Act II: Child Soldiers

Chapter I:

Deception

Guess I thought I'd have to change the world to make you see me

100 sit ups, uninterrupted, were ordered of her. So, 100 uninterrupted sit ups is what Blaine delivered. Blaine sat up after completing the feat, breathing heavily, but not willing to show any more weakness than that at this point.

" Good. " Said Big Boss, " Now, 80 push ups. Uninterrupted. " Blaine nodded and flipped her position so that she was in push up stance. She waited for the go-ahead before launching into a speedy, sweaty push up marathon. The Lieutenant was recording Blaine's record on the sit ups as she continued to work under the watchful eye of Big Boss.

" 79... 80. " Blaine spat out as she finished. The Lieutenant recorded this as well, " What next? "

" Short distance running. " The Lieutenant answered, " This way, please. "

Blaine stood up and wiped her sweat-drenched brow and followed the Lieutenant. Big Boss watched them walk away before deciding to follow along to watch the test of running. The man honestly didn't think she would last against the physically trying tests.

" Thanks for coming, Roy. " Frank said, shaking hands with the man called Roy as he entered their home.

" Not a problem, Frank. " Roy said, firmly shaking Frank's hand.

" From what I understand, Blaine has been intercepted by FOXHOUND? " Frank asked, leading Roy to his room.

" Yes. I got a call from someone there that mentioned a member of their sneaking team rescued her from the blizzard and brought her there. " Roy responded.

" Good. " Frank said, " Soon enough, Lara will join their ranks too. Just like it was planned. "

" Do either of them know who you are in FOXHOUND? " Roy asked curiously.

" They do not know. " Said Frank, " And I never intend for them to find out that I am the one called Gray Fox. "

" With them in FOXHOUND, I'm sure they'll find out eventually... "

" I'm sure I'll be dead and gone before that happens. "

" Rather morbid... " Roy commented, straightening out his suit.

" That may be. " Said Frank, " But it's true. As long as those two make it among the ranks of FOXHOUND, then everything is on the right course. "

" But... if the Patriots... "

" Impossible. There's a failsafe. " Frank said, " One of the embryos was implanted with a genetic anomaly that nulls and destroys nanomachines in the body. The only problem is, we don't know which twin it is... "

" I guess we'll find out... " Roy continued, " Either one of them would be a great enemy to us if the Patriots got to them. They are the Warlord reborn... "

" Yes... " Said Frank, " Well, both of them are failsafes really, if the other fails to save us. Anyway, FOXHOUND has called me in for a mission. I'll be departing tonight for 'Outer Heaven.' "

" And it is up to me to look after Lara. " Roy said, knowing the drill. Frank nodded.

Lara was up in her room, still frozen with despair. She had heard someone else enter and exit the house, but Lara had no care for whoever this was. She knew it wasn't Blaine, or else she would've heard her footsteps pass by her doorway.

" I shouldn't blame myself... " Lara said, hugging her pillow, " But I do... Blaine could be dead right now, and I feel like it's all my fault. "

Lara's door handle jiggled and she shouted 'come in.' She knew it was her dad, but she didn't turn to look at him, she didn't want to show him her weakness.

" Lara, " He said, sitting down on her bed with her, " I've put the word out to the authorities about Blaine. I know you're worried and you'll hate me for this... but I need to go away on business for a bit. My good friend Roy Campbell will be looking after you til I return. "

Blaine emerged from the water after completing the two water-based exercises. She had also completed the short distance running test, so she welcomed the water to cleanse the sweat from her body.

" Excellent! " The Lieutenant said, taking down her marks, " All that's left for the physical tests is the wilderness march. "

" We will call you for that tomorrow morning. " Big Boss instructed, " Get well rested for it. "

" Yes sir... " Blaine said, nodding. The two men walked away and Blaine tiredly returned to her room. On the way, she passed other in-training FOXHOUND members like herself. She wondered why they were all clumped into a big group, while she got the special attention. She shrugged it off, went to her room, and collapsed on the bed.

[Authors Notes: LOL I suppose I should have been including these before. For those few of you that are reading this, we have reached act 2! yay. It's even more character and relationship building/breaking like we've seen in the first act, but things get different because we see some canon characters start to pop up here and there. Big Boss seems to be interested in Blaine, doesn't he? Find out moooooooore NEXT TIME.]