Arsenal Gear: Declaration
By The Untouchables50
Washington D.C. May 29th, 17:32 354 Cipriani Ave. Lou's Steak House
The seldom-visited restaurant with little actual steak and more rat-infested meat lies several acne-infested teens as employees and ex-convicts as the bosses. Rarely people ever go to the piss-poor excuse of a restaurant, but the restaurants business isn't really a matter to anyone there. It's a front for the secret business of the Patriots, the true rulers of the U.S. and where they conduct meetings and decide what happens tomorrow. The basement of the restaurant is rarely fully lit, w/ each man's face cloaked in darkness. W/ imposing voices matching the likes of those of Marlon Brando, civilian lives are regularly discussed and the best method of manipulation. It's been a month since Arsenal Gear crashed into Federal Hall, and plans are thought over. Each Patriot will be identified as a letter like A or B or C. Arsenal Gear is housed in a top-secret base, though nothing is secret enough for the Patriots. Security is enforced and only the top brass of the White House are allowed in.
A: Have you tracked down Raiden and Snake?
H: No for Snake but possibly yes for Raiden. After Arsenal crashed, Raiden left w/ a spy of ours named Rose. She was assigned to spy on him 2 years ago and has performed well. Unfortunately for her, she had a change of heart about her mission and blew her cover. Accordingly, she revealed too much afterwards, thus putting her on our wanted list. Unbeknownst to her, we have a tracker bug on her.
C: Shall we report her to the FBI or NSA for her involvement in the operation?
D: She didn't do anything illegal, only broke our rules.
E: How about assassination? It's relatively easy and easy to cover up.
B: We'll end up doing that anyways. We just need to know the right time to do when Raiden is w/ her.
D: What about Solidus? He is still alive after all.
C: Yet, you forget that he is heavy life support. He's in one of our hospitals. Let him die or use him for another purpose?
B: I say kill him. He already caused too much damage when he threatened to destroy Big Shell, not to mention Arsenal Gear.
After much discussion, they described the details of their next phase about what to do w/ the survivors of The Big Shell.
***********************Snake and Otacon*********************
Once again on the wanted list, they both knew Philanthropy might be in trouble if they stick their noses out. They regularly contacted Raiden to check up, w/ him having what they knew they could never get. They planned to try to hack in, and find out where Olga's baby was. Stranger being the NOC list of the Patriots identities claimed they were dead for 100 years, w/ all the more reason to find out whatever they could. Otacon, presently perched at his laptop rapidly pressed computer keys and pages being loaded and unloaded.
Snake: Otacon, did you find anything yet?
Otacon: Not yet. It's hard to find someone who doesn't want to be found.
Snake: Any clue as to how long it will take to find anything worth seeing?
Otacon: Probably within the next few days. Go watch T.V. at least it can provide momentary relief.
Snake sat down and watched a boring infomercial so he could fall asleep faster. A sudden news flash came on and attracted Snake's attention.
News anchor: John, what you are witnessing right now is what used to be the Rivermore Labs, located in southern California. A technology heist and several doctors were kidnapped and others were killed. The FBI, on the scene, has refused to reveal what was stolen or who pulled off the heist. Sources have said that the scientists were killed by stab wounds and gunshots. And now back to John at the news desk.
John: In other news, a local girl was found dead in her home approximately 5:34 P.M. today. Reportedly, she returned from the hospital 2 days earlier w/ a her newborn baby, now missing and presumed dead. Her fiancée, a man by the name of Jack, was at work when the travesty occurred. She was found and evidence leads to the belief it was a suicide. No other details have been released.
Otacon: Snake! I found something interesting. Call Raiden.
**************Raiden******************
Cocked, and loaded. A Desert Eagle .50 on the table lay there like a Christmas present under the tree. He didn't want to believe it, but Rose was dead. No note, just a suicide. For no reason at all. He didn't want it to end like this, but the baby was believed to be dead, w/ tracing's of it's blood on the wall. A little pressure on the trigger and he'd meet them once again. Feeling the cold surface of the gun next to his eyebrow, he slowly began to pull the trigger. About ¾ of the way through. Almost there.
And his phone rung. He put the gun away, sensing his last phone call was coming through. He picked it up and politely answered.
Raiden: Hello?
Snake: It's Snake. I found out where your baby is being held.
Raiden: How do you know about Rose and the baby?
Snake: Because I do. I turned on the TV and that was all that was being reported.
Raiden: For someone who knows as much as you do, you would know my son was killed. This better not be some sick joke. I'm not in the mood for it.
Snake: Trust me, it's not. Otacon just hacked into a secret network of the Pentagon. It contains info about the Patriots, which lead to a section about the Patriot's dealings. It said your baby was taken and your fiancée capped.
Raiden: Sounds too convenient. Like it was intentional.
Snake: We're sure we aren't being traced. We would've known otherwise. But the Patriot 's section was harder to find than you think.
Raiden: You can't be serious.
Snake: We can prove it to you. The hard part is finding out where your baby is. It doesn't say where for obvious reasons.
Raiden left for Snake's hideout and was proven that his son was alive. He began to silently cry, but tried to hold it in.
Otacon: Unfortunately, it won't be just a snatch and go mission. Wherever he's being held, it won't be easy to find. We do have to look for Olga's child, to.
Raiden: Can you find out where he's being held?
Otacon: It'll take a lot of time.
