ShardclawK: Here's the second revised chapter, folks. While I'm going through the revisions, I'll also be editing out only MOST of the unnecessary omakes for the story. Anyway, enjoy as always.
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ShardclawKusanagi presents:
Metal Gear: Soldier X
Chapter 2: Strictly Business
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Location, near the exit of the recreation area inside NERV Headquarters, in the Geofront in Toyko-3...
"Pay up, Mana!" Kari showed a hand to Mana as they were seated at the spectator's seat, meters away from the VR Training room. "I told you...there's no one that can beat Scorpion's kill count in elimination mode under two minutes. He's just too dangerous."
"Awww, shucks, Mana. Again?" Kari complained, as she offered some yen to her friend.
James 'Silent Scorpion' Masterson came out of the hall; his right arm was still fresh with wounds he made from the two hours of training with his knife throwing and sniping expertise. He had an almost dead serious look on his face, even when he approached the girls who were also friends from FOXHOUND.
"That was awesome as usual, Scorpion!" Mana chirped happily. "I'm sure that if Garland saw that, he would be impressed."
"Yeah, sure. But then again, I was just doing it because I'm not in such a good mood." Scorpion replied. He had been trying his best to give the Second Child, Asuka some support for the longest while, but every time he offers a hand, she pushes him and others away.
Mana placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, James. I'm sure Asuka will come to her senses soon and drop her behavior. I don't know what could be making her so angry like this, but I'm sure it will pass."
"I'm hoping it does. Or else, I don't know what else I'm going to do around someone like that. Normally, Greg would advise me about how he would deal with situations like her." Scorpion said.
"Nah, Greg never had trouble landing a lady with him, Linn in particular." Kari chuckled. "Hey, let's check Michael and see what he up to with that Evangelion thing."
Mana and Scorpion nodded with her and began to walk. Along the way, they met Rei Ayanami, still wearing her plugsuit.
"Excuse me, Scorpion, is it?" Rei asked stoically.
"Yes, what is it, First Child?" Scorpion replied, trying to stay friendly to the albino girl.
"I was wondering what had happened to Kinezono. There was something I needed to ask him."
"Sorry, Rei. Greg left the city some hours ago. He won't be back in a week." Mana replied.
"I see." Rei said, hanging her head a little.
"Hey, would you like to come along with us to Dr. Hunter and Ritsuko's office?" Kari asked, holding unto Rei's arm.
Rei looked at the girl in surprise. "Well, I..."
Without an answer from Rei, she was pulled along with Kari to Ritsuko's office. Scorpion simply shook his head and walked along with the trio of girls.
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Michael Hansen, otherwise known in FOXHOUND as Venom, was seated near a computer in Ritsuko's office, as was Naomi Hunter, who was seated behind him, talking to Ritsuko and Misato about the members of the organization. One of them in particular was Greg himself. Some moments later, Scorpion, Rei, Mana and Kari entered the room.
"Meryl mentioned that Greg had an artificial right hand?" Misato asked, while drinking a cup of coffee. "Is it some kind of prosthetic, because shortly after he exposed his joint where the arm was supposed to be, it regenerated!"
"Yes, it was the same nanomachines that are keeping him alive that are responsible for that, Misato." Naomi replied. "The nanomachines are capable of regenerating lost limbs, as well as healing wounds."
"Does this include mortal wounds?" Ritsuko asked.
"Only to a minimum, they won't be able to repair serious decapitations and at most times; they won't work fast enough to heal the wound in time. That's why he needs a re-supply of new colonies to help him cope with his powers before they go out of control." Naomi said.
"Is that why he needs the painkillers most of the time?" James asked.
"That and anti-depressants." Naomi said. "He's had a history of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for years now and he's trying his hardest not to lose it, especially with his powers on the edge most of the time."
"But…it's hard to think someone that confident and carefree most of the time is actually suffering like that." Ritsuko said. "What also strikes me as well is his choice for a prosthetic."
"There's an explanation for that." Naomi took a deep breath before she spoke. "A year before Second Impact...Greg lost his parents and his younger sister from a detonated C4 explosion which terrorists were responsible. This was while he and his family were on a trip to visit some relatives in the United States. It was terrible, over thirty dead, and several others injured...and Greg was in the between on both those lists."
"How cruel…" Misato shook her head, remembering how she lost her father to a similar fate.
