A/N: This chapter came out a bit longer than I expected, but it does have a lot of character and plot building. Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 2: The Cause

"It's not very luxurious I'm afraid." Snake said walking through the door, hanging his coat up. "You're gonna have to make due."

The four former Preventers followed Snake inside, and at his behest, hung up their coats.

"That's fine." Lady Une said. "Thank you for trusting us enough to invite us into your home."

"I can't exactly say you're welcome. Not yet. Let's cut to the chase right now. What's this resistance plan of yours?"

"It is simple, really." Lady Une replied. "Do what you did before. We'll have a small team and conduct anti-Metal Gear activities, fight Sears by whatever means we can."

"And who's gonna be a part of this small team?"

"Us five, and a few others, we still need to contact them."

"And who are these others?" Snake asked. "Don't be vague with me."

The other three former Preventers in the room also wondered what Lady Une had up her sleeve.

"Who are the others?" Noin asked.

"I think I know..." Sally began to say.

"The Gundam pilots, of course."

"Somehow I knew you'd say that..." Noin said.

Zechs instantly felt a twinge of odd feelings-and hatred-for one very specific pilot. "You sure they'd want to work with me?" Was all he got out.

"They worked with you during the Mariemaia Incident." Noin replied to him. "Even...you know who."

Snake laughed. "The Gundam pilots, huh? They sure did make a name for themselves during the Eve Wars, even managed to get people to stop talking about me for a little while."

"Zechs, you look angry." Sally Po said to him.

"Yes, you do. Is there something I'm missing?" Snake asked.

"The former pilot of the Wing Zero, his name is Heero Yuy." Noin answered for her clearly angered boyfriend, who scowled even more upon hearing the name.

"Heero Yuy-the assassinated leader?" Snake asked.

"No, he was given that name after him." Noin answered again. "Anyway, this Heero Yuy and Zechs-Milliardo's sister, Relena...had something going."

"A relationship?"

"I really don't know if you could call it that. There was obviously something but I don't know if they were dating."

"HE ABANDONED HER!" Milliardo shouted at the top of his lungs. "SHE LOVED HIM! SHE STILL LOVES HIM! He just vanished. He didn't even give her the dignity of a 'no!' She's still refusing every single man who even just wants to have a morning coffee with her, still holding out a hope for him to return. That damn man ripped her heart to shreds-and he never lets her heartbreak end! I could forgive him for fighting with me during the war, but in this, I will never forgive him. I will hate him until my last breath..."

Snake sighed. "You're gonna have to take it easy, Milliardo. If we do wind up contacting this guy and having him be a part of our team, you're gonna have to work with him for the benefit of the world and put your hatred aside-for a while at least. Metal Gear is way too dangerous for us to be distracted with your personal issues."

"Out of respect for you, I will try my best to do that, Snake." He said, smiling lightly.

"By the way, is it Zechs or Milliardo?"

"Right now Milliardo is fine, but during missions I'd like to go by Zechs."

"Fine. Lady Une, start contacting the Gundam pilots. I assume you have a place for us to do our 'work'."

"I do. It's a closed down Preventer bunker in a remote part of Maine. Actually, it's more like an underground mansion. Sears never knew about it. I'll have it up and running in no time."

"Ok, that should work. I'm gonna go use the phone...there's one more person that I think should be a part of our organization."

"Who?" Sally asked.

"A friend of mine. We used to do our anti-Metal Gear runs together. Dr. Hal Emmerich, but he goes by Otacon. Met him during Shadow Moses."

"The designer of Metal Gear REX." Milliardo said.

Snake laughed. "You must have read up on me a lot. Anyway, I'm calling him now. I'll arrange for him to meet us in Maine. Lady Une and Sally, contact the Gundam pilots right away. Noin, arrange for us to get a flight to Maine."

"And a car?" She asked.

"No, I'll have Otacon pick us up."

Lady Une and Sally went into Snake's small dining room, their phones in tow.

"Quatre and Wufei will definitely be the easiest to contact. Wufei is still with the Preventers and everyone knows who Quatre Raberba Winner is." Lady Une said. "Sally, did you have a private line that you used to talk with Wufei?"

"Yes. I see your point. We can't contact him on the main one. There's too high a risk for Sears, Ocelot, or one of their cronies to find out."

"Correct. And if they do we're done before we start."

"Right. I'll call Wufei, you call Quatre."

Meanwhile, Snake conversed with Otacon in his bedroom.

"Otacon, are you tired of sitting on your ass as much as I am?"

"What's up Snake? Tired of being 'dead'?" Otacon said with a small chuckle.

"A lot is up. I think the dead is gonna have to rise..." Snake said trailing.

