//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 Finding Big Mama // Story: PMC's, War Economies, and Fillies? I didn't sign up for this! // by Bronycommander //------------------------------// Chapter 12: Finding Big Mama As Edward scouted ahead, he checked his radio. “We got reports about resistance activity near South Station.” As the transmission ended, he spotted a man in the distance, wearing a black trench coat, looking around, checking his back. “Taking a stroll after curfew?” The PMC asked himself. “This guy has to be a resistance member. Let’s tail him.” Snake had switched to his camo suit. “Right. You look creepy with that FaceCamo.” It looked a little bit scary when the camo was all black, hiding Snake’s face. The man they tailed whistled as a broadcast started. “May I have your attention, please. This is a public service announcement from the regional representatives of Raven Sword. A curfew is now in effect for this area. Please be advised that violators are subject to immediate execution upon site. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and apologize for any inconvenience.” Edward followed the man, while Snake took a separate way to clear the way. The young man got to cover as the member turned around. Seeing that none was tailing him, he continued his stroll through Midtown. He looked carefully after each corner. Tries to be sneaky but yet whistles so everyone can hear him. Great idea, really. The PMC trooper thought in disagree and disbelief. He followed the whistling man into a park, Snake had cleared the way by putting all PMCs to sleep. He had disguised himself as one of the Statues in the park, by putting his left hand behind his back, the right hand on his head like he was saluting or covering his face. To be sure it was really Snake, he activated his night vision. One of the statues glowed from body heat. I can see you. Without warning, the civilian started to run towards the podium. “Now that’s cuttin’ it close.” He relieved himself. The Brite turned around as he heard a noise. He saw a suspicious individual, dressed in a fedora and trench coat leaning against the hedge. It disappeared from sight as he came closer to investigate. Dismissing it, he continued to follow the trail. “That was close.” Broken Pony let out a sigh of relief as the PMC moved on and her camo deactivated. The two men followed the resistance member out of the park to a café. Snake hoped on an empty podium, posing as statue as the target came back to look at a picture of a woman on a window. Edward acted like he was walking away, his back turned. The man in black trench coat tripped getting Edward’s attention. “You’re alright, sir?” He gave him his hand. “I think so.” “Good. Now, move along, my buddies aren’t so friendly and look the other way as I do.” “T-thanks.” The member moved some stairs down. Snake looked at the picture. “It’s Akina!” Edward didn’t knew her but wasn’t interested how Snake knew her. A searchlight was scanning the area. It was shining on Edward. Covering his face with his left hand, he waved to show he was friendly and the light moved away. He distracted the PMCs at a roadblock by asking if they had found something, so Snake could move past. They said nothing was out of the ordinary. Then he joined Snake. They moved under a bridge where a canal was. The tailed man moved backwards into the canal to make sure he wasn’t followed. On the street again, the member accidently walked into 2 PMC soldiers. “Hey, you! Freeze!” one PMC ordered, the man held his hands in surrender. “I’ll take from here.” Edward walked to them. “Uh…okay.” The soldier walked away, Edward took his prisoner away around the corner. He heard how the soldiers hit the ground, sleeping by Snake’s Ruger. “You’re free to go. Don’t get caught again.” “Thank you. Wait, you’re the same guy that helped me up, right?” “Uh-huh.” The man sneaked past some other PMC’s and moved into a backyard. He came out disguised as PMC trooper, still whistling. Snake took another way to avoid the vehicle patrols. The PMC soldiers greeted Edward and let the disguised member pass. Can’t believe they fall for that! The young man thought as the PMC soldiers could identify each other with the System and should know that this whistling PMC was not one of them. Eventually, the false PMC leaded them to a Church, where he switched to his normal clothes again. “Stay back while I handle this.” “Ok Snake, I wait here.” The resistance member looked around, making sure none followed him. As he opened the door, Snake ambushed