Chapter 13: Falcon Eye

It was quiet. Too quiet. Snake suddenly got the same feeling as he pulled out his pistol. He looked around but saw nothing.

I knew it was probably best to get out of the area, but it was rather large, and I felt like we were being watched. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to shift more to my hearing, but still heard nothing, except for mine and everyone else's breathing. If there was someone here, they were good at being stealthy.

All of a sudden, none of us noticing, a red dot appeared on Dawn's back and slowly made it's way to her head. Mightyena then noticed this out of the corner of his eye and instantly knew what was going to happen. "Dawn!" he cried, jumping and tackling her right as a rifle shot filled the air.

I quickly looked over, drawing my pistol. Looks like my feelings were right. I looked to Dawn and saw that she was unharmed. I realized with horror that we were dealing with a sniper here. I looked around but still saw nothing. "Who's there?" I said.

Then, out of nowhere, a falcon appeared in the building, a peregrine falcon to be exact. After perching on a spot and looking at us for a couple of seconds before flying off again but this time it went up to a perch where a man was standing.

"Welcome comrade," the man said. "Welcome to the new generation, where a new society will be established and the old world will crumble."

"Who are you?" I said, keeping my pistol raised at him.

"My apologies," the man said, clearly Russian. "The name is Dmitri, but you may call me "Falcon Eye." As for you, I've heard plenty about you, the young American."

"I'm sure everyone has," I said, gritting my teeth.

Falcon looked to his counterpart and whistled to it. The great bird left from its spot and flew out of the building. "You've come very far, comrade, but I'm afraid it all ends here," he said, throwing a smoke grenade. Before we knew it, he was gone.

(A/N: Alright, you know what time it is. The song is called "Battle in the Base," from MGS3.)

I quickly looked to the others. "Get to cover quickly, me and Snake are the only ones who can deal with him," I said. I then looked to Snake and we took cover next to one of the many benches in the room. "We're going to need a strategy here," I said. "Did you see the weapon he was carrying?"

"Looked like the normal SVD, which is one of Russia's main brand of sniper rifles," Snake said. "Since you're the one who has a rifle, you'll be taking the shots. I'll lure him out." We then got in position, my rifle ready in my arms. "Now!"

*Snake went out into the open while I positioned myself ready to attack. I then noticed the man as he was preparing to take a shot. I quickly aimed for his head and fired. I got him right in the head.

"Impressive, comrade!" Falcon's voice said. "You seem to be an excellent marksman."

Knowing that he had moved elsewhere, we moved as well, keeping up with our strategy.

"Ready?" Snake said. I nodded. "Go!"

And once again the process repeated itself. Falcon, however, found a better spot, and it was tougher to get a good shot. However, at the last second, he had moved and I was able to squeeze in a bullet in between, getting him in the arm.

However, I ended up giving myself away as I felt a bullet pierce my shoulder, causing blood to spill out. I fell to the ground in pain.

"Chris!? You alright?" Snake said to me.

"Yeah," I said. I would've dug the bullet out but it had gone straight through my arm. That was one hell of a gun. Finally I got back up as the pain started to fade away.

Soon, we had changed our positions again. If there was one thing I knew about Russians, they were the best when it came to sniping.

I quickly reloaded my gun and looked out once more, careful not to expose myself this time. After about ten seconds, I realized he wasn't going to expose himself easily either. "Hang on Snake," I said. "I'll see if I can sneak up on him."

Still holding my rifle, I quietly went up the stairs. Still crouching, I looked over and saw him, his back to me. I quietly pulled out my pistol and went up to him slowly. Once I was close enough, I brought the pistol to his head. "Freeze," I said.

Falcon only laughed. "Well done," he said, standing up slowly. "But I'm afraid this isn't quite over yet." He then threw out a flashbang he had had in his hand, blinding me temporarily. This was quickly becoming a habit.

After a couple of seconds, I regained my vision. Looks like it was now between me and him. I crouched down and quickly looked around. I knew now I had to rely on my hearing and sight if I were to win this battle.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to hear better. I then heard breathing, although it was rather calm and shallow but it was enough. Coming from my right, I looked around and indeed saw him hiding behind one of the balconies. I quickly took aim and fired, getting him in the chest this time. However, this time I did not see him get up.

I went over to where he was and saw that he was bleeding a lot, losing too much blood. He looked at me and chuckled. "I guess I wasn't enough to be the sharpshooter I was said to be. You, comrade, definitely have the heart and will of a soldier."

"Dmitri, you weren't really trying to kill Dawn, were you?" I said.

"If there was one thing I had learned in my life, it was never to spill the blood of the innocent, especially children," Dmitri said. "I never wanted to kill the girl. I had only been doing my job, but now that I think about it, maybe I didn't really want to fulfill it after all." He coughed slightly, blood coming out of his mouth. "Honestly, I miss the old world, where everything seemed simpler, I miss my old country." He then smiled. "My father told me stories of how in World War II, he was one of the many Russians to storm the Reichstag. It was the dawn of a new beginning in Europe. My father himself was the one who planted the flag on top of the building. It was a proud day to be a Russian, to be part of the Motherland. But, times have changed."