Naomi continued. "When the rescue workers found him under rubble, they thought he was just another lifeless corpse. To everyone surprise, he woke up suddenly, screaming how he wasn't able to protect his parents. He was nine years old at that time. He was too delusional to even see that his own right hand was mangled beyond recognition. They were at the wrong place at the wrong time...or so the authorities and those at FOXHOUND thought at the time..."
"I don't understand..." James asked.
"The terrorists were intentionally sent to kill off the legacy that Greg's father was carrying, namely a special gene to emulate Psycho Mantis' psychic powers." Naomi said. "When Greg's father was still alive, he was head of genetics, and technology. Came from a very prestigious family, I heard, but his mother had suffered a breakdown before the incident and Greg, even at a young age had been taking care of her and his younger sister since then; better than his father had while he was away on trips."
"Okay, but what I don't get is the deal with his powers. Like, how did he get them?" Misato asked.
"As much as I want to go into detail about that, even for me, talking about Greg's past is kind of hard. Especially since he was sought out by Dr. Clark right after he lost his family." Naomi said.
Ritsuko and Misato shook their heads, as Kari and Mana sniffed.
"Before he was sent back to Trinidad, his original homeland, his right hand was amputated for the sake that his whole right arm wouldn't get infected." Naomi continued. "But shortly after he returned home, his family's estate was taken from him by one of his father's colleagues who had been working alongside him in the genetics field. Greg, as a result, was orphaned and abandoned by the time Second Impact hit. Half of the southern area of Trinidad was sunken and Greg had to leave the country shortly afterwards when it became too dangerous to live on."
"But how did he manage to survive after all of that?" Misato asked as Naomi stayed quiet.
"It's a wonder to think that's possible…" Naomi simply said as Michael talked now.
"Naomi, just who is this colleague that took Greg's home away from him?" Michael asked.
"It was my predecessor, and Gregory's father best man for his genetic projects...Dr. Clark." Naomi simply said.
(The man who made Grey Fox into a cyborg ninja!) Michael thought, recognizing the name.
"Greg's father assisted Dr. Clark in creating the gene that possibly gave Greg his psychic talents. Clark had actually been the one who perfected the gene's design, but it was all Greg's father who took the credit into implanting an imperative, or an objective into the gene that would have effect on the host's mind. In a way, Greg is the closest thing you can get to Mantis."
"But...even up to this day...not even I know how originally based this growing power that Greg has is actually sub-conscious based, or genetically strengthened origin, or its point of destination. They all have a mysterious gap." Naomi placed a pen at her lips. "Somewhere along the lines, Greg would probably discover aspects of his power that weren't possible before, since he's still in the learning process of combat, both average and psychic. But even without them, he's had a lot of training to get him this far. He should be okay while he's away from the group."
Misato said, sipping on her cup once more. "You said that he's heading back to FOXHOUND headquarters to see what this Lt. Reese wants with him, Naomi?"
Scorpion growled slightly to the sound of that name.
"Actually, Greg has been excused to head to old Tokyo first to take care of some...personal business with his surrogate mother, Rio Kinezono." Naomi said, taking out a picture of Greg who was looking unfortunate right between the chests of Rio, Nanvel and Maya Jingu and Team Warrior. Scorpion and Michael stepped in closer to see the beauties that were strangely Greg's family. "The blond haired one is Rio alright, while the pink, pony tailed hair girl is Lilica Ebett. This one's Maya Jingu and her friend's Nanvel Candlestick. The male is Yuji Naruo and the other woman with them is Maki Kawasaki. It was Rio who took Greg in after he lost everything and trained him in all he knows, as did Nanvel and Maya."
"That's...Greg's mother!" James exclaimed. "She looks nothing like him! No fair that Greg had even women this good-looking being his 'family'."
Michael simply smiled at Scorpion. "You really can't blame the man, James. I'm pretty certain now that he has his reasons for keeping this from the rest of us, though most of them are unknown to us for now…"
"Anyway, I've known Rio for a long time, and she wanted me to take Greg into FOXHOUND to use his talents, in exchange that I can least help him with dealing with his abilities. Her friends also took part of making Greg into who he is today." Naomi continued. "Col. Campbell and Meryl are the only other persons who know that Greg possess such an ability. But..."
"But what, Naomi?" Michael asked.
