Chapter 15

Riki and Hal

"Hal, we need to go back to the lab. Snake might need us to look something up."

"Yeah…I know. We should be heading back but I need a few minutes alone."

"You sure?"

"Yeah…"

"Okay. I'll be over here when you're ready to go." Riki pointed to the trucks to the left side of the snowfield.

"All right." Hal began to say something but Riki couldn't make it out. She wanted to respect his wishes and give him some time alone.

Riki walked over to the nearest truck and sat on the tailgate. Man, this is sad. Very sad. Hal's over there talking to his closest friend who has just died and I'm not over there comforting him. Should I be? I mean he told me he wanted to be alone. Riki sighed. I guess I could try to comfort him when he's finished. What should I say? How should I react when he reacts however he does?

Well, looks like you're goin' ta have ta learn you're improv., there, Riki, said a strange voice in her head. It sounded like a kid.

"Who's there?" Riki said out loud. She was very scared, but spoke softly.

Don't you know me? the voice said again.

"No, who are you?"

I believe I am called Nikita…but I'm not exactly sure.

Riki looked down at the puppy in her jacket. Nikita licked the bottom of her chin. "Amazing! You can talk? Bark twice."

Nikita barked twice, just as Riki told him to.

"You can understand me?" Riki asked him.

Yeah, I can understand what you and anyone says. I can't really talk out loud like you can, but I can speak to whomever I wish. In they're mind. I think that Sniper Wolf called me "psychic and clairvoyant."

"Really? Cool. How come?"

Remember, you don't have to talk out loud. I can hear your thoughts. Anyway, Psycho Mantis tried to get some information out of me about Snake, I believe that's what you call him. Riki nodded. He thought that since I knew Hal, because he took care of me and my family, he could find out something he might've said about Snake. Didn't work. Hal never said anything. Nothing about anything but Sniper Wolf. When Mantis dove into my mind…he did something to it.

Oh, kind of like Meryl, right?

Yes, I think so…she could see mines?

Yeah, that's her.

Sniper told me about her.

Cool, do you know if she's okay?

Yes, she's fine. Just in great pain. I can see her in a cell sleeping right now.

You can see her?

Yes, I can see things that are happening at the present time with someone that I've met.

You've met Meryl?

Yeah…beautiful girl…she's a perfect match for Snake. That's my opinion.

Well, I agree. Do you have any other abilities?

One more. I can see the dead.

Really? Scary.

Not really. They won't hurt anyone else, unless they really mean to. I can see the dead that have refused to leave the Earth and admit that they have died. I guess unfinished business would fit into this category.

Can you see Sniper Wolf?

No, she was completely ready to die. She left nothing behind but memories to Hal and to me. You guys, too, I guess.

You're definitely no ordinary dog. No wonder Sniper intended to keep you. But I'll take care of you. You're my pet now, since she's gone. That okay with you?

Very. I didn't reveal myself to you before because I didn't trust you yet, but now I do. Please don't tell anyone. If I want them to know, I'll let them.

Okay. No problem. Here comes Hal.

Riki nodded. see

"I'm ready to go. We need to get back." His face was red. He'd obviously been crying. Nikita squirmed and told Riki that he wanted Hal to hold him. Riki took him out of her jacket and gave him to Hal.

"I think he want you…"

Nikita nuzzled Hal doing his best to comfort him. I loved her, too, you know, he said to Riki.

The three of them headed back to the computer lab. Riki was very happy. She could talk to Nikita now. She might need his help and he could be very useful.

Nikita reached out to Riki's mind. Riki…

Yeah? What's up? Something wrong?

No…I just wanted you to know that I want to be trained.

Trained to do what?

Fight. Like you guys. With you guys. When I get older, I want to fight beside you.

Why?

I don't know really. I just feel like I should want to. It's weird, but trust me.

Okay. I'll make sure that I train you. But you'll have to wait until we've all finished this mission. Are you willing to help us now if we need it?

Definitely. I can do a lot of things since I can understand people. I've learned that I can understand any language. I can translate. This is because I can read what one is thinking. It's cool. This could come in handy.

Yes, I agree. What about computer language.

Sorry, I'm not that cool. You'll have to go to Hal for that.

I knew that much, just checking to see if you were a hacker, too.

Ha, ha. Very funny. I'm smart but not that smart. I could learn, but don't really want to.

Just how smart are you?

I don't know. I couldn't tell you that. I do surprise myself.

Neat.

Hal was typing on the computer again. For no reason it seemed. He was typing away while Riki and Nikita were talking.He got a call on his codec. "Snake? What's up?"

"Get Riki on, too. She needs to hear this."

