Smash: The Alternative Brawl

Chapter 8: Thee informant and the Hand

VR Training:

Beretta 92 FS, a great gun for close encounters with a suppresser to muffle the sound of the release when pulling the trigger. Taking M9 rounds, having the silencer connected to the gun, it helps reduce the jolt of the recoil. With the handle, it helps comfort Snakes hand when placing his fingers around the hand guard . Aiming down the site with the nearby guard ins Snake's sight, making sure there was no one else who was around. Pulling the trigger then listening to a slight "THUMP." With quick agility then pulling the body out of sight which luckily AI's don't bleed or else he would have to improvise. Continuing to hide behind containers, crawl under a serrated barbwire fence while glancing at his sonar radar for any nearby guards. Knowing that the sentries were held up in some abandon homes and a sniper at the North end spotting everything ahead of them, knowing he needs to get pass the guards, he looks at his map that he took off a dead sentry and as he got a better feel on his surroundings, he started heading to the first abandon house and since there is an alleyway, he can use that for an advantage but in order to get pass the sniper, he would need a sniper rifle.

First thing Snake thought to himself is that he needs to see where exactly the sentries are huddled up at. Second, take them out because when he does fire, it's going to alert the others and when that does, he will have no chance of escaping or hiding. So, carefully and silently like a ghost is the best way to go unless he weakens the thread of guards which would possibly give him a better chance to sneak around the alleyway as the AI's are searching the main surrounding area. Either way, it's going to be risky.

Taking his breath, he snuck behind the first home and with a quick eye while glancing towards the sentry on the North end, he stared through the broken glass and as he seen no one inside then checking around the corner, he found himself looking at a pile of boxes. Before he had a chance to find the back door, he heard a guard walking towards him., Noticing the century was coming quick, he hid in one of the empty cardboard boxes. Watching through the little peep hole, he was able to hear the enemy say, "clear." Then waiting for an extra moment to make sure he was gone, he lifted the box and as he went to the side of the door, listening in. he couldn't fully tell but with the sonar radar, he was hear at least two enemy sentries inside but now, he needs to see if it would be safe to go into the back or the front. Checking the front one more time. Although not completely silent, he spots a broken window and knowing the guards in the back. Checking his surroundings one more time especially the century from the North was not looking. Slowly and surely, creeping through the broken window, raising his pistil ahead of him. Listening to his grey combat's boots crunching under some broken glass which made him wince. He heard one of the patrol men walking to the room he is in. With him reacting quickly, he pulled out his combat knife and hid behind the wall and so when the guard walks in, he can take him quickly but silently down.

With the first century stepping in, disarming the man from his AK-47 which is a Russian model assault rifle. With Snake throwing the gun to the side, using his right hand grabbing the guard's right wrist. Crossing his body over the enemy's leg then wrapping his arm around the centuries back. Snake Judo throw him to the ground which knocked him out then listening to the next guard walk in about to shoot. Snake disarmed him forcing him to release the rifle then crossing his body over the second enemy's right leg again, instead of throwing the man over his hip. Making the man to twist over Snake, he slammed him to the ground knocking him out too. Not wanting to kill them because in real life scenarios, he dragged their bodies into the back room and with him clearing some lockers which he found a Remington sniper rifle, couple rations, and M9 rounds. He placed the centuries into the lockers and before he was about to continue his mission, his Codec started to ring. Glancing at the frequency number, he answered, " this is Snake."

"This is Master Hand, I hope I am not interrupting something good. I need to see you in my office." Before Snake had a word in, the call dropped.

"…" ending VR training through a watch he was given after the ceremony so he can assess the mansions recreational areas where he can train, join local tournaments although he still doesn't know how he feels about that and home-run contest with many other events he can enter through. Leaving the practice room, with him making sure his Berretta 92FS was loaded even though he knows he is safe but years of experience. You can never assume anything. He started walking to the mansion. Wishing he has some time to take a smoke break but not knowing how long he has, he pushes the thought to the side and pushed himself through the garden of flowers.

This place is pretty. He thought to himself while placing his ID on a scanner which was on the right of the door. Accessing in, in front of him down the hall, he seen Captain Falcon walking what he assumes to be the game room. Continue to walk down the corridor, occasionally he would look at reflections off of pictures, reflecting glass, and periodically, he would spot mirrors especially since he's been staying in the mansion, he has been getting this uneasy feeling like someone is watching him and that person who he has been speculating is that woman in that power suit. Pushing that to the side while accessing the cafeteria. Glancing towards his left, he was able to see Kirby in the kitchen, King deedeedee literally swallowing his plate full of food in his stomach, and he thought Wario was bad. Or even Kirby. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he spots the two elves… or Hylians. Whatever they are talking under hush whispers at a four seated table and catching Zelda's sparkling blue eye. With her catching Snake's bluish grey eyes, she gave him a small grin and with him giving her a nod. She went back with her conversation with Link.