"When last I checked with Rio, Greg's condition was stable enough that he didn't need a physical check. But Reese ordered it, suspecting Greg wasn't well." Naomi said. "Now that the world knows that Greg is a psychic soldier with that kind of power inside of him..."
"All I can say is that Greg had better be careful and not to trust Reese." Scorpion cut in. "And Reese better pray for his sake that he doesn't interfere with what's important to Greg, or else..."
Mana and Kari couldn't help but nod in agreement, while Michael leaned back to think. (Hmmm...Lt. Reese...what is it about Greg that has you so interested in him?)
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Meanwhile, in FOXHOUND headquarters, Col. Campbell had been sitting in his seat for the past forty minutes, contemplating about the current situation of the group working with NERV and Philanthropy against the current terrorist threat, Dead Cell. Now to add to the original problems, he had just been briefed by Rose and Meryl that the Commander of NERV, Gendou Ikari, had been returned to NERV as a corpse after Snake and Raiden managed to seize Arsenal Gear from the hostiles.
Just as he was about to pick up the phone to contact Meryl once more, a figure entered the office, also wearing a FOXHOUND military dress uniform and he was holding a dossier. It was Lt. Matthew Reese.
From the audience, a set of boos came from the fans, which were including Misato, Lilica, Rune himself and Iori Yagami of King Of Fighters.
Misato: Booooooooo!
Lilica: What a fag!
Rune: Nobody called you to show up ever, wanker man!
Iori: Pssshh...Waste of semen...
Ahem...Back to the show: (Sorry, Rune! I just had to do that! Some of your influence is responsible for that, you know...)
"Campbell! What is this order from that niece of yours that says that Panther won't come back in a week, when it was my orders that he was to return to HQ since yesterday?" Reese asked angrily.
"Reese..." Campbell tried to assure the Lieutenant that things were stable in the FOXHOUND group for now, but since Scorpion's mission from Cuba and now Greg's revelation, he has been applying pressure to get his own way in the group for as long as he can get it. "...Panther's on his own mission right now."
"What did you just say?" was Reese's reply.
"A little private matter of his came up shortly after the 14th Angel was defeated, and he must tend to it." Campbell said coolly. "He won't be available to assist anything involving FOXHOUND for the time being, so as of now, Panther is on a temporary stay out of FOXHOUND until his personal affairs can be dealt with fully."
"Bullshit! You're just defending him, Campbell! Just like you always do with your other recruits!" Reese spat out. "You can act all cool that only three of our male recruits are capable of handling a mission, but in reality, they are nothing but an unstable and uncontrollable group of loose cannons that are making FOXHOUND a disgrace in the eyes of the general public! I won't put up with having someone as dangerous as Panther being out there in the open public with all of that power he has within him!"
"Listen, Reese...I may not know what is it that you find...unusual...about the current members of FOXHOUND, but you must understand that if it wasn't for someone as powerful as Greg...Snake and Raiden, as well as the other recruits with them in Japan would have perished." Roy explained seriously. "I don't make exceptions about particular recruits that have threatening abilities or powers, as long as they know that the threat must be stopped one way or another...even if it means using whatever specialties they may have attained, whatever they may be."
Reese only glared at Campbell in silence before he turned his face to the door. "Let me make myself clear on this, Campbell, this is far from over. You may have gotten away with what happened with Scorpion...but this time, I'll see to it personally that Panther never sets foot in FOXHOUND again for the recklessness he has caused! And I promise you that you won't be able to cover his ass this time!" Reese stepped out, slamming the door behind him as Campbell sat back, thinking deeply to what he was just told. He came to a decision and picked up his phone.
"Tokyo-3 NERV Headquarters? This is Col. Campbell of FOXHOUND..." Roy spoke to the other end, which was directed to the now general FOXHOUND/NERV/Philanthropy connection. "I just need to speak to Michael Hanson, please. You'll put me through? Thank you."
Just then, Michael's voice was then heard at the other end of the receiver. "Col. Campbell? What is the problem?"
"It's Reese. He knows that Panther has left FOXHOUND to assist Rio and her friends in a personal matter, and he does not like it one bit, to say the least." Campbell said.
"Naomi was just telling me about Greg. I was guessing that Reese would want him for some reason..." Venom said. "Is this what you are calling about, Colonel?"
"Yes. Has Greg left NERV already?"
"Just two hours ago, before sunset." Venom replied. "What's the problem?"
