The Search For Johnny Cage
Ch3: Captain Price
Inside the Herefordshire home of Captain John Price, he tosses and turns in his bed. Price is having a nightmare about his time against the Ultra Nationalists, flashes of the day he lost Soap and his fight against Shepard make up parts of the nightmare. Before Shepard can kill him the knife that Soap throws lands in his eye and then the nightmare takes Price to an arid and empty cityscape that was once London. Captain Price walks toward the fallen ruins of Big Ben, inside these ruins he sees two figures one is a tall man wearing a fedora and a dusty suit. This figure is playing with a small flame in the palm of his hand revealing that that the tall man is actually a skeleton, this is the elemental skeleton mage of Ireland, Skulduggery Pleasant. The other is a young man who would be in high school if the world hadn't ended he has dark hair and pale white skin. The young man is wearing a suit jacket and a plain white t-shirt, this is Artemis Fowl. Both turn to see the post-apocalyptic Captain Price wearing tactical armor, a shaggy beard, and his signature bucket hat.
Capt Price: Is it ready?
Skulduggery: About as ready as we can make it. Rip doesn't want to us too try anything just yet.
Capt Price: Fuck him, we make our move and we do it now.
The group hears a loud commotion outside the ruins of the fallen clock tower, an army of the undead has amassed and the group looks at each other knowing that their time is limited. The skeletal sorcerer begins to cast the spell and and a drawing of an hour glass glows green. Price stands ready with his finger on his rifle's trigger, Artemis pulls his pistol out form his coat and both of Skulduggery's hands have roaring flames. Two red blurs then crash through the ceiling and down in front of the group of heroes revealing Skulduggery's former apprentice Valkryie Cain now completely the evil sorceress Darquesse and the Man of Steel himself Superman but his eyes are glowing yellow and his suit is tattered and ripped. Hordes of the undead begin to pour into the room Artemis and Price begin to let their bullets fly while Skulduggery tries to hold back Darquesse and Superman but fails as the two corrupted powerhouses make quick work of him. The undead horde gets closer and closer and the drawing of the hour glass glows brighter and brighter, Artemis and Price both stand in the circle waiting for the spell to kick and be transported back in time only for Superman to break through and immediately grab hold of Price snapping his neck causing him to wake up from the nightmare in a cold sweat.
Price's nightstand is littered with empty beer bottles on it and a framed picture of him with members of Task 141 from Operation Kingfish. Price moves his blinds on his window allowing sunlight to come into his room and turns on his TV to the news and the news anchor is still talking about Johnny Cage's whereabouts.
News Anchor: Johnny Cage was among many well known members of the hero community and various militaries from across the world and he was the only one too be abducted, it makes you wonder-
Price then hears a knock at his front door and shuts off the TV to see who is knocking. Price opens the door to see his old friend Nikolai along with two of 141's newest recruits Kyle "Gaz" Garrick and Farah Karim as well Cassie Cage and Jacquie Briggs of the Special Forces, and Jess and Zophia Blazkowicz the time displaced daughter's of Terror Billy himself. Nikolai greets his old friend with a face a wide smile on his face.
Nikolai: It is good to see you Captain! May we come in?
One Night Ago... A helicopter lands in a military base in the British country side, standing on the helipad is CIA handler Kate Laswell alongside her are Kyle Garrick and Farah Karim who stand attentively looking at the chopper. Nikolai is the first to exit and promptly greets his fellow Taskforce 141 members.
Nikolai: It is good to see my favorite hounds of war again!
Laswell: It's good to see you too Nik, follow us to the briefing room we have much to discuss.
The other four follow Nikolai and the other 141 members into a compound and once within that compound walk into the war room. They stand over a table with files on Captain Price, both his father and grandfather, as well as the the various fights with the Ultra Nationalist and Al Quatala.
Cassie: So, where is this bad ass Brit we've heard so much about?
Laswell: Miss Cage, Captain Price hasn't been the same since the end of the conflict with the Ultra Nationalists. He decided to step down once Makarov was defeated and the Russian government was reinstalled but he hasn't been the same since.
Nikolai: He was betrayed by his own and lost many that soldiers that were dear to him.