him, using him as shield. While Edward waited outside, he could still hear what was going on inside. “Who’s there?” a resistance soldier asked. “I'm here to see Big Mama.” Snake answered. “Is this the guy?” “What do you think?” “I didn't hear him coming at all. He's gotta be the one.” “Yeah, but look at him - He's ancient.” Then there was the sound of CQC, Edward first thought about helping Snake but dismissed it, as he had the feeling that he was watched. On a roof, Broken Pony had followed Snake and Edward. She watched everything with her scope. “They’re in a church. Request permission to engage.” “Negative. Wait until our other scout confirms that it is the hideout.” “Understood.” While her rage towards Snake made her Impatient, as she saw Edward looking in her direction, she became sad and scared about hurting him. “Please, Daddy…Don’t force me to hurt you…” Edward waited for a few minutes outside and was getting worried. Then finally, Snake came out and made a sign to get in. He leaded the young soldier to a woman with blue eyes and blond hair. She was wearing a red coat and biker boots. “May I introduce Big Mama, who is…also my mother. “Snake sounded a little bit dubious. “What?” Edward couldn’t believe his ears. “Yes young man, I’m his mother. What’s your name?” “E-Edward, Ma’am. I support Snake to free a friend of mine who got kidnapped by Liquid.” “Edward.” Mama smiled. “A nice name. Follow me. I’ll explain everything.” Snake and Edward followed to a library of the church. The elderly woman told both that the man who wanted her dead was Liquid. Snake’s twin. He was once Ocelot but Liquid had taken control of his soul. And now he’s locked in a bitter Struggle with Zero. Zero was the founder of the Patriots. It all happened 40 years ago. The woman said, during the cold war when the United States and the Soviet Union were still at odds, the Patriots were born. And she played her part, as she was one of the founding members. Zero created the Patriots to manage and control the American State. This control endured long after the end of the Cold War. The Organization became an empty shell, continuing to function through Als. The Als were responsible that the war economy was created, and they started the Son of the Patriots System. Big Mama was partly to blame. She had some guilt for the creation of the organization. It all started when she first met Snake’s father Big Boss. Back in 1964, she was ordered to take part in a CIA op called Operation Snake Eater. The Soviet Union was developing a new weapon at the time. Big Mama’s mission was to support a certain agent, which later became Big Boss. She knew him as Naked Snake at the time. A name which would be given to his son. The Commander of this mission was a man called Zero, the head of Special Unit FOX. Back then, she worked as double agent for the Chinese. Her objective was to secure the location of the Philosophers' Legacy. It was a massive cache of hidden wealth collected by the allied powers in World War II. It was on a microfilm that she should acquire. She failed, and was expelled from China. After years on the run, she met Big Boss again in Hanoi. Zero used the massive founds in the Philosophers' Legacy, to found the Patriots. They should carry out the final wishes of a legendary hero. The initial membership consisted of Big Boss, Zero and their weapon expert and medical expert Sigint and Para-Medic. And Ocelot who stayed on the Soviet Union as informant. Who was now Liquid. After Mama met Big Boss again, she joined the Patriots. The goal of the Patriots was a unity of thought and awareness. Zero believed that the Boss, a legendary hero from World War II, known as the mother of Special Forces wanted it so. To honor the Boss and in order to lead the people, The Patriots needed a special kind of icon, which turned out to be Big Boss, as he shared more of the Boss’s life than anyone else. However, as time and politics changed, so changed Zero, who became a prisoner of his own lust for power. This caused Big Boss to leave the Patriots. To ensure that the icon lived on, a new project was started by Zero. Les Enfants Terribles. The goal was to create a clone of Big Boss, the ultimate soldier. It was led by Para-Medic. Big Mama served as surrogate mother, and gave birth to Liquid and Snake. For Mama, it didn’t matter that they were clones or that their DNA was manipulated, they were born the same way, as any other normal child. However, this was the final straw for Big Boss and finally broke away. He was determined to oppose Zero’s plan. But