"Listen, I'm worried that Reese is planning something nasty for Greg. I don't want to get you involved, now that you're assisting NERV in the problem with the terrorists, but..."
"You still feel it would be best that I go and back Greg up, or at least keep an eye on him, am I right?"
"You don't have to leave Tokyo-3...just keep in contact with Greg about what Reese is planning and find out what his next COA will be. Greg must be prepared for the worst, even if that comes from one of our very own." Campbell explained.
"I'll see what I can come up with by the meantime here, Colonel." Venom said.
"Wait until the next day or so to contact Greg, and be sure to keep you're monitor off so as not to let the Patriots or Reese listen in while you're on Codec." Campbell spoke. "That is all, Venom."
"Alright, Col. And thanks for the warning." Venom said as he logged off.
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Back in Japan, old Tokyo...
"Rio...is in a coma?" Greg stuttered while seated on the couch inside the living room of Team Warrior's new temporary home. In that room with him, stood Yuji, Maya and Nanvel as she fixed the wound he had got earlier from the gunshot fired by one of the Patriots flunkies.
He found it was a surprise that Lilica wasn't around to be a part of this, but he has no idea that the person he can have the closest to having a little sister has been kidnapped...yet. "How the hell is that even possible?"
"Ummm..." Nanvel looked down to hide the shame that covered her face (and her large breasts) with a shade of red.
"Did something happen while I was in Tokyo-3? What exactly happened to her and where's Lilica?" Greg asked loudly.
"Greg...there's something that you should know about that..." Yuji spoke, as he was still wearing his Police Town uniform. "We think Lilica was kidnapped by the people who attacked Rio and the restaurant."
"What did you just say?" was the reply from Greg's mouth as he ignored the pain from his arm while Nanvel began applying stitches. "Lilica was kidnapped? Where were you guys when this happened?"
"We were investigating that Dead Cell incident at the time. We managed to get some leads on what they could be planning, but at the time, Rio and Lilica stayed at the restaurant to provide us intel about Arsenal being in Japan."
"Rio was worried about you...she was concerned about how your powers would affect the status of your health." Maya confessed.
"Sounds like an obvious excuse to get herself into this mess..." Greg replied. "Guys, why do you insist on putting yourselves, including Lilica in the heat of this situation?"
"But, Greg...we had to. You're practically a walking terror, now that you've revealed those powers to everyone from FOXHOUND and probably the world." Nanvel spoke. "Rio just wanted to make sure that things didn't get out of hand for the nanos that are keeping you alive."
"And were they any problems?" Greg asked.
"Umm...no..." she replied.
"Did Maki even authorize this in the first place? Surely, she of all people would have seen something like this coming if you're going to get involved with Dead Cell's business." Greg said.
"We didn't want you to panic or get the rest of your FOXHOUND friends involved." Nanvel spoke.
Greg simply twitched his right eyebrow. "Rio's seriously hurt, Lilica's kidnapped by someone we have no clue of, the ramen restaurant we worked so hard to create is partially destroyed...and you're telling me not to overreact? It's a little too late to say that my friends and I are in trouble because of the enemy, Nanvel. I thought you were being careful."
"We're sorry, Greg, really we are." Nanvel said, her face lowered. "We messed up big time on this, didn't we?"
"Definitely." Greg simply replied. He placed a hand on his temple to collect his thoughts before he can speak. "Has whoever took Lilica made any demands or calls? Anything?"
Maya shook her head sadly as Yuji spoke. "No, we couldn't get any clues except that Rio was still conscious when we found her."
"She only mentioned that Mantis attacked the restaurant and he took Lilica." Nanvel said. "Oh, I don't think I can carry on with this...it's too much..."
Greg rested his head back, trying to fight back any negative thoughts and the emotions as well. (Lilica...my little lilac...) he thought to himself the nickname he usually called her long ago. He clenched his fists hoping that she'll be alright.
"Greg, the best we can do right now is not to worry of what Mantis will do to Lilica. For all we know, he may be working alongside Ocelot and Dead Cell and that could get very dangerous..." Maya said, who was wearing a tight t- shirt that hugged her cleavage enough that Greg swore she wasn't wearing bra and a short-cut jeans that hugged her behind well enough that part of her tight and firm butt cheeks were showing.