"Snake, what's going on?" Otacon said, knowing that Snake was serious about something.

"George Sears. He's trying to revive Metal Gear, make an even deadlier one."

"That measure was just defeated thanks to Relena Peacecraft."

"Yeah...but do you seriously think Sears will care?"

"No."

"I didn't think so. Anyway, believe it or not, a few people other than you knew I was still alive."

"What are you talking about Snake?"

"I have a few visitors up here...Lady Une, and three of her friends, one of whom is Milliardo Peacecraft."

"What?! Snake, what's going on there?!" Otacon said with great surprise.

"Apparently, Lady Une was dismissed as leader of the Preventers because she read Sears' plans for Metal Gear unauthorized. Otacon, he's already begun development of the new Metal Gear!"

"So I'm guessing...Lady Une and her friends attempted to call you out of retirement, Mr. Metal Gear Destroyer."

"Yeah, and it worked. Lady Une is forming some sort of resistance movement and asked me to be its leader. At first I didn't want to, but then I realized how important this is. Otacon, all our work will have meant nothing if Sears and Ocelot are allowed to make an army of new and improved Metal Gears. We still don't even know for what purpose Sears is doing it. That's scary."

"Yeah, I agree." Otacon said somberly. "After the Eve Wars I thought that the Earth Sphere Unified Nation would never even think of creating new Mobile Suits-especially a new Metal Gear. George Sears is corrupting it."

"I was just wondering, if you would do this run with me."

"Of course. It'll kind of be like old times huh? I don't know why but it seems invigorating...in an odd way of course."

"Excellent. I'm gonna send you the location that Lady Une gave to me. Be there as soon as possible and begin to set up camp. I'm gonna send you the access code to get in there as well. I'll be there in a couple of days, make sure you have a ride for us at the nearest airport."

"Shouldn't be too difficult." Otacon said as he was pouring over the data. "I'll see you in a two days."

"Roger that." Snake said, hanging up the phone.

"Lady Une! It's great hearing from you! It's been so long!"

"Quatre. I see you are as full of life as ever." Lady Une smiled on the other end. "Unfortunately, this isn't a house call."

Quatre's face grimaced a bit on the other end. Why was she calling then? Could it be about? 'Yes' he thought. It must be.

"Is this about Sears and your dismissal from the Preventers?"

"Yes. Quatre. What do you know about Metal Gear?"

Metal Gear? Uh-oh. This must be serious. Real serious.

"Nothing much more than common knowledge, folk legends about Solid Snake, and the fact that Sears wants to revive it, why?"

"Quatre...Sears is going to revive Metal Gear, improve it even! And I'm not just talking about one, I'm talking about as many as he can possibly churn out. He's going to shatter the peace you fought so hard for with those walking mass-killing machines!"

"But Miss Relena just defeated the bill for its revival!" Quatre shot back, desperately trying to prove that Lady Une was wrong.

"Quatre...the reason why I was dismissed as leader of the Preventers was because I went through Sears' classified files. ...The President has...already begun work on the new Metal Gear. He doesn't care if he has legal approval or not."

"No...but why?!"

"I don't know. That's what's so scary. Quatre, I'm forming a group to resist Sears and his Metal Gear project. We will protect the peace that the Earth Sphere Unified Nation was formed for-with deadly force if necessary."

"...I understand, Lady Une. Metal Gear is definitely the biggest threat to peace, and Sears doesn't want peace. I don't think there's any other way..."

"Quatre, does this mean that you will join?"

"Yes."

"Good, I'll send you our bases' location via an encrypted file. Go there in three days, we'll have already set up shop by then."

"Who's there with you?"

"Zechs, Noin, Sally and...our leader."

"Leader?"

"I can't say his name over the phone-security reasons of course. Anyway, Quatre, is it possible for you to contact the other Gundam pilots? Sally is already trying to talk to Wufei."

"I can contact Duo immediately. Trowa will be a little bit harder to reach but I'm sure I can get him. As far as Heero is concerned...well..." He trailed off, remembering how Heero had always had the uncanny ability to vanish forever if he so desired.

"Can you contact Heero?"

"I do have some very vague contact information for Heero...maybe it will work, but I can't promise you anything."

"I understand. Tell the others exactly what I told you, relay our bases' location as well." Lady Une instructed him. I'll see you soon Quatre, I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"Me too. Goodbye Lady Une."

"Goodbye Quatre."

They both hung up their phones, emotion overcoming both parties. Damn this Sears, damn him and his friend Ocelot for putting them in this situation!

"So...that's why Lady Une was dismissed..." Wufei said in an angry tone that was barely above a whisper.