He then let out a weak whistle and soon his pet falcon came to him. "Tobias, my friend," he said. "I'm afraid we will be parting ways, but we will meet again." He lifted his arm in the air and Tobias took off once again, free. He looked at me once more. "Before I go, comrade. Please tell me your name," he said, reaching out his arm.

I stared at him for a second but reached out mine as well and shook it. "Chris." I said.

Dmitri chuckled. "A pleasant name indeed." Then his arm fell to his side, and the great sniper was gone.

I sighed, realizing once again a good man had died for the wrong cause. "Rest in Peace," I said in Russian. I then stood up and went back downstairs.

(A/N: Oh man, I never really like putting in sad songs but here's one that'll make you shed a tear. It's called "Violent Ceasefire" from MGS4.)

"Chris!" Dawn said. I looked to her and she was kneeling beside Mightyena, who was on his side.

*"Oh no," I said, running up to her. I kneeled down next to her and gently picked up Mightyena's head.

He opened his eyes slowly, looking at me and smiled. "I'm sorry Chris, I guess I wasn't quick enough."

"What are you talking about?" I said. "You're going to be fine."

He chuckled weakly. "Chris, nothing can save me now. But, I have no regrets. I've lived the life I always wanted and I've felt no pain."

"Mightyena," Dawn said, tears in her eyes. "You saved my life."

"You are Chris' friend, and I was obligated to help you as well as him," Mightyena said.

Pikachu and Pikette looked at him, both with tears in their eyes.

It couldn't end like this. I knew there was only one solution to this. I pulled out one of the empty syringes I had and put in my neck, taking out some of my blood. I then grabbed Mightyena's head and injected the blood into his neck.

"Chris, what are you doing!?" Mightyena said, surprised.

"Saving your life," I said. "The nanomachines have altered my DNA. Our blood is practically the same."

"Chris..." Dawn said. Mightyena looked at me for a couple of seconds. But he then fell to the ground. Pikachu, Pikette, and Dawn gasped in horror.

I checked his breathing and saw his breathing was returning to normal. "He'll be fine. He's just suffering from shock, plus I faced the same side-effects." I looked to the others. "We better get out of here."

With Snake putting Mightyena on his back, we then went to leave the building, that was until I noticed someone was still behind me. I looked and saw that Pikette was still standing in the same spot.

(A/N: Okay, I felt that a song needed to be in this next scene, so I went looking and found this song called Can't See Clearly Which One is the Real Me (Piano version) by Vivian Chow, and I must say it fits rather nicely. Oh yeah, if you can't find it here's the link: .com/watch?v=olhvr2JS7vY)

"Pikette? Are you alright?" I said.

Her back was towards me. "That was a noble thing you did," she said. She then turned around and I saw that she had tears in her eyes. "But do you realize what could happen to him now?"

"What do you mean?" I said.

*"Don't give me that Chris! You know damn well what I mean!" she said, an angry look on her face. "Your nanomachines are now inside of him, and if what you say is true, something could happen to him."

I sighed, realizing she had heard what I had said. "Pikette, I've already said that nothing may happen."

"But what if it does!?" Pikette asked. "How do you think I will feel once that moment comes, knowing there's nothing I can do to help stop it!?" She looked down at her feet. "I know it always seems that I make fun of you constantly, but the truth is, I have feelings for you." She looked up to me and was blushing. "You were one of the few friends I had when I was lost. You helped me through everything. I love you as a friend, and I would never let anything happen to you. I would die for you."

I was surprised by this, how she confessed her true feelings. I then walked up to her, smiling, and knelt beside her. "And you are one of the few friends I have left as well. You've always know how to make me smile, despite some things you say," I said, causing her to grin. "But as a friend, I love you as well and I know for a fact that I would defend you at any cost and die for you as well. You have my word."

Pikette looked at me for a second, tears still streaming down her face. She then hopped onto my shoulder, and surprisingly, kissed me on the cheek, causing her to blush more, while though I felt weird about it, it made me feel better as well. "Chris, I remember you saying once that you almost considered me as a sister. Well, I guess in any case I consider you as a big brother."

I smiled, almost chuckling and gave her a hug. After that, I kissed her on the forehead. "I'm glad to hear that," I said.

"Chris!?" I looked over and saw Dawn staring at us. "Come on, we need to get going! We just got word that New York has been attacked!"

"Right," I said. I looked to Pikette. "Let's finish this fight once and for all."

"Right behind you," Pikette said, smiling.

(A/N: Damn it, I did it again. I made another sad chapter. Well, it wasn't entirely said, but it had it's moments. Anyway, we're finally coming to the last part of the story, and this should be a good one. Probably will be longer too. But anyway, I'll stop for tonight, but I hope I don't end up finishing it before the weekend is done, that would make me sad. Oh yeah, by the way, that last scene, don't even think that, I would never go that low.)

FoxMcCloud7921