"It already has gotten dangerous, Maya. Tokyo-3 is still under yellow alert even after yesterday, not to mention we've gotten nowhere with the investigation or anything else involving Dead Cell, the Patriots, or how much more complicated this situation can get for the time being." Greg only shook his head.
"I'm sure Lilica is okay. If Mantis is smart, the most he would do with her is just having her as unharmed bait." Yuji said in an attempt at reassurance.
"How can you say something like that, Yuji?" Nanvel said. "Lilica is part of Team Warrior, almost like family. Well, the only family to Greg anyway..."
"No, Yuji's got a point." Greg said, even though he hated to agree with the idea. "Though the enemy is far from done trying to mess with our lives like this. I'm referring, of course, to my visit back to the restaurant where those flunkies attacked me."
"What? You're saying those bastards who attacked Rio came back?" Yuji asked.
Greg simply nodded with his arms folded. "What surprised me is that they were wearing similar suits that almost looked like the Tengus from Arsenal Gear. They weren't as tough, but it was a grave miscalculation on my part for thinking you guys would be safe from the eye of the enemy forever, not to mention how I confronted them…I thought they wouldn't be packing such serious firepower. This is my fault really if I hadn't attracted too much attention."
"Those suits they were wearing are probably a different kind of Special Forces suits, I bet." Nanvel said. "But still, why would they come back to the restaurant?"
"They were probably expecting me." Greg simply replied, which got a shock from the people around him. "After I managed to defend myself from them, I was able to capture and interrogate one of them. He confessed Mantis and the Patriots wanted me to come along with them."
"So Mantis was behind all of this after all!" Yuji shouted, shaking his fists.
"But before I could get more out of him, he died from an explosion in his brain, just like Commander Ikari's symptoms before he died." Greg explained.
"Commander Gendou Ikari is dead?" Maya asked. "How did that happen?"
"It's a long story...I'd rather not talk about it right now after everything..." Greg shook his head. "Listen, guys...the most we can do from here on in, is pray to God that Mantis will leave Lilica safe, while it's up to us to try to figure out where she was taken to and why Mantis is alive, much less doing something like this."
"Oh, Greg...again, we're so sorry about all of this..." Nanvel got up and hugged Greg. "This was all Rio's idea to make sure that you're safe..."
"Don't blame yourselves for what happened. I doubt Mantis would try to harm Lilica to provoke me...at least not yet." Greg said sternly. "Does Maki know what happened?"
Nanvel nodded her head silently.
"Okay, first thing in the morning, we go to Police Town and have a group talk with her. That's probably the safest place to be right now from the Patriots watch, and also to get planned on what we should do about this. Also, I have this..." Greg took out the optic disk he was carrying.
"Is that...?" Maya stopped as she looked at the disc.
"This contains the information concerning the names of the Patriots, and about the new Metal Gear, Ultimatum." Greg said. "I'm telling you guys, this is bigger than even the folks at Philanthropy, FOXHOUND and NERV had thought."
"Greg, if you have any important details about this, save it for the morning. It's getting really late, and you look like hell." Maya said.
"You're right, Maya. Now's not the right time to get ourselves more stressed out than it is." Greg said. "Look, I should apologize as well about how I reacted. It's normal but, you guys are my family. Next time I'll try not to get worked up so easily on you."
"You have your reasons, Greg. We understand that." Yuji smiled.
"Anyway, just where is Rio?" Greg asked.
"She's in her room, recovering. The wound wasn't as serious as it looked." Nanvel said.
"Thank God..." Greg muttered. "I assume that you're using the nanos as always to repair the damage done to her?"
"She only suffered a concussion to the back of her head, nothing serious that it can cause anything like head trauma." Nanvel continued. "But she does have to stay in bed for awhile for the nanomachines to operate well on her body."
"And here I was worrying that she was in critical condition." Greg simply grinned. "Good work, Nanvel."
Nanvel only blushed at Greg for awhile before she spoke. "Hey, Greg, if you want to, you can see Rio. But first..."
"Huh?" Greg replied in stunned mode.
"You deserve a hot bath after what you went through. Maya and I will fix you something to eat by the meantime." Nanvel pushed Greg to the back. "There's a hot springs behind the house, go enjoy yourself and relax."
"Hey, stop teasing me like that...just let me see Rio first, okay?" Greg insisted, feeling a bit flustered.
"Alright, Greg. Try not to wake her, alright?" Maya patted him before she hugged him as well.