"Yeah..." Sally said sadly. "Wufei, we need to stop Sears and his mad dream to create a new mass-produced Metal Gear. If he does it-we'll be living in an eternal hell."

Wufei just scowled. Sally was right. He knew that. Wufei simply had to join up with her. He could no longer be a Preventer working for...him. Sears would have to be stopped. Wufei swore that he would do all in his power to stop any new Metal Gear from entering the world.

"I'll be there Sally. Three days right?"

"Yes. Keep a low profile until then."

"Right. Later." He hung up the phone.

Wufei was going over his schedule, trying to see if there was anything important that he still had to do within the next three days. If he missed any of it-he might look suspicious. Wufei's eyes widened when he read what he had to do on the third day from now-the 16th of February. He had a security inspection at the Presidential Palace in Brussels on that day! He couldn't miss this, he was the senior Preventer on the job, it would be too suspicious.

"DAMNIT!" He shouted, throwing a stapler across the room.

"Is everything all right in here, Preventer Chang?" A junior level staffer said, entering his office.

"Everything is fine." Wufei growled, lowering his head.

The staffer took a hint and left. Wufei went back to his thoughts. It wasn't the end of the world. He'd just get there a little bit later than Sally expected. That was fine. Thoughts of seeing his former comrades flooded him now, it had been a long time, it'd been a little over two years since they'd all been together in one place. Heero might even be coming...that surprised and frightened him at the same time. If Heero showed up it might mean that this Metal Gear thing was a lot more serious than he ever would have believed.

"Damn you Sears." Wufei said, getting up to get his coat. Who was this 'leader?' Was the next thought that overcame him as he exited his office.

A remote apartment on colony L-1. The man looked at his laptop-the only light coming from the dark room. So, Sears really was planning to do it after all. Metal Gear was coming back. His hacking skills had come in handy, but he terminated the connection as soon as he got what he needed-best not to be discovered, as he was bound to be sooner rather than later at this rate. Why did Sears want a new Metal Gear so badly? Probably something having to do with the la-li-lu-le-lo, no doubt. But for what purpose? Why did they want it? Was Sears just proceeding as instructed? Or did he have some ulterior motive? This was all very strange. But everything was strange when the la-li-lu-le-lo were involved.

"Hn." He grunted. At any rate, no matter the motives of anyone involved, he couldn't let a new Metal Gear come into being. He had fought too hard for peace, and Metal Gears were the greatest things ever conceived at ending peace. He also would be damned if he would let the legacy of his hero, Solid Snake be pissed on by anyone. Snake had sacrificed his happiness and his life in destroying Metal Gear and he would honor those sacrifices. There was also one other reason why he would have to fight...

The man got up and went toward his bedroom. He picked up a picture on his dresser, the only picture in the entire house. He stood in the picture with a woman. They stood together in a park, their arms interlocked. The picture was dated a little over two years ago. She looked so happy...he promised to protect her. And a new Metal Gear would definitely be a threat to her.

"Relena..." He said softly, running his hand over the frame, a tint of sadness appearing in his Prussian blue eyes. Taking the picture with him, he stepped back into his living room and picked up the phone.

"Quatre, I'll be there." He said in his monotone when he heard a voice on the other end.

"Good. It'll be great to see you Heero! Despite the situation..."

"Hn." Was all Heero said in response as he hung up. "Snake, I will make you proud." He said looking up, hoping that if there was something...Snake would hear him.

Five people got out of a plane and walked outside to the end of the airport. It was the 15th of February. They stood outside in the cold for around 20 minutes, although this was nothing compared to what they felt in Alaska. Finally, a phone rang.

"Snake, look to your 2 o'clock."

Snake did so and saw a man in a coat with glasses getting out of an SUV.

"C'mon, that's Otacon." Snake said to the others as he hung up.

Snake walked calmly, the others following close behind him as he went up to his old friend. They greeted each other with a hug.

"It's been a while." Otacon said to him.

"A long while." Snake said back with a light smile. "Otacon, this is Lucrezia Noin, Sally Po, Lady Une, and Milliardo Peacecraft." Snake said, introducing his companions.

"A pleasure." Otacon said while shaking each of their hands. "Milliardo, Snake's told me the story of how he saved you and your sister."

Milliardo just smiled.

"Enough with the small talk, let's get over to that bunker, now." Snake said, putting his gear that he brought from Alaska into the trunk and getting into the shotgun seat of the car.

"Right, c'mon I'll drive us there." Otacon said, beckoning the other four to get in, which they did immediately."

"Otacon, how long have you been at the bunker?" Lady Une asked.