"Riki…" Hal pointed to his ear.

"Okay…I'm on." She clicked and Nikita asked if he could listen in. Yeah, you might need to know and I might not have the time to tell ya.

"Naomi's a spy."

"What?" Riki said completely confused.

"Master told me. She completely lied about everything she'd told me. Her grandfather was Japanese and Edgar Hoover was racist. There's no way he could've been in the FBI. Also, there wasn't a single Asian investigator."

"Why would she lie?" Riki asked him. "She's can't be a spy. I never really liked her but that sounds a little ridiculous. My uncle's a nut."

"No…I trust Mast-…you're uncle?"

"Yeah, didn't you know? I could've sworn I told you…anyway, go on."

"I trust Master. He wouldn't lie to me."

"Unless," Hal interjected. "Master's not really Master."

"Hal, babe, you're off you're rocker. Sorry, but it's true."

"No…think about it." Hal turned around to look at her. "Don't you think that if he had anything to do with this mission that he would've contacted you?"

"No…he might not have know that I'm here."

"Yeah," Snake said. "Campbell would've told him. Even though he didn't tell me, the bastard. He would've made sure he knew and kept you safe."

"Weird…" Hal said.

"That has to be my uncle…you guys are crazy."

"I guess so." Snake said.

"What else do you know?" Hal asked.

"Master told me that the Mafia undercover operations hadn't even been started yet in the '50s. They started in '60 in Chicago, not New York. He says that she's behind the strange happenings or that she's working with the terrorists. That's all I know right now. Well, the elevator's stopped, I've got to go rig-…Raven…gosh…" The codec clicked off.

"Snake…what happened?" Riki was yelling. "God…" Nikita, can you tell me what's going on?

I'll try…Snake's fighting a man with a raven tattoo. Must be him…Raven.

"Snake's fighting Raven! Again!"

"What? What do you mean again?" Hal asked.

"We had to fight him about an hour into this mission. We knew he wasn't dead but I didn't think he'd show back up."

"Well, let's just hope he'll be all right."

Riki hugged Hal. "Yeah…I'm sure he'll be okay."

He will. Nikita said to Riki. He will. Snake is strong…

Nikita said to Riki.

Chapter 16

Riki, Hal, Nikita, and Snake

"Snake will be okay…he's a good fighter…" Hal was muttering aloud as he paced the room.

"Why are you worrying?" Riki asked as she walked up to him. She took Nikita out of her jacket and placed him on the ground. Stretch your legs for a while, okay?

Okay, but I'll stay close by.

Riki put her arms around Hal's neck. "He's fought a lot of people…and Raven's not much of a match." Riki kissed him softly. "Remember…Snake's a big boy…"

"But…" Hal tried to talk but Riki wouldn't let him. She pulled him closer to her in a tight kiss. He thought of backing off so he could talk but gave in to her. It was almost impossible not to. She's so damn beautiful…he thought to himself.

Nikita walked over to the nearest desk and sat down under it in an effort to stay out of their way…whatever happens. He was a dog, not stupid.

Hal started to walk forward. "What are you doing?" Riki asked.

"Searching for…a wall…" Hal said amidst the passionate kisses. Riki smiled and walked whichever way he went. They were obviously paying more attention to each other than to where they were going because they were completely oblivious to the existence of the chair that was inching closer to them.

Riki, watch out…!

Before Nikita's cry could be heard, both Riki and Hal tumble over the now non-oblivious chair. Arms and legs were flailing in the air before the two lovers crashed into the hard floor. Same picture as always…Riki face up and Hal face down. "Why does this always happen to me?" Hal asked as he helped Riki up off the floor.

"Why does it happen to you? Because it happens to me, too."

"And where did that chair come from?…In the middle of the room…was that always there?" They both laughed harder than they had laughed all day. "Now…" Hal whispered. "Where were we?"

Riki picked up the chair they had fallen over and sat him down in it. "Right about…" she straddled him. "here…"

He kissed her first this time. He loved the way she kissed him back. Softly, but aggressive at the same time. He could feel the love pouring out of her…letting him take advantage, not the other way around. He could sense how much she really cared for him. It was odd to fall for someone in less than 24 hours, but it had happened to him.

Nikita got up from the place where he was comfortable and moved to the other side of the room. I'll try to give you as much privacy as possible, he directed to Riki.

Uh-huh… was all the she could manage so he left her alone.

Hal was in the process of taking off her jacket when he got a call on his codec.

"Snake, I'm gonna…this had better be good…" Hal answered, "What!"

"Geezes…what's your problem?" Snake asked.

"Sorry, Snake…What's up?"