Greg took off his jacket, while leaving on his shirt and hung it on the jacket rack. As he started to walk upstairs, Nanvel called out to him.
"Oh by the way, Greg, how did you know just where to find us?" she asked.
"Oh, I had a friend who knew exactly just what trouble you had gotten yourselves into..." Greg simply replied as he headed upstairs.
"Gee, I guess all of that time away from us made you all FOXHOUND on us, Greggie." Maya smirked, making him blush.
"Aww, cut it out, Maya. I'm just looking out for you guys." Greg nervously smiled. "You really think so?"
Maya and Nanvel both nodded at the same time. Greg simply smiled as he turned around to continue to walk upstairs.
It didn't take him Greg to find Rio's room. He actually can sense her presence from inside the room without using his psychic powers. Slowly, he breathed deeply as he opened the door, preparing his heart for the worst sight.
He looked on the bed before him in the dimly lit room and saw Rio, dressed in a white robe, her extremely long, pure blonde hair spilled all over the pillow. Her body was curled up into a ball, her long legs hugging her chest. Greg pulled a chair near the bedside and watched her snore gently. He can see the bandage wrapped around her forehead, as he reached out to touch her soft, smooth face.
(Sensei...) Greg thought, while looking at her. He can feel his eyes begin to water again; he felt he was getting too emotional after all that was happening. The battle against the 14th Angel brought out his true nature, and certainly he felt Rio was just waiting for him to use his powers to protect a place as big as NERV. He knew she would be proud of what he done.
"What did I do wrong to make this happen?" Greg said to himself quietly as his body shook with emotions of sadness and regret. "Why is it that wherever I do and go, it sometimes brings pain to those closest to me?"
He then shuts his eyes for a moment to think for awhile, little he knew that he was too tired keep awake. Instantly, he fell asleep while seated next to Rio and his thoughts went back to that day that changed everything for him...
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"Over here! There are more of them here!" shouted an NYPD fire officer, who had just cleared some of the rubble of a crime scene where a bomb had detonated near a shopping mall in one of the busy areas of the city. The date was June 18, 1999, a bright Saturday morning in the district area outside of New York.
Among the victims of the attack, thirty dead, several others injured, laid out in bloody, broken corpses, covered in dirt and rubble, broken glass and debris. The fire that emitted from the gas lines underneath the pavement were finally put out, allowing the rescue workers to enter the almost unrecognizable scenery that was once the crowded with lively people.
"This is terrible." one of the rescue workers said, shaking his head. "Whoever did this, knew just where to strike. Right at the one of the busiest shopping malls in America."
"Hey, can at least one of you give me a hand over here?" the fire officer shouted. The rescue workers saw the officer and ran to assist him. When they came to him, they can only see a group of corpses with the same color.
"Damn...this must be a family that was caught in the blast..." the fire officer said. "Afro-American, judging from the skin tone..."
The rescue worker walked up to the smallest corpse, a young dark colored boy, no younger than ten, was laying near a lager body, which was burnt beyond recognition. His right hand was mangled beyond anyone's guess that the rescue worker almost gave up hope for the victim. His black, short cut hair was covered in dust, while blood was flowing over his shut right eye. He was wearing casual clothing, now tattered and bloodied by the attack.
"Poor kid...even he didn't deserve to die so young." the rescue bent to pick up the body, after checking the vital signs to see if he was still alive. "Weak pulse...but he's going to make it in time if we get him some medical attention..."
Suddenly, the 'corpse' woke up suddenly, surprising everyone around him. The rescue worker nearest him held the startled youngster.
"Hey, take it easy, kid. You're hurt badly..." The rescue worker said to the boy. "Tell me...do you remember what your name is? Can you tell me?"
"G...Greg Matthews..." he stuttered in shock, his pupils were dilated due to the blinding light he had seen before the explosion. He looked around to see if his parents were still alive. "Mom? Dad? Candice? Where's my family?"
"Sorry, kid...you're the only survivor we had seen since we got here."
Greg looked on around him in shock, not seeing the mangled right hand that was still on his wrist. He held onto his head, as if he were getting a serious migraine. "They're...they're dead? I wasn't able to protect them...ahh...AHHHHHHHH! It hurts!"
"Hey, kid..." The rescue worker tried to ease Greg, but Greg continued to agonize himself as his head began to throb with unbearable pain.
