LST: Civil War Ep. 9

Episode 9: The Frog and the Octopus

“Previously, on LST Book III: Civil War, Snake’s team ran into Dr. Andonuts, an old man hiding in a trash can that had helped create the monster that is the Ultimate Chimera. However, he revealed that while he refused to create any more chimeras, he was still forced to work on something else: a massive robot the Pigmask Army found. Fearing it to be a Metal Gear, Snake hurries the team through the base to stop the Pigmasks from utilizing it.”

The door to a hospital room within the Shadow Moses Island base opened up, and Dr. Andonuts, Solid Snake, Kaden, Mr. Game & Watch, and Lammy entered cautiously. It was empty, calming their nerves as they entered.

“Alright, we can rest here for a moment,” Snake stated.

“I thought we’d never get to rest,” Lammy sighed, making her way over to one of the hospital beds and sitting down on it.

“I can’t believe the Ultimate Chimera followed us over here…” Dr. Andonuts panicked. “If it follows us through the whole base, we’re going to be done for, no doubt…”

“Calm down, we’ll be fine,” Snake assured. “Rest up here and get some supplies. I’m going to catch an elevator down to the armory below. I’m going to see if I can salvage any weapons lying around. Keep a low profile and don’t leave until I get back. If anyone comes in, there’s rooms you can hide in.”

As Solid Snake left, Kaden walked around the main medical room, scanning over the countertops. “…huh, that’s interesting.”

“What is it?” Lammy asked.

“These look like potions…” Kaden lifted up what appeared to be spray bottles of different colors. “Like, I imagine that they must be something different in this world, but they look an awful lot like potions.”

“Aren’t potions those things crazy scientists create in flasks or something?” Lammy recalled. “Uh, n-no offense, professor.”

“None taken! You are absolutely correct,” Dr. Andonuts nodded in agreement.

“No, no, like, where I’m from, potions are medicine created to heal Pokémon,” Kaden explained. “There are different kinds that heal Pokémon different amounts of their health, and, well, from the looks of it, every single kind is here. These all look like the bottles they get sold in… Oh, and look!” Kaden stepped over and picked up what appeared to be a blocky container. “This is a Max Potion. And a Full Restore!”

“Are you sure?” Lammy tilted her head. “Why would they have Pokémon stuff lying around the place?”

Kaden mulled over the question for a moment, “Honestly, I have no idea. My best guess is that they must have a Pokémon trainer helping them out, but who would possibly be willing to aid these dudes?”

“I don’t even know what a Pokémon is,” Lammy shrugged.

“Well, whatever the case, I’m taking some,” Kaden decided, pocketing the potions. “Whoever it is helping these guys needs to be put at as much of a disadvantage as possible.”

“…just give me a sec, I need to stock up on more potions…”

The four in the room froze up at the sound of an unfamiliar voice outside. Immediately, Kaden led Lammy into the isolation room with him, while Dr. Andonuts dove into the restroom and Mr. Game & Watch flattened himself against the walls. Kaden peeked out and watched carefully, as a punkish woman entered the room, his eyes lighting up. “Th-that’s Eva…”

“Who?” Lammy asked. “You know her?”

“Yeah, she’s kinda my rival, I guess you could say,” Kaden nodded. “She’s this former member of Team Skull, a criminal gang that disbanded recently, but is always up to no good. She must be working with the Pigmask Army…”

A Pigmask soldier walked in with her, watching Eva search through the drawers. “Must’ve been a tough fight against that creature, yeah.”

“Hah, no Pokémon is too tough for me,” Eva boasted.

“Must be talking about the Ultimate Chimera…” Lammy figured.

“That thing’s a… Pokeyman, right?” the Pigmask scratched its helmet, confused. “Certainly not a chimera we made…”

“Yeah, a Greninja,” Eva nodded. Kaden’s eyes lit up. “I don’t know how a Greninja got in the base, but I’m going to capture it. It’s powerful, so it’s going to make a great addition to the team!”

“A wild Greninja? Here, loose in the base?” Kaden gasped. “Oh my gosh, this is too good to be true…”

“What’s a Greninja?” asked Lammy.

“It’s a Pokémon, native to the Kalos region, and they’re really rare, usually only bred to be given out to beginner trainers in their base evolution, Froakie,” Kaden explained.

“Base evolution…?” Lammy was visibly confused.

Kaden sighed and shrugged it off, “I’ll tell you later.”

