Introduction Part III

By Daredevil3181

Walking briskly up the stairs, the spy's breathing was slightly labored. In today's high-tech world, information was the key to gaining the advantage over your opponents. With it, one could plan ahead and come off as a genius, while those caught unaware would end up dumbfounded and inept. Or worse, face down in a forgotten ditch somewhere.

In the race to improve her odds in this tournament, the espionage veteran didn't notice the man entering the stairwell and almost trampled him.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" exclaimed Leon. "I've met elephants quieter than you."

"Yes, well sorry about that," Joanna Dark apologized. "I'm in a bit of hurry and the elevator's out of order."

"Why the rush, though?" the former STARS officer queried. "Oh wait, I get it. Women's bathroom overflow again?"

Joanna just shot him an annoyed look. "Actually I'm heading over to Freeman's room."

"Freeman?" Leon asked incredulously. "What can he do for you? That guy can barely help himself sometimes."

"He might give that appearance, but underneath that exterior lays a tremendous intellect, or so I've heard."

"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," said Leon, rolling his eyes.

"You might be interested to know that," Joanna explained. "He is your opponent this upcoming round."

"I won't have any trouble," Leon assured her. "You just watch." He then walked past her and continued his way down toward the bottom floors.

'I have a feeling he's a bit too overconfident for his own good,' thought Joanna. 'But that's not my concern. I have to prepare for my own match.' She then turned and continued her ascent.

Upon reaching the 21st floor, the spy pushed open the door. Freeman was in room 2115. According to the signs posted, she needed to go toward the right. As Joanna got closer to his door, she could hear laughter coming from the room.

'What the…?' she wondered as she gave a strong knock on the door.

"Come in," she heard a male voice say. "The door's open."

A little shocked at the lack of security the man had, Ms. Dark pushed right on in. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight she saw next.

Sitting on his bed, a laptop flipped open with some sort of program running in the background, was the information guru himself, glasses and all. But standing next to him was a beautiful blonde woman, who was wearing some sort of mesh body suit. At her feet were pieces of some complicated armored suit.

"Excuse me…" began Joanna, but she was quickly interrupted.

"Rock, paper, scissors…shoot!" said the two in unison. Gordon's hand remained in the shape of a rock, while the woman formed her hand in the symbol of paper.

"Damn," Gordon chuckled. "Guess you take this one too. I can never seem to win."

"Am I interrupting anything?" asked Joanna.

"Not really," the woman replied. "We were just having a little fun. Taking the edge off before the fighting starts."

"Do I know you?" inquired Joanna.

"You've seen me before," smiled the woman. "But probably not like this." She then gestured at the armor on the ground.

"Master Chief? But I thought he was a man."

"He is," the blonde answered coldly. "I'm Samus Aran."

"Oh, my mistake," apologized Joanna. "Anyways, what are you doing here in Mr. Freeman's room?"

"Well, believe it or not, my room is just across the hall from here," Samus explained. "Gordon knocked on my door with a half-empty bottle of Johnny Walker Blue. Not wanting to drink alone, he asked for my company in finishing it off."

"A fan of the top shelf, I see," mused the spy.

"We started talking about our different experiences with people, aliens, and weapons," Gordon added. "We seem to have a bit in common, despite the fact that I fancy the crowbar and she is drawn to something called a 'Charge Shot'. But enough of that, what can I do for you?"

"I understand you're the one to come to for information," Joanna said slyly.

"That's right," Gordon sardonically smiled. "I'm a veteran of every single incarnation this tournament has had. I've observed everyone fight and written it all down."

"But you've never won a match," Joanna stated, doubt in her voice.

"I always get called away on other business," Gordon shrugged. "When the G-Man 'requests' my presence I really can't refuse. If I value my life that is. All of those matches were pretty much lost on purpose. If I really tried I could devise a strategy to take down pretty much anyone here."

"Yes, I'm sure," Joanna humored him. "About that information, though…"

"You seem to doubt me," Gordon poked. "I'm sure someone like you wouldn't care about what I have to say."

"Well, it's not that, it's just…"

"300 dollars," Gordon blurted.

"What?" Joanna practically yelled. "It can't be worth that much."

"Oh, but it is," Gordon smiled. "And so much more."

"I sincerely doubt it…how about 100?" Joanna haggled.

"250," the bespectacled man said, not missing a beat.

"175."

"200, lowest I'll go."

