Metal Gear Solid: New Prime
I don't own Metal Gear or its characters. They are the property of Hideo Kojima and Konami.
Chapter 3: Bloody Invitation
"First things first," Snake began. "Who're these guys? Really?"
"Well, you know about Dead Cell right?" Sheffield asked. At Snakes nod, he continued, "After they first attacked this base, we were involved in some sort of big war with them. It was obvious what they wanted, any information of the La Li Lu Le Lo."
"The Patriots?"
"The very same. After Colonel Jackson passed away in prison some time ago, all the members of Dead Cell snapped under the loss of their leader. I don't know why they targeted this place of all places, but they did. We fought them back for about 5 months, and there were many casualties on our side."
"Why didn't you do anything about it?" Snake asked, still maintaining a tone of respect for his old friend.
"I didn't know. I was just there to fill space, to fool the rest of the country that we were fighting for them. I had no idea about the Patriots, GW or any S3 plans," He looked down in self-pity, grabbing a fistful of his own hair. "Damn it, I should've figured it out!"
Snake planted a hand on his friends shoulder, "Don't beat yourself up over it. I can't say that I wasn't just some tool for some suits."
"It's just...." Daniel sighed. "Forget it."
"So I guess these soldiers got fed up with all the fighting and decided to take things into their own hands, huh?" Snake asked, reverting to his usual impassive expression.
"That's what I'm assuming," He could tell that Snake was disappointed with the lack of information that the former soldier could give.
Snake pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to his old friend. He politely declined, and Snake shrugged as he pulled out a lighter.
"What's the name of the guy behind this thing?" Snake asked.
"Phantasm Black," Sheffield answered rather quickly. "Some say that he has another alias...Sparrow Black."
Snake made a mental note of that name.
"What does he want out of this?" Snake asked after a short pause.
"I don't know. They just needed my knowledge of the nuclear code, they didn't tell me anything."
Snake narrowed his eyes a bit.
"One more thing...why do they want Big Boss?"
"I...don't know."
Snake immediately narrowed his eyes in anger, and he kicked the chair of his way. In one swift motion, he grabbed Sheffield by the collar and slammed him against a wall. Snake lifted him, making Sheffield's feet dangle a couple of inches above the ground. Anger was just steaming from Snakes body.
"Liar!" Snake growled. "You've been here for more than 5 hours you should know more then the crap you're feeding me!"
Sheffield's expression remained the same; "You would hurt an old friend?"
"Anybody could turn into an old scumbag over time," Snakes eyes became stern.
"I'd expect that a bastard like you would grow soft protecting them..."
Snake was taken slightly back from this, "What're you talking about?"
"Even after Outer Heaven...after the words your father so eloquently spoken?" Sheffield's expression hardened. "Such traitorous acts won't be able to save you after the mission."
"I don't what you're talking about but I can tell you one thing...I'm no traitor."
"Hn. Have you grown into a liar as well?"
"Start making sense, what the hell are you talking about!?" Snake backed up this statement by pressing his gun barrel against Sheffield's temple.
"Pathetic. I fail to see how you would be able to beat Sparrow the invincible if you can't even threaten a civilian."
Sparrow the invincible?
Snake started to lose even more patience, "Why? Why did you decide to be a traitor!? Why did you turn?"
"How could you say I'm a traitor...." A slow, sickening smirk appeared slowly on the face of the Vice President, "When I haven't even said I was on your side?"
Snakes eyes widened at the realization, "They know the nuclear launch code."
"There's a good boy," Sheffield mocked. "It took you a while to put the pieces together."
"Why!?" Snake demanded. "You of all people should know the horror of a nuclear war!"
"You don't get it do you?"
"You're not Daniel," Snake concluded. A sudden surge of anger went through him, "Who the hell are you!?"
"FREEZE!"
Snake turned his head, and saw a sentry, blood on his gloves, pointing his weapon at the intruder. Through the soldiers mask slits, his eyes were cold and determined, not in the mood to negotiate. Snake slowly lowered Sheffield, but not letting his grasp on him go. Snake stared at him for a while, wondering what to do. He remained unmoving until he heard a small whisper coming from the Sheffield imposter.
"I'm............shadow."
Snake furrowed his eyebrows, turning his eyes to his captive. Sheffield's face was looking down, so Snake could only see the top of his head. Snake looked at him in a questioning manner, "What?"
"I'm you! I'm your shadow!" He suddenly yelled, and shot his head up to look at Snake with psychotic eyes. His face and tone had totally changed. It was another persons face....
Liquids.....
"What the--"
The sudden giggling coming from this Liquid look a like cut off snake, and the legendary soldier let go of the imposter. He backed away as 'Liquid' started laughing even louder and he planted his hand on his face, not making one attempt to contain himself. Snake spun around to look at the sentry, who he momentarily forgot about.