“Well, we’ll need you to get out there and catch that thing as soon as possible,” stated the Pigmask. “That thing has been nothing but a nuisance for us since it showed up, and you’re the best equipped to capture it.”

“I know,” Eva grinned. “I promise, I’ll capture it. I just need to… need to figure out where I put those potions. I know I set some here on the counter…” Eva searched through the drawers, before pulling out a couple Full Restores. “Here we go. These will have to do. Alright, I’m off.”

Eva rushed out of the room, with the Pigmask soldier following after. Waiting a few seconds, Kaden, Mr. Game & Watch, Lammy, and Dr. Andonuts stepped back into the room, letting out a heavy sigh. “Thank goodness, they finally left…”

“I can’t believe it, a wild Greninja is loose here…” Kaden scratched his chin in awe. “I HAVE to catch it!”

“Is it really that important?” Lammy asked.

“Of course,” Kaden nodded. “Not only is it a rare find, but if Eva captures it before I do, she’ll use it for her own diabolical means, and use it to help the Pigmask Army. It’s like… keeping a dangerous weapon out of the hands of this army, the same thing we’re doing with destroying this Metal Gear thing.”

“Well, that’s a good point…” Lammy figured. “Let’s go tell Snake.”

“Right,” Kaden gestured, leading the group out to the elevator.

The four descended down the elevator into the armory below. Solid Snake turned to see the elevator coming back down, watching as Kaden, Mr. Game & Watch, Lammy, and Dr. Andonuts stepped out from it. “What’re you doing down here?” Snake approached the four.

“We found out another person from my world is here,” Kaden swiftly explained. “She’s working with the Pigmask Army. On top of that, there’s a wild Pokémon here that she’s trying to capture. I need to catch it myself.”

“What? Is it that important?” Snake glowered. “We can’t take any detours.”

“If she catches it, she can use it to aid the army. Capturing it myself would be keeping what’s essentially a dangerous weapon out of their hands,” Kaden explained.

“Whatever this Pokémon thing is, it’s nowhere near as dangerous as a Metal Gear, I can tell you that,” Snake swore, “…but so long as it doesn’t hinder our mission or separate you from us, then do as you wish.”

Kaden’s face lit up at this discovery. Dr. Andonuts stepped forward, “What’re you still doing down here? I figured you would have met back up with us at the medical facility above by now.”

“This place is filled with weapons,” Snake stated. “C4s, a Nikita with remote missiles by the dozen, a practically unlimited supply of hand grenades, a rocket launcher, a mortar... No guns, though. It’s like they ignored all the explosives and only took the guns.”

“These are all the weapons of the people who were here before, right?” Lammy asked, looking around. “T-talk about violent…”

“Yeah, well, they weren’t good people,” shrugged Snake. “Regardless, I got what I came here for, so let’s keep moving.”

Before they could move, though, something whizzed right past them. It struck the wall, but instead of a weapon indenting in the wall, it splashed against it, revealing to just be water. “No, it couldn’t be…” Kaden quickly turned in the direction the attack came from, as did the others. Standing at the other end of the room was a Greninja, readying another Water Shuriken. “Yes!! Greninja, you’re mine!” Kaden beamed, stepping forward.

“Kaden, we don’t have time for this,” Snake growled.

“I’ll catch him in a flash, I promise,” assured Kaden. “Raichu, I choose you!” Kaden threw out his Pokéball, and out came an Alolan Raichu, floating around on her tail.

“What in the… how can it fly without wings?” Dr. Andonuts gasped.

“It’s a Psychic-type, it’s flying with psychic powers,” Kaden grinned.

“But… psychic powers aren’t real, right? That’s not a thing…” Lammy frowned.

“It is,” both Solid Snake and Dr. Andonuts responded in unison, ‘causing Lammy to slink back nervously.

“Raichu, Discharge!” Kaden commanded. Raichu flew forward towards Greninja, letting out a burst of electricity around her body as she flew towards Greninja. However, as Raichu struck it, Greninja’s body vanished in a puff of smoke, replaced by a Substitute doll. Greninja flew in from behind, delivering a flying kick to Raichu and slamming it into the wall behind her. As Raichu swiftly spun around, she was surprised to see that Greninja vanished into the shadows. From directly underneath her, Greninja leaped upwards and struck Raichu, sending her flying back. “Raichu!!” Kaden gasped, bracing himself. “Alright, I don’t think we’ve got much of a choice here…” Kaden sighed.