As Nikolai says this he opens a file filled with pictures of various 141 operators and soldiers and names them off, "Ghost, Roach, Kamarov, Gaz, Yuri, and probably the hardest one... Soap.". The group look at all the soldiers that were once Price's friends who were killed in battle. Laswell decides to cut into the silence by informing the members of the Special Forces the new members of Task Force 141.
Laswell: Much like how you four girls are the new blood of the next line of defense , Kyle Garrick is the son of Gaz who has taken up his father's call sign in his honor and of course Farah Karim, leader of the Urzikstan Liberation Force. They also have connections to Price.
Gaz: Growing up he was like an uncle to me... To see him like this, it's maddening to put it lightly.
Farah: He found me when I was a girl and saved me and my sisters, there would be no Liberation Force without him.
Jacqui: Where is Captain Price now?
Nikolai: Probably drunk somewhere in Herefordshire, talking to some girl in the hopes of bringing her back to his dilapidated shack of a home.
Jacqui begins to examine pictures of Captain Price and hearing Nikolai say this about his comrade reminds her of her father and his struggles with the many trauma's he has endured.
Laswell: If you can help us get him out of this funk he's been in, you'll have one the greatest soldiers this world has ever known helping you storm that island where your dad is being held captive.
Cassie looks down at all the documents on the table and takes look at Nikolai, Farah, and Gaz who are determined to bring Price back into the light and she then takes a look at Jacqui and the Terror Twins who look determined yet somewhat saddened as hearing how Captain Price has fallen has reminded them of their father's.
Cassie: Okay, we'll stage this intervention for you.
Laswell: This is serious Miss Cage, Price is just as valuable as an asset as your father and we need him if we are going to free your father. Nik I'm assuming you know where he is?
Nikolai: What do you think I do on my days off? Golf?
The group looks at him confused, Cassie crosses her arms and gives Nikolai a death stare knowing that Nikolai has been enabling Price's alcoholism.
Nikolai: When I am not busy flying you around or getting Laswell toys, I spend my time watching football with the Captain! I never thought it would get this bad!
Laswell: It doesn't matter just get him to sober him up, we'll talk in the morning.
Present Day... The combined group of Special Forces and 141 members all sit down in Price's living room. The coffee table is littered with empty liquor bottles and ashtray riddled with cigars and cigarettes, the smokey smell has seeped into the furniture. Hanging from the walls are pictures of the Captain alongside Soap MacTavish, his superior officer McMillan, and even Price at a football match with Gaz and a young Kyle Garrick who's sitting on his father's shoulders.
Capt Price: Nik, who are these strangers and why are they in my house?
Gaz: Strangers?
Capt Price: I wasn't talking about you Kyle, I'm asking why he's brought these wannabe superheroes in my home.
Nikolai: Captain, I understand you being hesitant about this but these young ladies came a long way. Cassie and Jacqui from the States, Farah from Urzikstan, and Jessica and Zophia from a different timeline! You will listen to what they have to say.
As Nikolai says this he leans over and cocks his head to let him know that he serious. Price nods and gestures for them to talk.
Cassie: As I'm sure you're aware my dad-
Capt Price: Is one of the biggest celebrities, super powered heroes, and twats on the Earth who's also been kidnapped... I'm aware, as you can see I don't live under a rock.
Jacqui: We have valuable intel on his whereabouts, Nikolai and Laswell recommended that we go to you as apart of our rescue team.
Capt Price: Did they now?
Price gets up from his chair and heads to his fridge and grabs Guinnes, popping the top off on the coffee table.
Capt Price: Tell me Miss Cage... During the Ultra Nationalist war where was your Mom and Dad? Better yet where was those Shaolin monks you run around with or these alien marital artists that were on the news? Where was the Justice League? The Avengers? All these different government agencies with weapons and resources from cartoons from when Nik and I were kids but can't spare a second of their precious time to find Makarov?
Price takes sip from his bottle and looks angrily at Cassie. He puts his bottle on the table and looks Cassie directly in the eyes.
Capt Price: Go on... Where were they? Where were GI Joe when me and Soap we're fighting Shepherd in the desert? Where were the Rocket Red Brigade when Makarov gunned down all those people in that airport? Why hasn't Thor recruited Soap to Valhalla? Answer me that and I'll tell you how I feel about looking for your bloody father!