Snakes eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the corpse of the sentry, there was blood dripping from his chest, and a blade wound was stretched across his chest. Snake turned again to inspect the still laughing Liquid impersonator, for some reason expecting to get answers from this lunatic. Liquid went down on his knees, still laughing extremely loudly.
Snake bent down and started shaking Liquids shoulders, "Why are you impersonating him!?"
More giggling came from Liquids side, "...Maybe you're impersonating me!" Snake frowned.
"Stop talking out of your ass," Snake growled. "Liquid died four years ago!"
"No Snake," Liquid started calming down, smirking at his brother. "I still live in your veins."
"What?"
"You have always been locked in a battle of ideals and blood. Today will be no different."
Snake got up and pondered on the situation. Was he going crazy? Another hallucination just like at Shadow Moses? He remembered seeing a vision of Psycho Mantis at the beginning of his mission. Snake turned to Liquid again....only to find no one there. Snake's eyes widened in shock. Where the hell did he go?
"Damn it," Snake whispered. "What's going on!?"
CODEC
"Snake, what's going on there?" Otacon asked immediately, a worried tone in his voice.
"Otacon, we fell into a trap!" Snake shook his head, obviously frustrated.
"What?" Otacon obviously couldn't believe it.
"This guy isn't Sheffield," Snake growled.
"Who is he?"
"I-I don't know who...or what that was."
Phantasm smiled as Gene was escorted out of the room, his sobs being louder than the music, which was just about to wrap up. After Gene left the room to Tower 4 where the other scientist was, Phantasm looked toward his comrade Cerberus. Cerberus had put away his pendant, and was now admiring his work.
"Thank you Van," Phantasm gave a small wave.
Cerberus smirked as well, and he strolled back to the shadowy part of the room, and out of sight. Phantasm went across the room, near the window, and picked out one of the wine bottles from a cabinet after looking around for a while. He then picked out a glass, as he poured the drink inside. He took a couple of sips before standing in front of the window, admiring the view once again.
In the corner of his eye, something flashed in the scenery. A small black bird flew towards him, and he smiled fondly at the sight. It was a sparrow, and it was...his friend. He never had to worry about the bird, for it always came back to him several hours later. Phantasm opened the window, letting his old friend enter. Phantasm lifted a finger, and the small bird immediately landed on it.
"Have a nice trip?" Phantasm smiled as the bird flew up onto his shoulder, chirping happily.
The bird perched on his shoulder, looking at his friend then at the view outside. The rain had come back, this time more lighter than before. There was the occasional flash of lightning, but neither of them flinched. The bird chirped after a small moment of silence, and Phantasm glanced at him.
"It's an interesting world you live in isn't it?" Phantasm asked Harpy. The bird stared at him, as if in a questioning manner. "It's a world where there are no weaklings that take advantage. Only their parents....after that, the offspring goes into the real world. Where they are tested."
Harpies head bobbled up and down, almost as if it were agreeing. Harpy had been a long time companion for Phantasm. They were both lost in a world that they wanted to explore. Its ideals...its truths....and its joys. Harpy was rather smart for a bird. Why...how....did this Sparrow live so long? Phantasm knew this spirited animal back when he was teenager.
"You certainly are an mystery aren't you? You never made a family...and you might be as old as me maybe," Phantasm smiled. "There are no selfish organisms where you live. There are only weak and strong."
Phantasms expression hardened, "Our worlds won't be so different for long. All it takes are a few weapons."
Phantasm heard the door open behind him and turned around. In entered another one of his comrades. His long black hair (Long bangs that fell over his face and reach to his nose), white trench coat (Silver buckles and straps wrapped around the sleeves) and dark blue pants were the traits many came to know him by. He also wore black boots, which noiselessly walked across the room.
Coyote Azul
"Have a nice 'walk'?" Phantasm asked.
"It was...interesting," Coyote slapped his chest, "Though I didn't get to bring out the King and Queen."
"Anything unusual?"
"We have a visitor," Coyote chuckled.
Phantasm returned the bottle back to the cabinet, "How was he?"
"He's good, I'll give him that. How good, I don't know."
"Hn, I've heard of his exploits," Phantasm began. "But it's nothing that impressive."
"Where is he now?"
"Somewhere in the first tower. He should've found out right about now about Sheffield."
"Isn't that where our colleague Charon is?"
"How is that possible?" Otacon furrowed his eyebrows. "Liquid is dead. Something else is in the works here."
"It's strange....for the entire conversation, I was talking to Sheffield...but then, when I turned away, it was Liquid," Snake looked at him again. "And now...he's gone."
"Remember Psycho Mantis?" Otacon asked, "He could make illusions, is it possible someone like him could be here?"
"I wouldn't doubt that," Snake said. "And on top of that I found out nothing. We're at a dead end."
"I wouldn't say that," Otacon said, smiling.
"Hmm?"
"I found out some information about Coyote Azul and other soldiers," Otacon said.
"What do ya got?"
"Well, there were only seven soldiers around that area the night the organization crumbled," Otacon explained. "They must be the most likely people to have gone after the executives in charge of the whole company."