“Don’t have much of a choice in what?” Snake raised an eyebrow.

Kaden inhaled, then exhaled, holding his arms up crossed in front of him. The bracelet he wore began to shine as he moved his arms about and posed them. From his bracelet, an enormous amount of colorful energy emerged, engulfing Raichu in a rainbow of flames. “Z-Move Stoked Sparksurfer, let’s go!” He exclaimed. The rainbow flames turned into a mass electric charge. Raichu flew up into the air, before diving down towards Greninja. He swiftly began to dodge it, but Raichu zipped about too fast, and soon she crashed right into him, throwing Greninja back across the floor. He bounced along the ground, before landing on his feet. Raichu immediately charged for him again, and as Greninja was trying to recover, he was struck again, sent sliding towards another wall.

Greninja pulled himself up, bracing himself, and leaped over Raichu as she sped towards him again. Using Hydro Pump, he pushed himself away from Raichu, sliding along the ground, before charging a Water Shuriken and throwing it at her. While not very effective, it still landed a critical hit that knocked Raichu out of her attack, the Z-Move ending as she crashed into several shelves. “Raichu!” Kaden exclaimed, running towards her side instantly. “Are you alright?”

“Rai…” Raichu groaned.

“You did good. Return,” Kaden recalled Raichu into her Pokéball, before turning back towards Greninja. “Alright, how about this… I choose you, Pop-”

Suddenly, the sound of the elevator rising up echoed through the room, startling everyone. “Uhh, that doesn’t sound good…” Lammy noted.

“Someone’s using the elevator,” Snake pointed out the obvious. “Either they’re heading back to the first basement floor, or…” Seconds later, the elevator was lowering back down. “Run. Now.” Snake led Mr. Game & Watch, Lammy, and Dr. Andonuts towards the next room, but Kaden hadn’t moved yet. “Kaden, hurry!”

“I can’t!” Kaden shook his head. He pulled out a Pokéball and chucked it at Greninja, but he whacked it away with his tongue. “Come on, I’m trying to keep you safe!”

“And I’m trying to keep you safe,” Snake intervened. “You need to get in here before-”

The elevator landed. No longer furthering the argument, Snake dove back into the next room to hide. The elevator opened up, revealing Eva as she stepped out. She didn’t take immediate notice of Greninja and Kaden as she looked around, but her eyes eventually landed on them. “What the… Kaden? What’re you doing here?!” Eva snapped, not initially putting her focus on Greninja.

“What are you doing here?” Kaden retorted. “And what’re you doing helping the Pigmask Army?”

“How do you know about them…?” Eva glared. “Grr… whatever, I don’t have time for this. I’m here to capture that Greninja, and you can’t stop me!”

Eva pulled out a Pokéball and chucked it at Greninja, but Kaden dove in the way, causing it to bounce off of him. “No way! You think I’m gonna let you use it to help those guys up there? Fat chance.”

“Get out of the way, Kaden!” Eva shouted, “or you’re gonna regret it!”

“Try me,” Kaden shouted, pulling out a Pokéball.

“Grrr… Alright, fine, have it your way,” Eva turned, walking back over to the elevator. She entered it again, and began to ascend upwards.

Kaden scoffed, turning back towards Greninja once the elevator had vanished. However, Greninja, too, had disappeared. “Wha… Well, so long as he’s out of their hands. Guys, let’s get going, hurry!”

The door opened back up, and Snake, Mr. Game & Watch, Lammy, and Dr. Andonuts reemerged. “What did you think you were doing?!” Snake confronted Kaden, jabbing him in the chest.

“Trying to keep Eva from capturing that Greninja,” Kaden defended. “If she got her hands on it at all-”

“We could’ve dealt with that later,” Snake argued. “It was crucial that we stayed out of sight. Now they know we’re here.”

“We’re going to be fine!” Kaden assured. “Let’s just hurry and get back to the tank hangar before she can call anyone over.”

“Fine, but if we’re in trouble, it’s on you,” Snake stated.

The five hurried towards the elevator, calling it back down. Slowly, it arrived, and the five boarded back on. However, once it reached the top, back in a tank hangar where the two facilities they’d been in prior were below, they were greeted with the sight of several Pigmask soldiers aiming guns at the group. “No, no, no…” Kaden panicked.

