PART ONE

"That's a complicated question. There were many." answered the shadowed figure lounging in the darkness. Smoke spread out from the occupied shadows and with is next breath he said, ".....If I had to say it was one moment above all.... It was Peru......"

20 years ago

Embedded within the jungles of South America, near Guatemala, stood a man facing a beast seen by an extreme few, except for those eliminated by it. In its stance on the jungle floor , gracefully poised for the attack. The man directs his vision to the foe before him. He watches his enemy with keenness of the eye. Two warriors stood on a fresh battlefield, each studying the other acknowledging the mastery of power, strength, sharp eyes and speed.

Without warning they lunged for each other full speed, bearing emotionless faces. Bounding back and forth across the trees and vines. With a graceful agility, the beats sprung into the air over the man, rearing its head and arms back for the strike. Leary of his readiness, and poised to reciprocate, the man pre-empted the beast with a carefully thrown, sharp, long rock. An incredible force accompanied the rock, so much so that it bore into its flesh, deep enough to impair this natural born killer.

"BLLAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEGHHHH!!!!", the creature exclaimed.

With that clever move, the man has unknowingly incurred the unbridled wrath possessed within this creature. A wrath seen by many, escaped by none. Its eyes fixed steadily on him, watching, contemplating many deathblows and strategic attacks. Lightning fast movements carried its body in a a mind-blowing spin, kicking dust, dirt and rocks into the air. A smoke screen of sorts now enabled, the unhindered sight of this... conundrum beast wrote out the final moments of this fight for the man.

Relying on his other senses, the man was able to deflect 2 of the kicks, powerful enough to shatter stone. By the third strike, his body was unable to sustain defense wracking his back, ribs, and arms in immense pain. "Uughhh... huhh -glllllrrrrrrrgggh!!!" Taking the blows with an outstanding amount of discretion, he feels his bones break as muffled pops and snaps are heard from within his flesh.

......CLICK-SNAP!!

Recognizing the sound crudely severed bone, the creature grasped him in firmly its feet, smirking. In a panicked moment, the first actually, the man arched his body to kick the abomination in the eye, dividing the sclera from the iris. A bloodied wave pulsated from where optical perfection once was. Having never experienced pain in this magnitude the beats dropped him, running into stumps, boulders and trees, frustrated, angry, and submerged in utter agony.

Gasping for air, bruised, and near the point of exhaustion the man crawls to find some form of solace. Secluding himself behind a large rock to recuperate, the man waits for the unusual animal to tire and become weak. Rage clouded the creatures otherwise cold and calculating judgment. Realizing that the wounds were too much to bear, Not wasting this opportunity, the man flew into the air flipping to deliver a precise axe kick to its oddly shaped sternum, decimating its torso.

CCCCRRRCK-POP!! . . . .. . .....THWUMP SPLAT!!

In a gory depiction, the heart of the beast drops to the ground ...still beating, pumping out crimson liquid soaked up by the earth below. Exhausted, and amazed in the skill presented on the battlefield, the man drops to his knees... smiling. Filled with new desires for conflict, the man can only describe the fight in two words: sheer beauty. Raising his arms to the sky in triumph, the foliage of the jungle blurs together and the remains of the creature mystify and vanish. Now perplexed, he jumps to his feet to investigate but is pre-empted by fatigue.

Back to present...

"While unconscious, I dreamt of a remote area engulfed in vegetation, and flowing with rivers of blood. I followed the river to its source, the creatures head pouring life fluid from its mouth."
"That was when I realized that without conflict I had no purpose. From then on I knew that I had a need for bloodshed. Without it I cannot function.

"Six weeks later I awoke in a tent surrounded by the village doctors and soldiers, guns drawn awaiting my reaction. Excluding recent events, that was the most excruciating pain I'd ever experienced. About four days afterwards, military special forces team arrived to "confiscate their property". After failing to fight them off due to injury, I was sedated and moved back and forth to their labs in Nevada, Arizona and Japan. One test after another the bloodlust grew into blinding all other desires. While in Arizona I became their tool. I was used to assassinate uncooperative politicians, organized crime leaders, and whomever stood in the way of their ideals. In the heat of the fight I learned to focus my urges into unmatched battle strategy."

"Heh, to me there is no greater life."

Trying to hide his disgust at the last comment, the other man answered, "Humph... Interesting, and ..uh quite ....informative. (mumbles) Wish I never asked." "Uh.. thank you for your time, but I have pressing matters to attend to. Believe me its been quite the unique experience. Goodbye sir." Walking quickly to the exit the man tries not to be obvious in his haste. before he can reach the exit, Gray Fox seemingly pleased says, "It was my pleasure. We will see each other again Dr. Hewlard. Oh yes, lay off the Vodka... it stinks. Next time, don't bring your gun, and be sure to tell your guards not to follow you when seeing me. Your on no list of mine" Undoubtedly shocked, Hewlard says, " What the hell, how did you know all that?!!" Calmly Fox answered, " I'm crazy Dr. Hewlard, not stupid. Last I checked that IS why we're having this meeting. Your higher-ups seem to think I'm a loose canon."

As Dr. Hewlard departed, Fox whispered, " You can come out now, he's gone." A man clothed in a trench coat stepped from the shadows opposite of Fox, eyes and his gun steady on Dr. Hewlard. "That wont be necessary Ocelot." ,interjected Fox. In the moment Ocelot lowered his gun he muttered, "Kill joy... Are you ready?" Catching the scent of of blood an gun powder Fox yelled in distain, "Must you kill everything you see?! Ugh! ...So, down to business, Who is it this time that's in the crosshairs?" Biting his lips in anticipation, Ocelot blurted out "You have one week to accomplish your objective. Its top priority. Your target's name...
is Solid Snake.

© Copy written by Robert Wesson III.

Last revised: December 20, 2001.

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