After her previous defeats, Mother Brain had cloned one of her most lethal enforcers with enhanced abilities and far greater intelligence. As a result, this new iteration, dubbed Nova Ridley, serves as Head Researcher of the Space Pirates' Science Team.

He has already discovered a means to synthesise Phazon after the destruction of Planet Phaaze, and to perfect safe and efficient use of the substance. In fact, he has created ingestible Phazon 'treats' for his fellow revived enforcer, Meta Kraid, which has given the latter greater size and strength, and the ability to fire a Phazon beam from his mouth.

However, learning from the bond that Samus Aran shared with the infant Metroid, Mother Brain concluded to form a similar relationship with Nova Ridley and Meta Kraid. The AI raised the two as if they were her own children, teaching them and instilling in their minds that Samus is the 'villain' and that they must stop her at all costs.

To that end, Nova Ridley has started a side project of his own, studying what data the Space Pirates have on the Hunter and reverse-engineering her weaponry and tech. So far, he has created an equivalent to the Scan Visor and a bio-mechanical Beam Cannon created from a genetically modified X Parasite, both of which are prototypes that he employs in his personal arsenal, eager for the chance to face and defeat Samus Aran.