"Around 15 hours, I've already gotten us food, water, all the essentials. I've activated the control systems too."

"And how did you do that without proper access? I thought Snake only gave you the code to get in."

"Preventer channels aren't that difficult to break, no offense Miss Une." Otacon said matter-of-factly.

Lady Une scowled and then laughed, remembering that she wasn't in the Preventers anymore, thanks to Mr. Sears. It would be good that they had such a skilled hacker in their group. In around 25 more minutes, they arrived at the bunker. The group all went inside.

"Not such a bad place to work from..." Snake said, carrying his gear, marveling at how luxurious this 'bunker' was.

"I told you it was an underground mansion." Lady Une laughed. "C'mon, I'll show you all to your rooms."

Snake put away his gear and got settled into his room. Back into this...back at war. Hadn't Man learned? Even after the Eve Wars Man hadn't learned how pointless all of this petty fighting really was? He thought that the horror of the Eve Wars, combined with the saintly presence of Relena Peacecraft would end it. Now Sears wanted to revive Metal Gear-which fortunately hadn't even been used during the Eve Wars. But why? Something related to them, that had to be the answer. But what? Snake grunted...the thoughts were hurting his brain. He needed a cigarette. Snake pulled one out of the box and lit one. Ahhh-the nicotine really did come in handy. To hell with Otacon and his 'Surgeon General's Warning.' Snake laughed, he needed one of those. It was then that Snake heard footsteps approaching his room. Looking up from his desk, he saw that it was Lady Une.

"Is everything all right in here? She asked, peering through the blue smoke in front of Snake's face.

"Just fine."

"Snake, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Who?"

A little girl with red hair and big blue eyes walked into the room. That was Mariemaia Khushrenada, no doubt. Snake regretfully put out his cigarette. He couldn't be letting kids inhale second-hand smoke-even though this kid had once been a demon-seed.

"So it is true! Solid Snake is still alive, and here you are!" She ran up to him. "It's always a pleasure to meet a legend." She said, curtsying. "So, when are you going to go and fight?" She asked eagerly.

"Mariemaia!" Lady Une yelled when she saw that Snake was getting clearly annoyed.

"Look kid, I think it's past your bedtime." He said, glancing at the clock: 8:37 P.M.

"It is." Lady Une confirmed. "Mariemaia, go to bed now."

"Awww!" She squealed. "It was nice meeting you Snake!" She said with glee, running out of the room.

"Well, at least she doesn't seem like a demon-child anymore." Snake observed. "When did she get here?

Lady Une laughed. "I sent for her when we arrived. I'm trying to raise His Excellency's daughter-the right way."

"I see." Snake responded. "For all it's worth, Treize was a good man. I didn't like him when he worked for Romefeller, but he sealed my respect when he fought the White Fang."

Lady Une sighed. "That would have meant a lot to him-coming from you."

"Rhm." Snake grunted. Why did everyone think he was a hero? Why? For the first time, Snake took a deep look into Lady Un'es eyes. In an odd way...she reminded him of...no, that was crazy talk.

"What is it Snake?"

"Nothing." He sighed. I need to take a shower. I'll see you later.

Lady Une gave a light smile and began to walk out as Snake took off his shirt.

"Snake?"

"What?"

"Thank you...thank you for helping us."

Snake nodded.

This was it. February 16th. Wufei was doing his inspection tour and would be leaving for Maine immediately after. He was just about finished when he heard two familiar voices talking to each other in an adjoining room. Wufei took a quick look-Sears and Ocelot. Wufei was about to leave, but when he heard the words "Metal Gear" he decided to listen in. If he was caught he was fucked-but this may be too important information to pass up.

"Have the final diagnostics been completed?" Sears asked.

"Yes, all systems are ready to go. We will be ready for full production very shortly." Ocelot responded.

"Excellent. We still have to do a few field trials before that can happen though."

"That will be difficult. The Military Science Act has been defeated."

"Thanks to that damn Peacecraft girl!" Sears said-his tone suddenly getting fiery.

"She is making this very difficult..." Ocelot said, trailing.

'Yeah because the last thing the world needs is a new Metal Gear! Thank God we have her fighting you maniacs!' Wufei thought as he listened.

"No, she's making this much more than difficult. She's more than a nuisance. She's become a pest. She is preventing us from doing what needs to be done! We have to...we have to get rid of her. Somehow."

Wufei's eyes contracted. What were these bastards planning to do?

"Maybe we can pull such a thing off at your party in two days." Ocelot suggested.

"Yes...I think so. After she leaves she can have an unfortunate encounter with an assassin."

"Then we can say that we need the new Metal Gear to combat the terrorists."