"… that rose has thorns. Interesting." He thought to himself while coming closer to his destination.

Knocking on the office door, he was able to hear the hand tell him to come in. Stepping in, with him silently closing the door with habit. Master Hand's booming voice startled him making him nearly jumping 10ft off the ground. "Solid Snake. A legend, a hero, the man who can make the impossible possible, and the—"

Enough." Snake interrupted. "I'm no hero nor a legend. So, forget what you heard. I'm just good at what I do."

"And that's why I brought you in my office today Snake." Raising his eyebrow, he allowed him to continue on. "First, I want to ask, do you have any questions?"

"Actually, I do." Wishing he could grab a cigarette, he forced himself to settle in in one of Master Hand's comfortable chairs and continued on. "Why am I trying to grab Samus's files from her? Doesn't she have her own mission and don't you have a copy of her reports of suspected traders because if my role is just to play detective, I'm sorry but you got the wrong snake for your mission because I already told the colonel that I work for no one except for myself. I'm only here due to a favor for the colonel."

"My, my Snake. I understand what you are saying but no, I am not having you play detective. Simply, I'm waiting."

"You're waiting? For what?" He replied feeling frustrated with him beating around the bush. If there's one thing he hates the most is when people aren't being up front with him.

"I'm waiting for Samus's reports and for your question about their reports. Yes, I have them."

"So, then why can't I borrow them from you?"

"Because you never asked."

"…" he grumbled. "Then what are the reports? Don't you have anything when she… I mean they originally went out to look for the ship?"

"Wait, Samus is a girl? Master Hand said astonished. "Never mind about that but yes. The first time I sent(HER) out. She was only able to follow its heat pattern but she was not able to follow it and since she was not well equipped, well, when does she ever have her power-ups set up for herself? Never mind about that but the short story is that she had to come back and fix her suit."

And where do I fit in in all of this? He asked feeling his impulse of wanting a smoke starting to act up.

"And that's why I have you here. So, as you know, Meta-Knights ship has been stolen. Samus was not able to follow it not until she can fix her suit for her upcoming mission, and so far, we do not know who is in control of Meta-Knight's high jacked Halberd. Your Mission is to go through these files to see if you can link any of these suspected smashers to the stolen ship. I know you have assistance from your friend Otacon who is a proficient hacker. If you are able to have him hack the Halberd's data so we can figure out who is behind it, we can terminate the threat before it effects the whole Nintendoland."

Three questions. What if it's one our guys who is pulling the operation? Second, what if it isn't anyone from here? Third, you still didn't explain why you would need me. It looks like Otacon would be a better fit in this mission than me."

"First, let's say Ganondorf was one of the primary assistances for the high jack. I will terminate him from Smash, trial him for treason, and permanently have him band which means, he will never be able to cross over universes. Second, if there isn't, then we will need to figure out what forces we are facing. Third, your mission is relied on the second scenario but either way, I might have to send you off with our bounty hunter to investigate the stolen Halberd.

"The bounty hunter? Samus?" He raised his eyebrow.

"I don't know just yet but I will send her out after the tournaments which talking about that. Are you Joining?" He asked while pulling out the form behind him on another desk.

"To be a lieutenant?" With the nod of his hand, he responded, "I guess. I got nothing else to do except train and smoke my life away." Then with him signing his John Handcock, he asks, "Did you know Samus was a female the whole time?"

"By what do you mean?"

"Your voice. You speak of Samus like it's the weather. Almost like you knew her by her pronouns."

"I'm Master Hand. I have profiles of everyone who joins Smash. I wouldn't just bring anyone without knowing their background. Since I know you're pretty intelligent because I assume you do your own research on each player, each mission, and each villain. Do you know anything about Samus Aran?" With him staying silent, Master Hand continued on. "Come on."

"Ugh…I know she's a bounty hunter but I know nothing about her background. I know Otacon does but I haven't got to the participants profiles just yet."

"Let's just say, she's been through a lot growing up."

"I thought so. Sounds just like me."