"The pain...it's too much!" Greg shouted, holding his head with his left hand. (What is this…everyone's...pain...feelings...what is this I'm feeling? Father...what did you do to me...?)
Greg's memory went cloudy for a moment, with only the last moments of his parents and his younger sister calling for him when the bomb went off. Flashes of seeing his family being blasted, along with Greg flew past his mind. And with each view of the memory, he feels the pain that the other person's around him had endured, both the survivors' and the deceased before their lives had ended. Eventually, it was too much for Greg's mind and tired body that he fell back and was knocked unconscious.
"Get the medics over here now!" the rescue worker said. "He's gotten delirious and unstable from too much shock."
"That will be unnecessary." said a male voice from behind the worker. He turned to see a male dressed in a black dress suit and wearing spectacles. He was holding onto a suitcase, and several other men carrying stretchers were behind him. He held out is I.D card to the rescue worker.
"Dr. Clark? Why would you be here?"
"That boy is the son of a once brilliant colleague and friend I had just lost." Dr. Clark spoke. "I'm here to take him back to his home in Trinidad where he will stay and be taken care of."
"His right hand is too badly damaged to repair. It has to be amputated if his arm isn't to be infected."
"Yes, yes, do not worry don't worry about what happens to Greg. He's in safe hands..." Dr. Clark said with an evil looking smirk. "Take him back to the medical centre. Remove the hand and extract the DNA he's carrying."
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Greg suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, seeing himself back inside Rio's room. Surprisingly, she wasn't awake to see him like this. Shaking his head, he got up.
(I can't let Rio see me like this...if she was awake.) Greg slapped himself. (Damn... I thought I had totally forgotten about that memory...)
He stood up, pulling over the sheet fully over Rio's body. He looked at Rio's sleeping face, and saw that she seemed relaxed. Greg smiled a bit; before he reached down to kiss her on her soft cheek. "Tomorrow morning, I'll see to it that this little matter with Mantis is dealt with for you, so you don't have to fight."
"Sleep well, sensei." Greg said to himself. He turned his back to face the door, and as he left, one of Rio's eyelids opened to see Greg step out.
(Tomorrow, Greg...you'll see the surprise I have for you) she thought with a smile.
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Twenty minutes and two servings of ramen later, Greg was soaking in the hot springs in the back yard of the house.
(Ahh, this is just exactly how I remember it.) Greg smiled, a wet towel resting on his head.
Greg looked up into the night sky, thinking of what he should do. (Lilica...Angels East, Angels West, North and South, just do your best. Guard and watch her as she rests. Amen.)
Thinking that at least the night would pass without Lilica getting hurt in anyway, he stood up. (Tomorrow...Maki should say what we should do. If anyone has a sensible plan about these situations, it's Maki alright. Rio got lucky that I didn't go mental on her while she was asleep, or else...)
Before he could get up to leave, he felt a sudden and serious throbbing in his right arm, and he looked down to see it was leaking blood and a blue substance. The arm quivered and it felt as if it were falling apart and Greg used his left hand to grab unto it.
(No…it's happening again!) Greg thought to himself as he panicked. His body then got weaker as he dropped to his knees as he clutched his head in pain. The side effects of his powers were already beginning to take their effect.
(I don't need to go there…Not now….not here…) Greg thought to himself as he collapsed on the cold concrete floor, half naked and unconscious.
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Somewhere else unknown to anyone, inside a well lit cell, Lilica was seated on the bench that was provided for her. Next to her were a laptop, and some clothes to change into. Her face was smudged in dried tears. But she was grateful that her captors did not carry on with more than just her capture.
She looked outside and saw only a dark, murky hallway. She had dared to call out for anyone, but no one answered back. She was in an empty cell block after all.
(Oh, this is some mess I gotten into now...) she thought, hugging her knees to her chest. She was still wearing her old clothes from the day before. (Author's rant: Blue vest blouse with large blue tie, short leather skirt. Her usual Burn Up outfit.) She looked up to see the light bulb and clenched her hands together. "Oh, Greg...big brother...I do hope you can find me soon..."
Just then, two figures appeared in front of her cell. It was a young girl of Lilica's height, with long pale pink hair, that was tied into a large, single ponytail. She also had a brown symbol on her forehead, a halo covered in red. She was wearing a suit that protruded a large pair of white wings. Lilica gasped at the beautiful sight of the girl, but her eyes were blank as white paper.