Gaz: That's not fair Captain.
Price gets out from his chair and now stands in front of Gaz and shouting "NOT FAIR?!". Gaz stands up affirming that he will not back down.
Capt Price: These people play god! They could have stopped Makarov and Al Assad before we even blinked! They could've stopped Shepherd! Them avoiding the war as much as they possible could is part of the reason why you're father is dead soldier!
Gaz: You don't know that!
Capt Price: The fuck I don't!
Farah then interjects and gets between them, she extends both of her arms and Price looks at her and begins to not only sober up but remember rescuing her from inhumane conditions from the Ultra Nationalists in Urzikstan.
Farah: I understand where you are coming from Captain, but even those with great powers cannot be everywhere all at once!
Price's mind flashes to the time him and a younger Farah fought off Russian soldiers and rescued her brother Hadir but to the members of the group he just seems to be petrified. Unsure of what's happening to his friend Nikolai gets up and looks at the Captain in the eyes. Nikolai even shines a light in his eyes to see that his pupils are not dilating. Meanwhile outside of Price's home, the sky above has ripples of temporal energy. Down on the ground three black SUV's pull up to the house and out of them steps multiple black armored Shin-Tan soldiers and a tall bald asian man steps out of the car scanning the area with his eyes and telepathy, this is their the Yellow Shadow; Ming.
Ming: They're here, surround the perimeter. Have the drones on standby.
The Shin-Tan soldiers begin to surround the houses and start to sneak in but back inside Price is reliving moments from another timeline where Gaz and him Garrick fought against Shadow company in the Mexican city of Las Almas, raiding Atomgrade with Garrick and Farah, and being in Saint Petersburg with Nikolai and Garrick torturing a terrorist known as "the Butcher". Price then looks at Garrick the son of his lost friend and is fighting back tears in his eyes.
Capt Price: He'd be proud of you.
The rest of the group looks confused and why Price is having a sudden change of heart.
Gaz: Proud of me for what?
That's when the memories of this alternate timeline hit Kyle. He sees visions of himself and Price rescuing Laswell, wearing ghilie suits sniping terrorists in coastal Spain, and finally the two of them in a Russian police car talking about the morality of them torturing the Butcher.
Gaz: We've fought together?
Jess then looks outside to see the ripple effect in the sky and that's when she realizes that the temporal anomaly is coming from Price and Gaz remembering events from an alternate timeline.
Jess: Look at the sky! It's doing that thing when we showed up!
The others look outside to look out at the sky and that's when the memories begin to floor Nikolai and Farah all at once. Memories of their time in Verdansk and rescuing Laswell from Al Qualta among other memories begin to flood and that's when Ming makes his presence known asking them a simple question "I wonder when this weather will clear up?". The group all turns to see Ming and a dozen armed Shin-Tan soldiers all pointing their guns at them. The group of soldiers looks noticeably on edge and have their hands up but that's when Ming waves his hand.
Ming: Please sit down, let's be civil. We need not fight in the good Captain's home.
Cassie: You're the one that kidnapped my dad and attacked as at the Hall!
Ming: Miss Cage, I needed to get to your father somehow! After what happened with his agent and the unexpected help from GI Joe I had to as you American's say, swing for the fences!
Cassie: Why are you after my dad? What do you want?
Ming: I intend on wielding the greatest power our multiverse has ever witnessed and your father is going to help me do it!
Jacqui: He would never help you!
Ming: Not willingly no, give him some and he'll come around eventually.
Capt Price: I don't know who the hell who think you are mate but you better get the fuck out of my house!
Ming then walks up to Price and looks him dead center in his eyes and tells the SAS Captain, "I am the one with the answers that you seek. The nightmares of battles that have yet to come and never happened... Those are my doing!". Ming then backhands Price with his robotic hand and Price falls to the ground while the others have now gotten into a more defensive position.
Ming: There is an alliance... A secret council if you will, of those considered heroes that are so desperate to stop me they have manipulated one of your own into breaking the time space continuum and have unleashed horrors that could destroy all life in this universe. Ask yourself, am I really the villain here?