Riki interrupted again…as usual. "Hey…we were busy…"

"Sorry…" Snake said. "It's important…so…listen."

"Go ahead," Riki said still straddling Hal.

"Raven's dead…"

"That's what you called to tell us?" Riki yelled. She was frustrated with Snake as much or even more so than Hal.

"Yes…but…that's not the main thing. Raven told me before he died that the DARPA chief that I saw die before me wasn't the DARPA chief at all but he was Decoy Octopus. He told me that Decoy could copy people down to the blood and so he drained the chief's blood and took it into himself so he could be him…sorta. I guess…get it?"

"Yeah," Hal said. "But why impersonate the DARPA chief?"

"I don't know…he wouldn't tell me any more. After that…he died. His ravens came and…well…ate him."

"Eesh…gross.." Riki said.

"Oh…and that's still not all."

"What next?" Hal asked.

"Master called me. He told me more about Naomi."

"What did he have to say?" Riki asked.

"Dr. Naomi Hunter is not Dr. Naomi Hunter at all."

"Huh?"

"Master told me that there was a Dr. Naomi Hunter but she's not the one the we know. The real Naomi Hunter disappeared somewhere in the Middle East. Our Naomi obtained her I.D. papers."

"Does he still think she's a spy?" Riki asked.

"Yeah…he says that she's definitely been sent to sabotage this operation. He had Colonel Campbell arrest her and wants her interrogated to find out who she's with. Campbell said something about us being in trouble if she is. Master asked him if she had anything to do with the deaths of Anderson and Baker. Campbell said he had no idea…but he doesn't keep things hidden very well. He's hiding something and I want to know what."

"Why hasn't Roy called me?" Riki asked. "I'm part of this mission yet he hasn't told me anything…called me at all…"

"He's probably trying to keep you safe…"

"But…he's being a deceptive asshole…I'm gonna call h-."

"No, Riki…don't. He won't…it won't help anyway. If he won't open up to me than he definitely won't to you."

"Okay…pump some info. for us…okay…"

"I'll try…I got to go…I'll call soon." The codec conversation ended and Riki looked at Hal.

"Rik…you're crying…are you okay?"

"I hate it when Roy hides shit…he always does and it always ends up hurting someone…this time it could be Naomi…she's not a spy!"

"I thought you didn't like her…"

"I don't but…"

"Oh…you care for her even though you don't really like her, right?" Riki nodded. "You have great character, you know that?" Riki smiled. Hal dried her tears then kissed her cheek. "Everything will work out, you'll see."

Riki…Nikita said. I'm here if you need me…

Okay…but I can talk to Hal, too, you know…

Yeah…

Nikita said.

Riki kissed Hal again and they were really getting into the moment when Nikita contacted her again.

What's up?

I need to talk to Hal…I'm going to so get him ready.

Okay…how do I do that?

Just tell him…you can do it.

Riki abruptly stopped kissing Hal. "What is it?" he asked her.

"Someone…well, Nikita needs to talk to you."

"Nikita? But he's a dog. I don't…"

"Let me tell you real quick. He's a psychic because Psycho Mantis dove into his mind and permanently affected him. He can talk to whomever he wishes and can read people's thoughts. He needs to talk to you and apparently it's urgent so don't ask me questions…just listen to him. Okay?"

"Yeah…Nikita…come here."

Nikita walked up to Hal. Hey…um…can you understand me?

Yeah, I gotcha…what's up? I can ask you about this later, right…?

Riki…you need to hear this, too. Yeah…um…I was listening to a guard that had touched me earlier…

"Okay," she said to Hal. "Nikita can see people in his mind if he's come into contact with them before…so he's watching a certain guard…get it? Continue, Nikita."

Okay…this guard was saying that Metal Gear is finished and ready…I think you need to tell Snake.

"I'll call him…" Hal said. "Thanks, Niky."

Niky? Riki asked him. He calls you Niky? Do you know how confusing this is gonna get?

Riki asked him.

Nikita laughed…well, barked…barked with amusement…whatever.

"Snake, it's me," Hal said to the codec. Riki turned hers on.

"What's wrong?" Snake asked.

"It looks like they've finished getting Metal Gear ready."

"How do you know that?"

"We overheard some of them talking…Where are you now?"

"In front of Metal Gear…but it's strange."

"What's strange? Well, besides you?" Riki asked.

Snake sighed. "There's nobody here…no guards…nobody patrolling…it…it's too damn quiet."

"That may be because they are all ready," Hal said.

"The PAL codes have been inputted," Riki said quickly. "Nikita told me," she mouthed to Hal. He nodded.

"What should I do? I've only got one of the three keys." Snake asked. "And besides, Ocelot said that there's a trick…"

"Leave it to me…" Hal said.

