"Dr. Clark, we're ready," a laboratory assistant stated.
"Wake the subject," Clark said briskly.
The laboratory assistant pressed a key sequence, and the light on Fox's stasis pod changed from red to green.
"Unggggh," Fox moaned.
"Good morning, Fox. We're going to try something new. We've initiated a new type of gene therapy. I'm planning to get some funding for this new technique. You'll be the first to undergo this procedure. It'll enhance your memories."
"N-n-no. Please. . . No."
"It'll be okay, Fox. You'll be able to help amnesiacs and other people with memory problems by being our first subject."
"No!" Fox panted.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice. Your blood will constantly have some residual sedative, but little enough for you to be conscious." Clark smiled. "You're going to do this whether you want to or not."
Clark walked in front of Fox. "We will also be able to see your memories with the use of this holographic projector." Clark points at a pyramid in the middle of the lab. "Begin the signal manipulation of his nanomachines in his perirhinal and temporal cortices."
The lab assistant pressed a couple buttons. Fox grimaced. His head jolted backwards for a brief second.
The pyramid in the middle of the lab whirred and spun. Thin shafts of light emanated from the pyramid and formed a blurry three dimensional image three feet above the ground. After another couple button presses, the image became clearly defined.
In the middle of the room, a tall young man with coarse brown hair stood perplexed. As he looked from side to side, the excess fabric of his bandanna swished around like a tail of a kite. This young man was Solid Snake.
Solid Snake, in a gruff voice, asked, "Where am I?" After hearing the tinny audio, the laboratory assistant adjusted the auditory output.
Gray Fox replied, "The perfect ring for our final battle. It's been a while, Snake... Here we are, back in the minefield... What say we go at it hand to hand!"
"Switch to a third person perspective!" barked Clark. With this, another tall man appears in front of Snake: Gray Fox, when he was whole. Fox is already in a fighting stance, ready to do battle with his ex-compatriot and student, Snake.
Snake continued standing, perplexed.
Finally, he managed to blurt, "A chicken fight!" Gray
Fox smirked. He replied, "The two greatest rivals in FOXHOUND...
I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." Finally,
Snake assumed a fighting stance. "Fox! I'll beat some sense into
you!" Gray Fox laughed. "Snake! It's time for you to
learn why they call me Fox!" he exclaimed.
Mercenary against government operative. The two soldiers circled each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, Snake, the student, began the attack against his former mentor.
Snake rushed up to Fox and aimed a punch at his face. Fox evaded Snake's fist and sent his own into Snake's midsection, by the obliques. Snake grunted, as he exhaled, to decrease the amount of air in his lungs, allowing him to brace for the impact. Snake, taking advantage of the close proximity to Fox, kneed him in the midsection. Fox used the same technique as Snake to brace for the impact. Snake then attempted to aim a backhanded fist at Fox's head, but Fox nimbly did a back flip away from Snake.
Clark marveled at the technology, but he was more impressed with Fox's fighting skills. Clark continued to watch in awe as Fox right himself, only to have Snake do a high round house kick, which Fox deftly blocked. Snake lowered his foot, then raised his other foot, chambering for another kick. Fox raised his guard to prepare for another high kick. Snake grinned and took advantage of this rare lapse in defense, and sent a low kick into Fox's knee. Fox groaned and buckled to the ground. Snake approached Fox, only to see his mentor jump a foot above his head.
The hologram suddenly wiggled horizontally, as the subject, Gray Fox, yelled in the stasis pod, "I'm . . . I'm losing myself!!! Graaaaah!!!"
"Give him more medicine! More sedative! STAT!" barked Clark. The lab assistant adjusted the IV drip. Gray Fox calmed down, and as a result, the hologram became stable.
Fox landed only a couple feet away from a mine and rushed at Snake. When Fox was in range, he threw a haymaker punch at Snake's head -- which barely missed his target, as Snake flexed his neck. Fox withdrew his fist, leaving himself open for a kick right in the solar plexus. Fox couldn't brace for this one -- he got his wind knocked out of him. Fox collapsed on all fours. As Fox had taught him, Snake showed no mercy, and drove a double fisted strike into the small of Fox's back. Fox crumpled to the ground, onto his stomach. As he fell onto his face, Fox's right hand went laterally to his side.
TINK
Both soldiers looked at each other; the student standing above his teacher, lying prone on the ground. They both recognized that sound. Fox's hand had depressed the sensor of the mine. A shift in pressure, and the two of them would be no more.
Gray Fox groaned. "Snake... Looks like it's finally time for me to give up the title of 'Fox.'"
Snake
knelt on one knee. "Fox... why?" "I'm not like
you, Snake... My situation is more... complicated. Big Boss might
have been just another CO to you, but he saved my life -
twice." Snake looked confused. Fox continued,
"This was way before I joined the unit. The first time, I was
half-white living in Vietnam... It was after the war, and half-whites
were being sent into forced labor camps. He saved me from that living
hell. Just like he saved all the children here..." Fox looked
back at the fortress. "The second time was in Mozambique. I was
being tortured as a RENAMO soldier, and he saved me again. They'd cut
off my ears and my nose..." Snake groaned. Then, enraged,
said, "And this is your idea of paying him back?!" Gray
Fox shook his head. "No, you've got it wrong. I hate war. Just
like all the kids here. But... I need it. War is all we know. We
can't make it in the normal world. We need the battlefield to
survive. Big Boss gives us a place to fight." Fox looked into
Snake's eyes. "Conflict is on our blood. We can't deny it. I was
born on the battlefield... And I'll die on the battlefield. All I can
do is fight, Snake... all I can do is fight." Fox paused,
and looked at the ground. "Making people happy... making a woman
happy... is something I could never do." Snake
interjected, "You mean..." Gray Fox's face changed
and showed grim determination. "Guess I was always fated to die
in action." Snake looked grim as well. "Rest easy,
Fox. I swear I won't turn out like you." Gray Fox smiled
briefly. "Won't turn out like me... I'll have to remember that.
...Fight hard, Snake. ... Don't let your fans down." Snake
perked his head up. An instant of recognition flashed in his eyes.
"My fans?! ...It was you, wasn't it? ...You were the voice on
the radio!" Gray Fox groaned, "Call it payback for
being so selfish..." Fox looked at his right hand. "See you
on the other side, Snake."
Naomi, who had been watching this whole episode in the shadows, unbeknownst to anyone, turned around and walked out of the lab, furious. "So. This is what Snake did to Frankie," whispered Naomi as she stormed to her laboratory.
Snake, trying to placate his friend and
mentor, said, "You won't be alone, Frank. Gustava is waiting for
you." Gray Fox's face turned pensive as he remembered his
lover. "...Gustava... ...Thank you... Snake... Now go."
Snake is seen walking away. As soon as he's out of range, Fox removes his hand from atop the sensor.
The holographic projector shuts off.
Clark stood, awestruck. "Amazing technology! Wait until DARPA hears about this! Put the subject back to sleep."
Once again, the light on the stasis pod changed from green to red. Once again, the whole lab is bathed in a dark crimson red light.