(She doesn't look any older than me...) Lilica thought. (Wait...does she have powers like Greg too?)
"That is correct." Psycho Mantis's voice rang from behind the girl. He was dressed in black, with a trench-coat that hung to his feet.
"Isn't she lovely? I believe that you two haven't met..."
"What are you planning to do, Mantis? If you think you can manipulate Greg like this, you're DEAD wrong!" Lilica shouted.
"Silence, young girl." the younger outfitted girl raised her hand at Lilica, who found herself unable to breathe. "You will not address my master like that anymore if you want to live."
Lilica's eyes widened in shock. "No...She has powers like..."
"That will be all, Seraph." Mantis said, coming closer to Lilica's cell. Seraph lowered her hand, and bowed to Mantis. "Young Lilica, I advise you to behave yourself, or else my plan will not work. Once I have Greg, then I will dispose of both you and him."
Lilica didn't want to dare Mantis or else Seraph will hurt her once more. Lilica caught her breath.
"Seraph, give her something to eat. She has to live long enough to be our bait for the catch." Mantis said. "Until we see each other again, Miss Ebett."
Mantis walked out of the room, as the young girl suddenly fell on her knees. Her wings dissipated into the glowing light behind her back and she was holding her head. "Ohhhh...huh? Oh, I'm so sorry about that, really...I would have opposed to Mantis, but he would have harmed me too."
Lilica smiled a bit at the girl, as she can see the young girl's eyes returned to a gentle, and innocent brown color. "It's alright, but please tell me...who are you and why are you here?'
The young girl nodded at Lilica. "My real name is Yuina Hattori. I'm sixteen years old. I was taken from my auntie by Mantis and the Patriots, when they learned about my psychic gifts. Mantis has been able to control my mind for sometime and has been...testing me..."
Lilica growled at this. "So, the Patriots are after your powers...? It seems that they would target anyone outside of FOXHOUND just for their abilities."
Yuina nodded, and then started to cry. "I never did anything to deserve this. Mantis has not been kind to me either...when he attacked our house...he...he killed my auntie when she was hiding me from him and his men..."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. When did this happen?"
"About..." Yuina sniffed before she spoke. "About a week ago…I've been kept here against my will, forced to do Mantis's bidding...for my survival..."
"But why would he do anything like that? What does he want with your powers?" Lilica asked.
Before Yuina can speak, she held her head. "AHHHHHH! No, please, Mantis! I promise to be good! Leave Lilica alone!"
After a while, she turned back to Seraph. Getting up, she coldly stared at Lilica. "It's time for me to depart."
"Wait, Yuina!" Lilica shouted at her newfound friend, but she only turned to look at her with a pair of cold eyes.
"I have no intentions to become friends with a simple human such as you." Seraph said. "Farewell and try not to make so much trouble on yourself."
She exited the hallway, leaving Lilica to sit down and ponder once more. (What the hell's going on here? Are there more than one psychic that the Patriots are after than Greg? If so, why?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Has the target moved again?" asked a female voice, somewhere on what it appears to be a conference round table.
"No, sir. He has found the desired location and is staying with the enemy." replied another female, wearing a white dress, one that ended way over the knee area. The other women around her were also wearing the same uniform, (and the same color of white panties). "Shall we proceed with the capture?"
"No, we don't want to have the Patriots guessing that we are after him as well. When their pawn known as Psycho Mantis is eliminated, we shall advance to eliminate Rio Kinezono once and for all, and then go after Greg Kinezono."
"What about Aika Sumeragi? She desires to use G9999 for her own priorities as well."
"She'll be swatted just like Rio." the female said.
"Of course, White Leader." the woman next to her cooed. "The Delmo army will not tolerate failure and humiliation from Aika's and Rio's organization."
On the screen in the centre of the room, the faces of Rio, Aika and Greg himself were shown. Under both Rio and Aika, were the words, 'Eliminate on Sight', while Greg's own was 'Capture for Testing.'
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To be continued...
ShardclawK: That's all for this revised chapter, hope it was to everyone tastes. I also got accustomed making this Greg different and its quite pleasing to know that he has a depressing side to go along with his powers that normally causes these blackouts he gets.
Next chapter: Greg's mindscape makes an early entrance, as well as Maki Kawasaki. More surprise guest stars with appearances of a lot of characters.
Collis aka ShardclawKusanagi.