that caused Zero to finally lost control. He wanted an orderly world, one governed by rules. With the rising of digital technology, the Patriots brought an entire planet under their control. Zero and Big Boss misinterpreted the Boss’s will. And their absolute reverence for her drove them apart. So began the war between Zero and Big Boss. Big Boss returned assumed command of FOXHOOD with a plan to stop Zero. In Outer Heaven, and then Zanzibarland. He plotted coups d’état against Zero. Edward was fascinated as Big Mama turned to Snake. “But you – Solid Snake, his own clone – foiled his efforts both times.” Then she told that Zero recovered his body, as Big Boss was an irreplaceable friend for him. Because of Big Boss’s betrayal, Zero lost his belief in everything – nations, organizations, individuals. Instead, he set up a network of Als, which was the Foundation stone for the SOP System. In this System, Big Boss is trapped in a brain dead prison. Big Mama leaded them outside, while explaining that after Ocelot lost his right arm and replaced it with Liquid’s arm, his body was taken over by Liquid's thoughts and spirit. He may be Ocelot in physical form, but his mind is Liquid’s. They walked to the backdoors of a van. “This is his pyx.” The woman opened the door. Inside was a body on life support. As Snake tried to touch it, the corpse twitched in a spontaneous reflex. “Creepy.” Edward lightly shivered in fear for a moment. “His body is alive, but his consciousness is locked away by nanomachines. So technically speaking, he’s not really brain dead. We can’t allow Liquid to inherit the same sins that corrupted Zero…” the woman walked back into the church with them. Inside, Snake’s and Edward’s radio ringed. Otacon reported that Naomi was gone. While Snake talked with Otacon about it, Edward took notice of the same suspicious individual, dressed in a fedora and trench coat walking by he saw earlier in the park. He tapped a resistance member on the shoulder and pointed to it. “Hey you!” the member shouted as the individual walked in. “Come here!” He stooped it and took the hat off, only to see there was no head but a hand. The Paradise Lost Army fell in fear in his back, firing his Vz-83 at the person. 3 small, black spheres with a large, blue “eye” and three organic-looking arms dropped the disguise. “What the hell is that?” Snake drew his pistol as Big Mama pushed him aside. “Move!” She destroyed all three with her C96 Type 17 Mauser pistol, firing sideways. The PLA member breathed heavily as he calmed down. “Scarabs…Unmanned Scouts.” “They’ve found us. We’re moving out. “Edward, Snake, The PMCs are converging on your location. Damn it! They’re sending in Gekko! They’ll be on you in less than five minutes!” Otacon warned as they moved outside to the van. “We’ll escape through the canal route using the real van. Get it ready. Hurry!” Edward, get in the van, Snake and I escort you.” “Yes, Ma’am.” While he got into the passenger seat on one of the vans, he head Big Mama say, “All of those children were orphans. They work in arms factories, and when they grow up, they want to join a PMC. They seek revenge on other companies…PMCs that killed their parents and use their earnings to support their younger siblings. There are countless child soldiers like these in the PMCs. Nowadays, anyone with a computer can get combat training. The FPS games these children love are distributed for free by these companies. Of course, it’s all just virtual training. It’s so easy for them to get absorbed by these war games. And before they know it, they’re in the PMCs holding real guns. These kids end up fighting in proxy wars that have nothing to do with their own lives. They think it’s cool to fight like this. They think that combat is life. They don’t a reason to fight. After all, for them it’s only a game.” This reminded Edward of himself. Why he joined the PMC Praying Mantis. Big Mama’s explanation was very accurate. And it also showed that he got into that circler of Children soldiers too. Some members got onto Triumph Speed Triple motorcycles, while Snake and Big Mama used a Triumph Bonneville T100. Very good taste for a woman of her age. Edward smirked as the driver of the van asked, “You’re ready to rock?” “Hell yeah!” He cocked his MK.17 and got his Mosin-Nagant out. The vans escorted by the motorcycles left the church. That will be a though and great escape. “Gekko!” the driver reserved, Edward leaned out of the Window to fire his Mosin-Nagant, as he didn’t want to kill any of his comrades except for the FROGS.