find the Bastard was too slow, as he reformed from the depths of the void and left a deep, burning gash across his side.
The space pirate growled, lashing out with a claw, and sparks flew under his claws, revealing the templar beneath. The Nerazim was quick to vanish in a cloud of smoke once again, and Ridley growled as the protoss escaped his grasp
The battle continued fiercely, the titan feeling like he was fighting a shapeless shadow. The creature was fast, resourceful, and all too lethal. While it lacked the fervor or energy of Miyamoto Musashi, Its blade cut with an edge even more potent, and his lack of energy was made up for with his precision. He fought an assassin, not a swordsman, and one used to fighting foes of Ridley’s size.
The Dragon thought of how to best utilize this, as he lifted his nose into the air, sniffing to give him some inkling of where the worm would strike from next. His nose gave inconsistent, faded signals, and he could only glean some general inkling of where the dark one was at any given time. He might gain glancing blows from time to time, but attrition would destroy him over time if that shield kept his opponent from injury.
He knew not if the battery could recharge, how quickly it could if so, or if the creature had any other tricks hiding beneath its cowl. What he did know is that it was content to strike patiently, irritate its foe, and wait for an opening with its blade.
Ridley’s face wanted to curl into a sneer, but he stopped short as he shifted his head from side to side. He knew the creature was sneaking to his left, but he’d also noticed his scent abruptly change positions twice now - both times, leading to a new burning scar across his body.
The blow came from his Right, and Ridley turned, to the Nerazim’s surprise. Ridley’s talon flicked out and struck, the claws digging into the shield and causing it to sputter. The invisible adversary was forced into visibility as Ridley popped the shield, and he fluttered his wings.
Khar was given only an instant to react, but it was all the Nerazim needed. The Green blade flicked out, up then down, and cut through the talon through the middle, bisecting the limb into two smoking chunks. The blow left Ridley screaming a cacaphony loud enough to shatter the glass of the barracks window. Pain entered Ridley’s mind like a white-hot knife, but he knew to ignore it, like he had countless times before. After all…
Ridley’s wings pushed, sending the Dragon forward with a burst of speed, and he snatched up the nerazim in his back talon, flames sputtering from his maw. This startled his adversary - which is exactly what Ridley needed. It didn’t take long from hearing Khar speak into his mind to know his opponent wasn’t just employing technology. This was some psychic or magical nonsense, akin to Phantoon’s eldritch horror, the chozo’s extra powers, or Shantotto’s magic power he had briefly sipped upon.
Ridley had been forced to learn much of the workings of magic, but one thing that linked the fields of differing magics and psychics seemed to be a fairly easy rule: Outside of automated spells or abilities, they all required the user to
focus, and with his foe disoriented, he doubted he’d be able to teleport without gathering his thoughts.
Without letting go of his foe, Ridley unleashed an ocean of flame, searing both his foe and his outstretched limb with searing plasma.
“
you-” Khar stammered. His armor mostly melted, where it hadn’t fused to his body, the once proud protoss was more blackened skin than protoss gray, as his body was unceremoniously flung aside, to the ground.
Ridley advanced on Khar, happy to gloat - this was not his first time on the battlefield, but DA had left him… wanting.
“You remind me of those old birds.” Ridley glowered, as he saw the protoss’s hands still twitching. “Principled, reserved, and utterly self-satisfied with your
noble death”
“
Death comes to all, abomination. Even you.”
Ridley’s eyes glowered as he kept himself on the wing, hardly able to walk with two talons destroyed.
“Because of my injuries?” He’ll ask with a smile, looking to the battlefield. “You are foolish. I can regenerate with.. Replacement cells.” He’d add with a grimace. “You’ve done nothing to deter me.”
“
...I’ve watched you before, in the tournament. You were silent. Efficient. Why am I still alive?”
Ridley flew closer, hovering in the air with a menacing grin. “Because, old-timer, I never was able to torture a chozo. For that, I’ll make an exception.”
Khar leaned forward, fluid leaking from a burning eye, before Ridley heard an inane voice echo through his head, one he quickly realized was a cackle.
“
so that is why I had to face you here. The universe is giving.” Khar replied, “
The chozo sound wonderful, from your description. I hope they meet my race one day. But I am not a chozo - I am Nerazim, abomination.” Khar replied, his voice turning to acid even as his eyes took on a threatening emerald glow
Ridley’s eyes widened at that, and his path immediately turned from fighting to moving as the templar’s body filled with energy. Shit! He’d been careless.
“
Zerashk Gulida. Oblivion awaits the both of us.” Khar spat, and Ridley soared above as fast as he could.
It was not fast enough, as azure energy soared from the templar’s body, and engulfed the dragon in a roiling explosion.
The pirate commander fell from the heavens with a cry of anguish.
---
Ridley’s eyes fluttered open to the battlefield, mostly the same, if more on fire, and more or less just as bright. He looked up to the child he’d dealt with before, now happily holding a wrench she’d found somewhere. “The uses I can put this fine equipment to, hehehe...” Omelette chortled.
“You.” Ridley noted, pulling himself back up.
“Sup? Are you going to need to replace those, because Olivia’s been talking my ear off about cyberizing you.” omelette groaned.
Ridley gave a short grunt that could not have more clearly meant no, as Olivia chimed into his comm-bead. “I mean, only if necessary of course, buuut those look pretty banged up.”
Ridley’s eyes narrowed. “I can regenerate by consuming these vermin for cells. I’m fine.” Ridley growled, looking around, “...how long was I out?”