"Deal," Joanna begrudgingly admitted. She dug through her pack and pulled out the exact amount. Gordon grabbed it and thumbed through it, making sure it was all there. Satisfied, he stuffed it in his pocket and in one smooth motion took a disc out of the laptop and tossed it to her.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Gordon said. "And don't even think about copying that thing for others. I encrypted it so much that it would even take me weeks to crack it and I was the one who wrote the damn thing."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Joanna flashed her smile, as she thought, 'Sucker.'

'She's lying through her teeth,' Gordon realized. 'But let her try. I wasn't lying about that copy protection.'

"I'll show myself out," the espionage master said, as she walked out and closed the door behind her, leaving the unlikely pair alone once again. She then hurried back down to her own room where her computer station was waiting.

When she got there, she threw in the disc and began browsing through the files. She was astounded at the details and the analyses of the contestants the disc provided her. Everything was here, including snippets concerning some of the newcomers. She was just about finished looking up the plumber she would face, when a speck of dust fell on to her shoulder.

"Hello, Fisher," she said, with a sigh.

"This place could really use a good cleaning," stated Sam Fisher, as he slid out of the air duct with barely a sound. "So, it seems you made good on my tip and procured the disc. How much?"

"200."

"The little nerd drives a hard bargain," Sam observed. "Well, now to keep my end of the deal." He reached into his own pouches and pulled out a crisp 100 dollar bill. Joanna took it and handed him the disc.

"I'll have it back by tomorrow," Sam said matter-of-factly, as he left just as stealthily as he arrived.

'You better," Joanna thought. 'I know which room is yours.'

------

Master Chief had been through a lot these past few years. Between going to other worlds, coming back to Earth, and fighting as many of the Flood as he could get his hands on, he had a full plate and he couldn't help but to think back on the things he'd seen and done at times like this. Inspecting his armor and weapons, the marine was snapped out of his reverie by a knock on the door.

Mater Chief opened the door and the man in black calmly sauntered in.

"Hope your AI is as good as you say it is," said the guest.

"It'll get the job done," stated Master Chief. "Just let me see the disc."

"Here," the man said, as he flashed it in his hand. "But I need my payment first."

"Fine," Master Chief breathed under his helmet. He walked over to his dresser and grabbed 50 dollars. The two then swapped what they were holding, completing the transaction.

"I need that back by tonight," the man instructed Master Chief. "So be quick."

"Don't worry about me, Fisher. You just make sure you're back here by then."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," Sam said, as he slid out of the room and closed the door without a sound.

'Let's get to work, Cortana,' Master Chief thought, as he began to analyze the disc.

------

Standing on the roof of the hotel, the man formerly known as Naked Snake was taking a long drag on his cigarette. It was the last in his pack and he wanted to savor this one as much as he could. There weren't many times when he could just get away from it all and relax, but he did enjoy them whenever they came.

He was thinking of everything that had led him up to this point. His mission to find and stop the Shagohad, the sacrifice of his mentor, The Boss, the part he had played in the Les Enfantes Teribles program. These parts of his life were always in front of him and to deny them was to deny his very existence.

"Still enjoying that nasty habit, I see," a familiar voice called out behind him.

Big Boss would have recognized that arrogant tone anywhere. "Ocelot…"

"Don't act so happy to see me," Revolver Ocelot said, dripping with sarcasm.

"I still haven't forgiven you for all that you've done," Big Boss warned him. "I can never know whose side you're truly on."

"Yes, yes, but that's all in the past," Ocelot said. "For now we are in a temporary truce. Besides, I brought what we needed." He flashed something silver in the fading sun's light.

"One of his discs I assume," Big Boss breathed. "How much was it?"

"250," Ocelot replied. "I might have been able to work him down lower, but he had some muscle around him that was just looking for an excuse to fire at me."

"Shame," Big Boss said. "Well, should we have a look at it?"

"All in due time," Ocelot said. "But first, there's a favor I have to ask of you."

"I don't like carrying debts and I don't trust you."

"That's fine, but believe me when I say this is an opportunity that might benefit both of us. It seems the other silver-haired one needs us to get him something…"
"And why should I care?" Big Boss cut him off.

"It belongs to the person you face," Ocelot said, matter-of-factly.

"I'm listening," Big Boss said, liking the direction this next assignment was going. If he could get any advantage over his opponent he'd take it. Playing between the lines wasn't anything he had problems doing, so long as it benefited him in the end.

"I thought you'd see things my way," Ocelot sneered.