A/N: This is the next epic in my Metal Gear/Gundam Wing universe. It stars Odin Lowe and will explain Heero's past somewhat toward the end. For all intents and purposes, the word "Snake" in this story will mean Big Boss, not Solid Snake, unless stated otherwise. Should be obvious, but I put it there for the hell of it.

Prologue: Life of Battle

After Colony 144.

The two men stared one another down; it was obvious that this operation would be ending soon. One of them was the leader of this little rebellion, Gene. He was really serious about launching a nuke on the Alliance military's headquarters. The whole thing was about an organization- a 'peninsula of the dead' called 'Army's Heaven.'

"This is the end, Snake. Metal Gear has already entered the launch code. Trajectory calculations and target locations have been set. No one can stop it now. Not even you, should you defeat me. But I know you won't let me go without a fight. And I too, have a reason to fight you. To prove who I really am! Let's find out who the true successor is, Snake. Let's finish this!"

A few minutes later, Gene was dying.

"I don't believe it...a product of the Successor Project…beaten by a flesh-and-blood man like you. It seems you are the true successor of The Boss. That story about soldier genes…perhaps it was true after all. You are the true successor…"

"I don't know what you're babbling about Gene. How do I stop Metal Gear from launching?"

"Don't bother, once the launch countdown has started there's no way to stop it. Get out of here, Snake, and take this with you." Gene said; throwing him what appeared to be a film of some sort.

"What is this?" He asked.

"The equipment, personnel, and funds I amassed in secret to build Army's Heaven. All the data is stored in there. No one else knows about it."

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Because you and I are the same. Some day, you'll be glad you have it. The one who fights and survives must carry on the legacy. Such is our fate. Go, Snake. I've said everything I need to. You are the one who will inherit my genes. You are the true successor. Be loyal to yourself…go forth, and find your own calling."

Gene died.

Snake had managed to stop the nuke. It would not launch the warheads from space. And now here he was again, receiving another medal as "Big Boss," another medal under the title he did not want nor deserve. He scowled and saluted back to the soldiers who were saluting him. That night as he sat home, he realized something; he was not alive unless he was in battle. He'd have to find his own reason to fight. He would pass on what was handed down to him.

That's what he'd have to do.

In another house, a phone rang. The owner- a 30-something year-old named Adam picked it up while spinning a revolver.

"Well I'll be damned." The man said. "So it was you who was feeding me information. Yes, the Director of Alliance Intelligences' (DAI) death should pass as a suicide. They'll claim he did it because he felt responsible for the theft of Metal Gear. We can look forward to a major shakeup within the Alliance Military shortly. Looks like everything is going exactly the way you wanted it. When the DAI saw the trajectory data you supplied and found out he was the target of the nuclear strike, he brought the Philosopher's documents right to me. …Yes we should have known Gene was serious about launching those nukes. It seems our insurance policy came in handy after all. And now, I've got the Legacy, is that all part of your script too? Using him and the FOX unit like that…only you could have pulled it off…but, you won't be using me anymore. …Battle data? Genome? I see…intriguing. I'll help you with the project…but on one condition…I want him to join us. Yes…Big Boss…so that we can become the Patriots."

Adam hung up.

A/N: Yeah, I know, kind of milking Portable Ops here, and the Metal Gear we speak of was the RAXA prototype that was more like a portable silo rather than a mobile suit.