"Funny..."Snake remembered something; "You got anything on a 'Phantasm Black'?"
Otacon seemed surprised; "Well...yeah...he and his brother died that night according to this information."
"So that means they could've died in the brush."
"Most likely," Otacon thought for a moment, then said, "You think he could still be around?"
"Wouldn't be the first time your sources have been wrong."
"That was a low blow, Snake!"
Snake chuckled.
"You have any idea where the Vice President could be?" Otacon asked, pushing up his glasses for the millionth time.
"Yeah. I got a pretty good idea," Snake nodded.
"What, did that imposter tell you?"
"No, I wouldn't be stupid enough to believe what he'd say," Snake shook his head. "After I found out that Sheffield was an imposter, a sentry tried to attack me. But someone else killed him."
"And?"
"From the looks of it, it was an invitation.""Invitation?"
"I can tell, don't ask, but just trust me here, ok?"
"...Alright."
CODEC OFF
Snake turned off the codec, and walked out of the room, not taking any glances at the two corpses in the hallway. One from him, and the other from that other guy. He must've been good to have killed that sentry without Snake himself noticing. Snake walked over to the elevator, and the doors opened. He entered and looked at the panel. He immediately picked the top floor, most likely the place where his invitation was for.
When the doors opened, Snake was introduced to perhaps the holding place for the real Sheffield. He hoped that it wasn't one big set-up like last time. When Snake exited the elevator, he saw another long narrow hallway with one door at the very end. On the left side of the hallway were large glass windows that showed another small room.
Snake trotted over to the windows and took a look inside. Inside was Sheffield.....
"Damn!" Snake cursed silently.
Sheffield was sitting against a wall on a bed, a large gash across his chest. It looked like he was barely breathing, as the rise and fall of his chest seemed very forced. Snake ran over to the door next to the windows in an attempt to get inside. The door wouldn't open. Even after Snake pounded on it for a moment. Snake cursed again, running back to the windows.
"Hey!" He yelled, pounding on the window with his hand to get the Presidents attention. "Can you hear me!?"
Snake assumed that the Presidents hearing was failing him, and started to panic a little. Snake looked at the door once again; it looked like a "Level Silver Card" was needed to gain access. Maybe there was another way in. Snake walked to the end of the hallway and through the door, which, for some reason, didn't require a card.
"Welcome home, Snake!"
A katana went slicing its way to Snakes head, but the latter leaned away, the blade nearly taking his head off. Snake looked to his left, and saw a silver/blondish hair colored man (Similar to Raidens hair color) who had a rather messy ponytail. He wore black finger-less gloves (Like how the regular soldiers have) that reached up to the elbow, most likely for protection.
He also had black padding for his legs, black jeans (That went over the padding) and had black boots.
"Funny seeing you hear!" The man growled again, finishing his statement with a straight slash down to the mercenary, which he also dodged. Snake pulled away from the man, rolling further into the room. He fired off two bullets at the mystery man once he returned to one knee, only to have them both be deflected rather easily.
This had Snake worried, this guy was definitely different than the others he faced before. Something about him was strange, as if there was something dangerous and insane lurking in him that was ready to burst at any moment. Snake aimed his weapon at the man again, glaring daggers into him.
"Who're you?" Snake demanded, wasting no time. There was a dying man in the next room, and he was vital for the mission.
The man smirked, sliding the flat side of the blade gently across his palm. He flaunted the near perfection of the blade. He sliced the air with his blade, mocking our protagonist.
"They call me Yomi Silver," Yomi grinned, his eyes flashing a dangerous glint in them. "The bastard that's gonna have your blood on his hands."
Yomi Silver. The Blade wielding hot head of the group, "New Prime". He uses several style blades and daggers, and leaves no remorse after slicing up enemies into pieces. He is truly the master of his art, and has trained for years under several masters. He is angered easily and rather impulsive, but at times it can prove to be an asset.
"One of the six that have their names on my list," Snake replied.
"Die, traitor."
Yomi lunged at Snake with one long distance stab, but the latter once again sidestepped the attack and let off another two shots from his USP. The first bullet missed narrowly, but the other skidded across the surface of Yomi's shoulder. Yomi grunted a little from the pain, but continued his onslaught by doing another straight slash down. However, the legendary soldier jumped away from harm once again.
He's sloppy.
Snake tried a side kick to distance himself away from his opponent by the New Prime soldier blocked it with his forearm. Snake fired off another shot from his USP, but Yomi deflected it away and charged at Snake once again. Snake dropped to the ground on his knee and attempted a sweep kick (You've seen this before, the attacker slides his foot across the ground going around in a 360).
Yomi flipped over Snake and his attack, ultimately landing behind him. Snake whirled around, aiming his weapon, and his opponent got into position as well, preparing his blade into a defensive position.
And the fight was on....
End of Chapter.
It'll get more actiony next time.