Melody Jones, Part 3: Redemption

by cw2k

While mourning the death of Cassie Cage, Melody is scheduled to give her testimony on the events involving the Syphon Filter virus, and other terrorist incidents, including her assignments with Sheva in the past. Melody must now clear her name in front of the Secretary of State. Will she finally succeed, or face the consequences?

3. Costa Rican Plantations

Melody Jones, Pt. 3: Redemption

Courtroom, Washington, DC

"You've been asked to testify, Ms, Jones, because of your direct knowledge of this agency and its connection to the Syphon Filter virus," said Vince Hatton, Secretary of State. "I'll begin with you. For the record, describe how you first became involved."

Melody's Testimony From the Congressional Record

"The sgency had been tracking down an international terrorist named Erich Rhoemer. One of my men went to investigate Rhoemer's drug operation in Costa Rica. We lost contact. Sheva and I were sent in to get him out. In August of 1999, Sheva and I were given a difficult mission: Infiltrate Rhoemer's operation, rendezvous with Agent Ellis, and help him complete his mission. The order was from the agency's C.O., Edward Benton. At that time, I did not question his orders. Sheva and I made the drop successfully, but got separated. The plantation was spread out and heavily patrolled. I knew we were in trouble when we hit the first traps: Automated machine gun nest. It was pretty obvious that Rhoemer did not want any visitors."

Costa Rica

August 6, 1999

Melody and Sheva were separated a few hundred feet. After 5 minutes, they regroup.

"Melody, this jungle is littered with automated turrets. Stand back, I'll frag this one."

Sheva tossed her grenade at the turret, destroying it. After killing some of Rhoemer's men, they encountered another turret.

"I have no more grenades, Mel. You'll have to take this one."

Melody used a grenade to take out the turret. There was another turret nearby. Melody used another grenade and destroyed it. They then proceeded forward and found Ellis's coordinates.

"These are the coordinates Ellis sent," said Melody.

Ellis was being held by the campfire.

"How much information was smuggled back to your agency?" asked Erick Rhoemer from the first part of the Melody Jones series.

"I'm not telling you," Ellis replied defiantly. "You'll have to kill me."

"Very well. Now I will show you how we deal with informants. Finish him."

"With pleasure," said Mara Aramov as she executes Ellis with her Makarov PM. This caught the attention of Melody and Sheva. They rushed to find Ellis dead.

"It's Ellis, executed. Sheva, you found anything?"

"This entire area is in flames. I'm not sure what they were growing, but it wasn't narcotics."

"Rhoemer knew we were coming."

"So what's our next move?"

"We wait for the next viral outbreak. We won't have to wait long."

Sheva contacts Benton, "Benton, Ellis is down. Orders?"

*Resume Ellis's mission. Split up. Sheva, proceed to the laboratory complex and rescue any sympathetic scientists. Rhoemer will employ a scorcher as a distraction and will destroy everything. Jones, find a computer and email Ellis's coordinates to the headquarters. I have air strikes coming on your order."

Sheva and Melody split up. Melody found the computer and used it to email the plantation's coordinates to the agency while she a finds the laboratory and rescued the scientists. When both objectives were complete, Melody proceeded a C-5 Galaxy transport. Her HW armband gave her a warning signal, land mines. She moved cautiously as the armband was beeping fast. She was about to enter a dark catacombs when Benton contacts her.

"Mission complete. Rendezvous with Alomar for extraction."

"Negative. I'm going after Rhoemer's transport."

"You were given a direct order, Jones. Stand down!"

"Jones out."