Snake: But keep hope Raiden. The Patriots obviously want something out of this, otherwise there wouldn't be a reason for them to keep it alive. Chances are, they'll contact you. Anyways, it's late. I'm turning in. Watch your back.
*******************Lou's Steak House*******************
A: Report.
F: Rose is dead, sir. The plan worked. She's said to have committed suicide. Rose was truthfully, subdued, shot in the head, and positioned exactly as a suicide. Raiden was nowhere to be found.
B: So this will bring him to us?
A: Yes. He may help Snake and his associate destroy the new terrorist leader planning to hijack Arsenal Gear.
E: When was that planned?
A: A few days ago.
C: When will the takeover occur?
D: Tomorrow. They think we don't know about it yet.
E: And Snake will be informed?
G: Yes. As if they didn't make it obvious enough they've been snooping around on our networks. Has the new data been uploaded yet?
D: Assuming that they snooping right now, then yes, it has.
C: Any word on when our op will rendezvous with the leaders?
F: 16 hours. The takeover will be already be in full swing.
A: Bring him in.
The infamous Shalashaska (AKA Revolver Ocelot) walked in, w/ all 12 Patriots looking on. Ocelot appeared unafraid by their presence. Bodyguards kept watch w/ M-16's and M-4 assault rifles.
Ocelot: Preparations are complete. This time tomorrow, Arsenal Gear will be operating.
A: Good. Why haven't you provided us with the combat data of the S3 plan?
Ocelot: Upon my arrival, I was called in for another mission. I stored it in a safe place for your information. The data was proven successful and will be transmitted after the mission is over.
C: Good enough. Any developments w/ Snake and Raiden?
Ocelot: My contacts haven't been successful in obtaining any new info about their current location. They will, however, attempt to stop the heist when they learn about Arsenal Gear.
D: Being our lone operative in this mission, have you dealed w/ security?
Ocelot: I won't be going in alone. My brother and an agent from the disbanded FOXHOUND will be joining me.
B: You can't do that. No one can know you're working for us. They might talk.
Ocelot: I trust them w/ my life. It's too high risk, even w/ terrorists watching my back.
D: But if word got out, you'd be killed in a second.
Ocelot: I wasn't asking for permission. They're coming anyways. You don't like it, then too bad.
C: Who are they?
Ocelot: My brother, Mikhail, and the agent is code named Candy Man.
F: Who's Candy Man? I don't recall him being listed as being in FOXHOUND.
Ocelot: He was. But your intellect isn't enough to remember hundreds of pages worth of names.
A: Back to the point, can you trust the leader?
Ocelot: Frankly, I'm not sure. Lets just wait-and-see.
A: Send Pritchard in.
A hospital wearing man appeared in the doorway, obviously very strong and capable, and on the payroll of the Patriots.
A: Alas, this is Pritchard. Take care of Solidus for us.
Pritchard: Yes, sir.
*****************Anonymous**********************
Solidus lay like a pathetic doll on a girl's floor. Kept alive by equipment and with little chance of full recovery, he was probably as healthy as he would be for now. The fall from Arsenal would've killed a normal person, but thanks to genetic enhancements, he was alive enough to be rushed to the hospital. A Patriot-owned hospital anyways. His job would be over soon, courtesy to the lucky narrator. A syringe full of bleach injected into his veins wouldn't withstand that type of poison. There'd be no worries about being caught from security, since no rules or cameras were set up for Solidus's room.
Approaching Solidus's prone body, his head was jerked backwards within several milliseconds. An intruder was grabbing him from behind the doorway, holding his arm tightly enough so he couldn't move it. His free hand, the one with the syringe, attempted to stab the intruder, but before he could even attempt it, his hand was caught, brought to his heart, and injected. Pritchard died within a few minutes, but no one heard him struggle or scream.
"You shouldn't have tried that," a deep voice said. The intruder glanced at Solidus, with a dark smile. "It's time, king." The intruder took a separate syringe and injected it into Solidus. The intruder took him from his hospital bed, jumped out the window of his first floor window, and rode away in the car, w/ Solidus's body in tow.
******************Snake**************************
Barely staying awake, Solid Snake was tossing in his sleep, he kept having nightmares, each a little different each night. He didn't know why he was getting these dreams, but they just happened. The same dream of being in an unending room, with him, and another figure there each time. Snake always held a Socom, pointed at the intruder. He would threaten to shoot, but couldn't after looking at him. He was wearing an outfit, resembling Gray Fox from Shadow Moses, but appearing a little different with the mask. He said words that had haunted him for years, "I'm like you. I have no name." He would point his sword at me, while Snake would mutter something, then he would reply, "I have waited too long. Our final battle must be commence." He would walk to me, then the dream would end, w/ me waking up in a cold sweat.
The phone rang.
Snake quickly picked it up and heard Otacon's voice.
Otacon: Snake, I've uncovered more in the Patriot's database. Something big is underway.
Snake: What? Did you find out where Olga's baby is?
Otacon: Sorta. Arsenal Gear was impounded, right?
Snake: Yeah, after it crashed, they hauled it off somewhere in the U.S. What about it?
Otacon: Snake, a new terrorist group is planning to hijack Arsenal.
Snake: Don't they all?
Otacon: Let me finish. As I said, they are planning to hijack Arsenal. And the name of their leader is Gray Fox.
To be continued…