"I'm not going to get into her past. She rather forgets about it but what I can tell you is that her parents were murdered and same did her planet. Question, how did you know she's a woman and how could you tell that she's been through a lot?"

"You can see the troubles in their eyes. The look of horror that one goes through after a traumatic experience. It's the same look after when a soldier comes home from war."

"I mean, how did you know they is a she?"

"If you look harder at their vizier, you can see long strains of blond hair in front of her face. Also, you can't get mistaken by her face. A woman has a distinguished look."

"Interesting. You are an observant one but here's the files and as soon you find something, just let me know."

"Understood." Leaving Master Hand's office, Walking towards the left heading to the elevator. Coming from the right, he saw Zelda and Link walking obliviously towards his direction, behind him, he was able to see a man with blue hair caring a sword following them a few door lengths down. If he could recall the names of the captains, his name is Prince Marth. A leader where he is from but why would he be stocking them? Realizing he has been staring too long, he noticed Zelda's pearly blue eyes glancing at him wondering what he was looking at just until he noticed her eyes shifted towards Link who was wondering the same but watching her cheeks turn red, he realizes that she thinks that he was looking at her then suddenly, he walked a little quicker like if he was caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. Heading towards the elevator, Snake starts thinking to himself. Why am I nearly speed walking away from them anyway? It's not like I was looking at her. Although, she is pretty cute. Shaking his head as he made it to the third floor, he told himself, "get your head in the game Snake, no time for thinking about looks right now."

Approaching near his door in his little trans. Wishing that he was paying more attention, a figure had rammed right into him making him nearly stumble over his feet. Catching his Barings, he instantly went into his combat stance facing his assailant who was pointing their arm cannon at him. Looking into the white vizor of Samus Aran, he just gave her a neutral expression giving nothing away.

Staring at each other for what felt like minutes. He chirped up and said, "you think you can intimidate me? Can you shoot me?" Then with him grabbing her cannon then placed it by his heart. Continuing to stare at her, she started to charge up her beam but before she could do anything, he spoke up and told her, "I know you are a woman underneath that bulky power suit. So, stop hiding and stop stocking me. I know you're there." Knowing that she must be in shock, using that distraction, with a violent grab with his right hand grabbing her right-hand cannon with him pivoting his hip into her gut, with a throw, she was laid out in the middle of the hallway. Grabbing out his key, noticing her getting up. She pointed towards his room and with him feeling confused, she pushed him in then closed the door.

"Listen to me, I don't know who you are, why you are here, or what your mission is but to make things straight, I will not allow a terrorist in this mansion to linger to create plans." She said in a robotic voice.

"Is that the reason why you are here? I will say, you work pretty fast but I'm not you're enemy nor your friend especially a terrorist. My assignment means nothing to you except for the file I need to go over that you created."

"So, if you are not a terrorist Why do you need that file? Did Master Hand assign you for the missing ship?" She asked.

"Doesn't matter. I work for no one except for myself." He growled.

Moving away from the bounty hunter, he went to grab his cigarettes which were on the table around the corner. Pulling one out then grabbing his lighter and lighting it. He started to take a soothing puff off of it just until he started to cough. Amused with Snake's smoking habits, she said, "well, you wouldn't be hear if you didn't have a mission. Plus, you don't seem to be the vacation type."

"You'll be surprise but neither do you."

"And what does that supposed to mean?"

"Doesn't matter, but my reasonings doesn't fully include you." He said continuing to take a puff off of his cigarette.

"By the looks of it, it does include me. You need my files to grab suspects am I right and let me guess, you're not just a mercenary but you are also a secret agent correct?"

Fine." He gave in. telling her to come by giving her a hand signal. He grabbed out a chair and sat in front of his lab top then placed the flash drive that Master Hand gave him into one the slots and as he turned it on, she grabbed a chair then placed next to him. "Consider it as an offer. I wasn't sent here because of Master Hand. I was sent here by force and a little bit of persuasion since it was all I could do for my former mentor."

With the conversation becoming quiet, she suddenly askes as the computer slowly boots up, "How do you know I am a female and how did you get the file I gave to Master Hand?"

Well, I already answered that to that gloved hand and for the files, he handed it to me with him saying that once you perform your mission to grab more information about Meta Knight's ship, he would want me to go with you to infiltrate the internal side to figure out what is going on but of course, we would need to split our own ways." Then with some silence with her staring at him, he asked, " what?"

You never answered my first question. Master Hand is not me."

"Ugh… it's your face and your blond hair. You can tell if you look closely enough."