"You got a plan?"

"Well, I'm in the computer room…I'll try to access Baker's private files. Don't know why I never thought to in the first place…"

"Don't you need a password?"

"Yeah…but there are ways…"

"Are you a…hacker?"

"Yup. Pretty much. That area comes with being a computer expert."

"I'm counting on you, Otacon…" The conversation ended yet again.

"I don't doubt you can do it, Hal, you just need to hurry." Riki told him while she was standing up from her straddling position.

"Yeah, I know. Just gotta…" He began typing again. "Ah…Got it…" He called Snake. "Hey, Snake…"

"Whatcha got?"

"I'm past his 3rd security level. He was pretty careful."

"Do you think you can break in soon?"

"I've never met a system I couldn't bust into."

"Keep trying…"

"I am…ah…"

"What?"

"I did it!"

"You got passed security?"

"Bingo!"

"Great! So whaddya got?"

"I accessed the confidential Metal Gear file."

"What about the PAL override system that Baker talked about?"

"I haven't found that yet…"

"That's what I need to know!"

"Snake…I found something else!"

"What?"

"The secret behind the new nuclear weapon! Just as I thought, the nuclear warhead is designed to be fired form the rail gun like a projectile…it doesn't use fuel, so it isn't considered a missile. That way it can get around all sorts of international treaties."

Riki was looking over Hal's shoulder when Nikita climbed up to the desk where the computer was. Riki petted him.

"That's pretty sneaky."

"Yes, but effective. And that's not even the scariest thing about this weapon."

"Uh…I can't wait to hear this…"

"It's a stealth weapon! I guess I kinda knew that but it just hit me in retrospect!"

"The damn thing won't show up on radar?"

"Uh-uh. They've been working on a stealth missile since the late 70's."

"Why weren't they able to develop one up until now?"

"Because of the missile's rocket propulsion system…it will be picked up by enemy satellites."

"Oh. Yeah. That makes sense."

"But unlike a missile, the rail gun doesn't burn any propellant. So it can't be detected by any current ballistic missile detection systems."

"An invisible nuclear warhead…"

"Totally impossible to intercept. And on top of that it's got a surface piercing warhead designed to penetrate hardened underground bases."

"We learned that lesson in the Gulf War."

"This thing could mean the end of the world!"

"It's the ultimate weapon. And from a political point of view, it avoids the problem of nuclear reduction and nuclear inspections."

"Colonel, is this true? Are you listening?"

"I'm…listening…"

"If word of this got out…it could delay the signing of the Start 3 Treaty and cause a huge international incident."

"Yeah…" Hal said. "It would be nasty. The U.S. would be denounced by the U.N…it could even bring the president down…"

"Did you know this, Colonel?"

"I'm sorry…"

"You've changed…Colonel…"

"I won't make any excuses…"

"Snake," Hal interrupted. "Listen to me…This new nuclear weapon…it's never actually been tested…only simulated."

"You mean they ran a computer model?"

"Yes…that's why they were conducting this exercise. They needed to get actual experimental data to back up the simulation."

"What were the results of the exercise?"

"It looks like it went better than they hoped for. But…I can't find the data anywhere on this network. You'd think that data as important as that would be carefully recorded…"

"It was." Snake told him. "Baker gave me an optical disk with all of the test data."

"What?" Campbell yelled. "Do you still have it?"

"No…Ocelot took it from me."

Hal continued, "The terrorists have replaced the dummy warhead with a real warhead. Once they input the detonation codes, they should be ready to launch."

"So you think they can do it?"

"Well, the dummy warhead was designed to be identical to the real thing, so I think so, yeah."

"Did you find out how to override it yet?"

"Not yet…it must be in a separate file. Right now I'm looking through all of Baker's personal files."

"We're counting on you…" Snake said and the conversation ended.

"Hal," Riki said. "You got to look that up."

"I am…just wait a second…what's this?" He clicked on a file that wasn't titled. "Ah-ha. Gotcha…wait…" Hal called Snake back again.

"Hey, I got Baker's ulterior motive. He's looking to get rich…and ArmsTech is in really bad financial trouble…the file said something about a hostile takeover…So…everything was…"

"Riding on this project."

"Yeah…and it looks like we were paying a lot of bribe money to the DARPA chief. Also, Baker was a big proponent of the nuclear deterrent theory."

"I see…so, what about the override?"

"Just give me a little bit longer."

hey, I've updated…woot! Are you glad cuz I am. Anyway…what do you think about Riki and Nikita…cool, huh? I hope you still are liking…sorry about the game parts again…was not expecting that…um…yeah…

Tsugi