"With her gone the resistance to the new Metal Gear would collapse, regardless of the excuse." Sears said.

"I agree. I think we should do it."

"Ocelot, call Vamp. Tell him to wait outside the party. Once she leaves and is far enough away, he can do what he pleases with her."

"Right away...Mr. President." Ocelot said in his usual cold voice while stepping outside, Wufei prayed he wouldn't be discovered. He wasn't.

"Rest in peace...Relena Peacecraft. Nothing will stop Outer Heaven." Sears said triumphantly.

Wufei quietly tip-toed away when the coast was clear. He had to get to Maine and fast! Once he was outside he got into his car and drove to the airport, way over the speed limit. He didn't care if he got into a police chase. He had to tell everyone, he couldn't let Relena die!

A man with Prussian blue eyes and messy brown hair arrived at his designated location. He punched in the code and went down into the bunker.

"Some bunker..." He with a comedic tone.

"Heero!" A man with long-braided hair ran up and hugged him.

Great. Duo had to come huh? Oh Jesus.

"It's nice to see you Duo, Quatre, Trowa."

All three smiled and nodded at him.

"Where are the others?"

"We're all here." Sally said, coming out with Milliardo, Noin, and Lady Une. "Heero, it's so nice to see you!"

"No it isn't." Milliardo scowled.

"Uh-oh." Noin shook her head and closed her eyes.

"Yuy! I should kill you for what you did to my sister!"

"Zechs, I did what I had to do...to protect her..." Heero trailed, maintaining a defensive posture.

"Liar! You abandoned her!"

"Zechs..."

"All right! That's enough!"

Heero watched as a man stepped out into the main hall, followed by another man in glasses. His eyes widened in surprise. No...that couldn't be.

"Milliardo, you said you wouldn't fight. We have much more important things to worry about!"

"I'm sorry Snake. I just couldn't help it. Forgive me."

"Snake...?" Heero asked.

"Heero Yuy?" The man who had broken up the fight held out a hand. Heero took it. "Nice to meet you. I'm Snake."

"Snake?! But you..."

"Died? No." Otacon answered him. "We just had that story made up. Snake's alive and kicking, as you can see."

"It's an honor..." Heero said, nearly speechless. "Snake, you're my hero!" He said as they released their hands.

Otacon laughed. "Hear that Snake? You're Heero's hero." He teased.

Snake just closed his eyes and turned his back.

"We were as surprised as you are, Heero." Trowa said, smiling at him. "We were speechless too. I didn't think the great Heero Yuy would be in such shock though." He said jokingly.

"Where's Wufei?" Heero asked, getting back to serious business.

"I don't know...to be honest I thought you would be the last one to arrive, Heero." Sally said, worry on her face. "I hope nothing's happened to him."

"I think the Wu-man's ok." Duo said in his usual cheerful tone. "Don't be so worried, Sally."

"It's Sears. He's capable of doing anything." Heero said in his usual monotone. "Something is definitely up. The question is, what?"

"Yes, I agree." Snake replied. "There's got to be a reason he's being delayed. Something is fishy here."

"By the way, I did some hacking into Sears' personal files. He really is making a new Metal Gear, regardless of its legality." Heero confirmed.

Snake was impressed with this Heero guy, his initial gawking aside. He had already shown quick thinking, and by hacking into Sears' files, skill.

"Heero, I will show you to your room." Lady Une said. "Please follow me."

As he walked up the stairs to his room, Heero came to terms with the flood of new thoughts in his mind. Snake was alive! He couldn't believe it. And Snake would be leading them in the war against Metal Gear. Heero unpacked, taking his one and only picture out first, putting it on the dresser by his pillow. Relena had shown courage, but she could do nothing more. It was up to him and his comrades now to stop Sears from creating another war with his new Metal Gear.

At about the time the group gathered for dinner, they heard someone entering the bunker. Turning, they saw a man with black hair with a small ponytail in the back running toward them.

"Wufei!" Sally said, running up to him. "You don't look hurt. Thank God! I was so worried about you! As was everyone else!"

Wufei panted, trying to catch his breath. He looked up and saw everyone-he knew them all except for two. Who were they?

"Wufei, this is Otacon." She said, pointing to the man in the glasses. "And that is Solid Snake."

"WHAT?! Snake is..."

"Alive." Snake finished his sentence and went to shake his hand. "It's a long story, but I can explain it to you over dinner, please make yourself comfortable and come with us."

"No! I have something important to say first!"

"What is it?" Snake asked, the others looking on in curiosity.

"Relena! Sears and Ocelot are planning to assassinate her!"

"WHAT?!" The entire group collectively yelled.