Giving her her answer, she can't believe to say that Adam was right. Then as the computer finally booted up, she said, "don't tell anyone or else I will kill you with no hesitations. Since were most likely going to work with each other and most likely you will be on my team for law enforcements but this is who you will be working with." Then she took off her helmet allowing the blond strands of hair to fall in front of her face.

With Snake's eyes falling off the screen of his lab top, glancing his eyes onto Samus's face, By the look of his eyes, Samus was able to see the astonish setting through.

""Let me guess, why would a beautiful woman like this be in a suit right?"

Ignoring her question, he asked, you have that much hope in me? I haven't even tested my abilities to see what I'm like against them. That man with the big mouth kind of gives me the creeps. Have you seen him? While hacking through the training rooms cameras to see what I'm going to be facing. He literally swallowed his motorcycle whole."

"What the…" shaking her head she said, "wait, did you know that I was a woman all a long and were you watching me?"

"Not even close. Most times it was you who was doing the watching but if I was, I would enjoy—" he got interrupted.

"Don't even finish that thought." She places her hands on her hips. "So, you did know. I should have known that I was dealing with a professional but, what happen in Shadow Moses?" She asked.

"None of your business. Whatever happen in Shadow Moses, stays in Shadow Moses." His flirting ways became brutal isolation. When glancing into his eyes, she was able to see the trauma he had Indore.

"Then how about the tanker incident? Both you and I know that story of you sinking that ship doesn't make sense. See, it shows right there." She points at the article on the main page in 2007's New York's daily page.

"It was all a set up. Let's just say I was there at the wrong place at the wrong time."

So, are or are you not a terrorist and are you a spy for the US military?

"I already told you. I work for no one except for my mentor and Master Hand. I don't care to be here. I was just intrigued in Smash's guns."

"And not the women." She smirked.

"Now knowing who you are. I can't help say that this adventure has gotten interesting but were getting off topic. Like my documents say. I am a mercenary but we collect money off of war funds."

"You say WE. Is there more of you?"

"WE as in only two but that doesn't matter. These expected choices such as ganondorf, Bowser, Wolf, King Deedeedee, and possibly Wario and R.O.B."

"And don't forget yourself." She interrupted.

"I already told you—"

"And I'm telling you that I don't fully trust you."

"Then why did you take off your vizor?" Stumbling for a response, he continued. "These are your expected traders?"

"Yes. Well, a possible link to the main head leader."

"Hmm… my friend and I are going to have to dig deeper. I do not have his extreme intelligence. I'm better with warfare."

I see…"

"This tournament, what is it fully? The only thing I know is if you win, you have a high chance to join one of leaders but if that is right, let's say, what if I do win and Zelda wants me to join her since I know she is a part of medical and I only have a basic understanding? Why couldn't the hands put us in our designated spots?"

"I can only assume that a second in command is a person who helps make decisions, make sure everyone is doing their part, and that is ready to defend and notify the captain for any important information." With him nodding a long while placing his dead butt in the ashtray, glancing towards her, she couldn't help look back into his eyes. The trauma like her own past, his scars of remembrance of those who have fallen and the careless attitude who just wishes to forget it all. So, absorbed into his eyes, she completely forgets the main reason she came. "I do hope you do win because now showing my face to you and if you lose—"

"I have endured worst but I'm not the leader type. Not like—" He cut himself off. Shaking his head, he says, "How about this, we can go over the information tomorrow during the dance."

"Sounds good with me. I'm not much of a dancer anyway."

"Why do you think I chose tomorrow."

"Well Snake." She stretched while placing her helmet on. "I must be going now. It was nice speaking with you."

"Like wise. Next time you point your cannon towards me, I won't just throw you down, I will break it. Just knock or find me in the shooting range."

With a chuckle, she said, "I love your threats but you're going to have to do better than that. I'll kill you before you even have a chance. I allowed you to. Maybe, I just wanted to see what you would do and also Snake." She paused. "Thank you."

"What are you going on about?"

"For not drooling like a dog."

"Trust me, it takes a lot more than a pretty face to swoop me off my feet. For example, whatever's under that suit."

Typical man."

"Really quickly, why do you wear that suit anyway?" He asked

"Getting personal now huh?"

"It's not like that." He crossed his arms.

"Oh, I see. Well, looks like you're gonna have to wait, now aren't you ?Since you have your secrets, I will hold in mine." Then as she stepped out from the door, he rolled his eyes and said, "Interesting one."