A voice from behind the group says "I would say so!" and many of the Shin-Tan soldiers are pushed to the ground and are now fighting Kenshi Takahashi, Kung Jin, and Takeda Takahashi. Cassie, Jacqui, Nikolai, Farah, Gaz, and the Blazkowicz twins join the fray while Price licks his wounds and gets up sucker punching Ming in the back of the head. Ming turns around with a a crazed look in his eyes.
Ming: It wasn't too long ago that I fought an immortal, a dhampir assassin, and a Matokan shaman all at once! What makes you think you can take me?!
Price puts both his fists up like he's in a boxing match and tells Ming to "Shut the fuck up and fight!" and the two of them begin to slug it out. The Shin-Tan soldiers are beaten one by one but that's when loud "thud" sounds can be heard outside and the group of heroes goes outside to see a handful of Shin-Tan robots landing on he ground to come to the aid of their leader. While they engage the robots Price and Ming continue to fight it out, Ming grabbing Price and slamming him down into his own coffee table breaking it into two. Price writhes in pain for a moment and then hears a familiar Scottish voice say "How the hell did a muppet like you pass selection?", the decorated war hero looks up to see his fallen comrade Soap MacTavish standing over him but something his different about him. Soap's eyes are yellow as this is actually Ming using his telepathic abilities to break Price.
Soap: What's the matter Captain? You look like you've seen a ghost?
"Soap" then picks Price up by the collar throwing him into a wall. The impact shakes the wall causing pictures such as a framed picture of Price alongside Gaz and a young Kyle Garrick to fall to the ground. Price is now bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth and although his vision is blurry he can make out that a different figure is walking towards him now, this figure is wearing what looks like a ski mask and a hoodie. The figure tells Price in a cockney accent "Now you've truly seen one!" and then punches Price in the gut, Price's vision stabilizes just enough to see that Ming is now projecting himself to be Simon "Ghost" Riley. Price coughs up some blood and wipes his mouth, he stands his ground letting the telepath know that he's not afraid.
Capt Price: Are you taking the form of brave soldiers so you can hide the fact... That you're a complete fucking coward?
Ghost: Oh I can take any form you'd like me too Captain. Perhaps the boy's father next?
Price then swings but "Ghost" effortlessly avoids it causing Price to stumble to the ground. The Captain turns around to see that Ming has now taken the form of General Shepherd instead of Gaz. This enrages Price but Ming in the form of the dishonorable general cracks a sinister grin.
Shepherd: Maybe this will give you the motivation you need!
Ming while using the form of Shepherd extends sticks his arms out and Price let's out a blood curdling scream of purge rage out that causes the others fighting outside to take pause. Price charges the telepath knocking him down and starts whaling on him. Back outside however Kenshi cuts that last remaining robot with his katana and the group runs back into the house with Nikolai, Farah, and Gaz leading the way. The group sees Price beating on a bloodied Ming laying down on the ground, Nikolai and Gaz go to pull Price off but he doesn't stop even for them. They keep trying only for Price to stop for just a moment to yell "GET OFF ME!" but when Price turns around he no longer sees Shepherd he sees Makarov cackling like a hyena.
Makarov: If only you fought with this tenacity during the war! Maybe they'd all still be alive!
Price then quickly grabs the pistol from Nikolai's hand and shoots "Makarov" in the head ending the illusion revealing Ming. Kenshi yells out "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?! HE GOT AWAY!". Price turns around looking at the blind swordsman confused.
Capt Price: Got away?! The bastard is now where he belongs! What are you on about?
Kenshi: He's a telepath with an army of clones! His consciousness is probably in a different body on the other side of the world by now.
Capt Price: He's still alive?
Nikolai: Afraid so Captain, he has many resources at his finger tips. We could really use your help Captain.
Capt Price: I'll do more than that! Cassie!
Cassie turns to Captain Price attentively, unsure of what he wants from her.
Captain Price: I'll help you find your dad and take down Ming but after this, no more science fiction.
Cassie smiles feeling that much more confident about being able to rescue her dad and stop the Shin-Tan for good.
Cassie: Welcome back to the good fight Captain.
To Be Continued...