“‘Bout two minutes, give or take. The weird alien vanished in, like, a puff of flames. Like a demon or something.” Omelette noted with a shiver. Fear. a natural reaction when one’s combat ability was still so comparatively low. Still…
“You burned their communications.”
“Oh, so you noticed!” Omelette would add with mock humility. “Yes, ‘twas I who, in my genius, infiltrated these fools and set their primitive communication systems to burst.
“...Thinking like a true pirate.” Ridley would add, before frowning. Something about the statement… fit less. Like he was wearing an old glove.
He had been the leader of the space pirates, but it was a name and a group he’d taken over. It suddenly seemed unfitting… for him or his subordinates. This organization was being built from the ground up. He was not going to be caught in someone
else’s trappings, nor were his handpicked subordinates still going to be caught up in some nonexistent hierarchy including those far away.
Ridley growled, thinking of the old packs of those more enterprising dragons, those who marauded as a team, built their own little private armies. None of them had matched Ridley, and he’d annihilated the one group that had come to challenge his own with a man, with the exception of Greed… still, what would that word translate to in more common terms…
Ridley gave a grin. Ahh, he knew an appropriate translation.
“...Thinking as a Wyvern would.” the dragon growled, the words having an echo of pride in them. “Go gather your scrap, unless you wish to watch me enjoy my meal. We must look our best for our benefactor’s patronage.” The dragon added with a grin
----
The ahn’qiraji army that came to a broken base filled with destroyed trinkets and objects was somewhat caught off-guard when Ridley stode forwards. He laid a hand on one of the walls, scarcely shorter than he was, as they came closer, and lazily pushed a truck-sized section off its hinges and clattering to the sand.
“Ahh, Sektiliss. Is this sufficiently weakened?” The Dragon asked with a lazy, playful tone. Omelette hovered just behind in her eggmobile with a smug smile behind her glasses, seeming emboldened by her victory… and her ability to look the titans in the eye without resorting to piggybacks this time.
“Y-you… the entire outpost.”
“Of course, Sektiliss. I’m not about to make things harder by resorting to a mere weakening action.” Ridley explained coolly, looking the prophet in the eyes with the statement.
“Harder?” The insectoid asked, narrowing its eyes.
“Of course… this destroyed outpost will be well-known, after all, and Skeur continues to operate here.” Ridley would add. “If Lord Ridley worked with the Ahn’qiraji to destroy this outpost, we would be giving them fuel for their message, encouraging volunteers… forcing the houses to pay due attention to ahn’qiraj. If Lord Ridley merely destroys a small outpost, however…” the dragon explains, looking up to omelette. He forgot to add ‘and a small child’, even if it was very intentional. Once Omelette had a proper record, she’d be somewhat more reliant on him for friends and assistance, at least until she’d properly built her own power base. By then, hopefully, he will have instilled more traditional loyalty.
Nonetheless, Ridley continued, noticing Sektiliss hadn’t read between the lines fully. He had not seen the prophet to be a particular fool so far, merely vain, so he assumed this came down to empathy. Sektiliss did not understand the minds of those he faced, nor their political machinations. Small wonder they had so many issues fighting humanity.
“Then there will be the question of why. Some may see me as an ally, others as an opportunist… Those opposed to Skeur, or using them as a political stepping stone, may even imply they did something to
deserve such attention from me! This weakens and confuses our enemy, and gives them no power. Spite undirected sputters and fails.” Ridley notes. “My burns will heal far faster than these will reinforce.” Ridley notes.
Sektiliss clacked his mandibles together appraisingly, seeming to be processing the information, and then gave a flutter of his antennae in what Ridley was relatively certain was a bow - at least, going off the many insectoids he’d already met. “Your wisdom appears sound, Lord Ridley. Forgive my doubts. I can now plainly see your plan’s fruition. You have excelled in your task, and deserve your due reward.”
Ridley simply gives an exaggerated blink in acknowledgement. “See to it the payment is prepared for me by tomorrow. I will come to collect it myself.” the Dragon insisted with a smirk, “and by all means… if you have another problem, do not hesitate to call.”
---
Ridley was quick to grab what salvage he could, as the Ahn’qiraj milled about the base, taking their own spoils, looking to fortify this place into a holdout of their own, for the terrain was quite favorable…
“Oh, right. Ridley?” Olivia asked, interrupting the Dragon as he was inspecting a spare Titan cannon.
“Hm?” The Dragon grunted, tinkering with the electronics. Rugged but ridiculously low-tech for walkers, save the alloys involved in actually building it. He’d need to experiment with the metal later.
“So, I’ve been tracing some old camera data before the whole place was trashed, and outside of the normal evacuees, a ship seems to have departed. Looked like it might have belonged to that alien you fought, given it’s… eccentric appearance.
Ridley stopped, thinking on it for a moment. “...Then…”
“He could still be alive. Or, well, it could be unrelated.” she’d offer, “maybe one of his men got out in it?”
Ridley’s eyes just narrowed, his interest in the machine lost as he crumpled the sensitive electronics in his hands into a broken mess.
He’d just be forced to hope it was nothing… but the idea left a chill down the usually fearless lizard’s spine. Something felt
ominous about this bit of information.
“You’re a scientist, not a detective. We’ll follow the lead with some of our new men when time allows. For now, this is a waste of your valuable focus, doctor.” Ridley instructed, resolving to put the matter out of his mind for now.
Surely, it was nothing…[/I][/I]
Word count: 3,604
8,770/5000 for Ridley
5,481/5000 for Omelette
Used 1 focus to amplify healing from "Cannibalism" to sufficiently fix a severely fucked up Ridley over time.