“I warned you…” Snake growled.

“More of you?” scoffed Eva as she stepped forward. “Well, whatever. Alright, everyone, take aim, and-”

Just before they could fire, Mr. Game & Watch leapt forward. In an instant, his body shifted and changed, transforming into his large octopus form. He slid forward along the ground, grabbing every pigmask soldier and dragging them over along the ground. They were dragged to the other side of the hangar and promptly slammed into the wall, knocking all of them out. Eva gasped, turning away from the group to watch the odd display before her. However, as she did, Snake immediately ran up behind her, pulling her into a chokehold. In a second, she was rendered unconscious, Snake laying her down on the ground.

“Y-you didn’t…” Kaden gasped.

“No,” Snake shook his head. “I just rendered her unconscious, she’ll be fine. But we won’t. We need to start moving fast before they wake up and cause an alert.” As the group began running as fast as they could through the tank hangar, making their way towards the door leading into the next facility, Snake’s radio began to alert him.

——

[141.12]

Otacon: Snake, did you see that?!

Solid Snake: How could I not?

Otacon: That two-dimensional creature you were with… just transformed! He changed his entire body!

Solid Snake: Don’t ask me how it’s possible.

Otacon: This is so intriguing… I-I gotta know how it’s possible.

Solid Snake: Hey, I’m here on a mission, I can’t start researching this thing for you.

Otacon: No, no, I know… but I can research it.

Solid Snake: And how do you plan on doing that?

Otacon: I’m going to fly over to the base myself.

Solid Snake: What?!

Otacon: We know the objective, you won’t need me to come pick you back up undetected, right? Once you disable the Metal Gear and put an end to the army, you’ll only need to be picked back up from there.

Solid Snake: Hrnngh… I don’t like the sound of this.

Otacon: It’ll be fine! I want you to meet me in my lab, alright? Y-you know, my lab in the base. Hopefully, they haven’t gone touching anything…

Solid Snake: I’ll make sure all your anime is safe and sound.

Otacon: S-Snake, be serious!! I need you to meet me in my lab so I can research that creature.

Solid Snake: Hrnn… Alright, understood.

——

“Guys, we’re going to need to make a quick pit stop,” Snake growled, annoyed.

“Wh-where to?” Lammy asked.

“My associate is planning to make his way over to the island to join us,” Snake sighed. “He… wishes to research Mr. Game & Watch.”

“BEEP!?” shouted Mr. Game & Watch.

“Don’t look at me!” Snake defended himself. “He’s the one that wants to study you. He’s curious about you, being 2D and transforming and shit. Be grateful he’s got such an interest in you, if anything.”

“BEEP…” Mr. Game & Watch whined.

“Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll make sure you’re okay,” Kaden assured, patting Mr. Game & Watch. “You’re gonna be fine.”

“His lab is in the next facility over,” Snake explained. “It’s nearby, so we’ll clear it out and wait for him there.”

“He’s going to be fine, right?” Kaden shot a glare at Snake.

“Ugh… I promise, nothing will happen to him,” Snake assured. “No harm will come to him or anything. I wouldn’t dare put anyone’s life at risk like that. You can trust me.”

“Alright…” Kaden nodded, though still seeming to be unconvinced.

“Now, come on,” Snake gestured. “Let’s hurry over there before anyone catches on to us.”

Once Snake’s team left, Eva and a couple other Pigmask soldiers slowly awoke. “Ugh, what happened…?” asked Eva with a heavy groan, rubbing her head. “How did we…?”

“S-sir!! I mean, m-miss!!” shouted a soldier rushing into the room. “The Ultimate Chimera is loose. W-we need help containing it!”

“What?!” Eva jumped up. “That must’ve been what attacked us… Come on, you lazy bums! We’ve got a beast to subdue!”

“R-right!” The soldiers saluted, kicking the rest of the soldiers awake before rushing off, Eva in pursuit.

Eva looked away, towards the elevator. “I’ll come back for you later, Greninja…”

“With Otacon finding interest in Mr. Game & Watch, our heroes are forced to make a detour towards Otacon’s laboratory on Shadow Moses Island’s nuclear base. They can only hope they’re fast enough to get through with Otacon’s study on Mr. Game & Watch and what makes him tick before it’s too late. Will they be able to get there safely? Will they be able to stop the Metal Gear and the Pigmask Army? What other stories await being told? Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of LST Book III: Civil War to find out!”