Happy Burger

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Edgar merely shrugged his shoulders "Hey, I walked through the front door, just like everyone else, what more do you want? it's not my fault your mind is in the clouds. Don't hate the player, hate the game." Edgar replied before taking a rather sizable bite out of his double beef cheeseburger.

"Believe me, I have not been watching you since you departed the apartment. I've been rather... occupied.  Catherine is in very real trouble right now, and I've just been attacked myself, kinda why I need to do a fill up here." Edgar explained. then he caught the snippet about him being a criminal and his daughter a weapon.

"I thought I already told you about my innocence. Them wanting me by law does not make them any more right about the situation than you are now. As for The Queen, leave her be. She may be the very one that saves you all." Edgar said before taking a second bite and relishing it.

Damian merely continued to eat his double cheese burger as well. "Catherine..." he says it as if he was trying to recall the last name of a famous debutante that was lost in a haze of memory loss. Then suddenly it hit him, and he choked on his burger, painfully swallowing it down with half his shake. "Miller?! But-but-she's been dead for nearly 8 years, I seen her go down in that tanker not too far from this very city!" he says a tad too loud for his own good, caught himself, grunted then added in a quieter tone: "I seen her die Ed, back in New Haven. That woman will wish she be in trouble now that I know she's still alive and kicking!" he whispered harshly, shaking his head and grunting in irritation. He shakes his head again, looking off in the distance. "8 years. Nearly a fucking decade, and the woman doesn't let me know she's alive. Wow, I feel used." he shakes his head again and then sighs, turning to Ed again. "Oh, yeah...sorry. But I'm just a government guy using government knowledge. According to my reports, you're a wanted felon, and your... lack of a better term that won't end up with me smeared against the wall 'daughter' is a Bio-Organic Weapon. I'm sorry I let it slip." he sighed. Looking out the window he then turns to Ed again.

"She...really alive?" he asked, going back to the subject of Catherine Miller, aka: DRAKE; his partner back on his 2005 mission to the nearby town of New Haven, Maine. He had watched her perish after she had forgiven him... He had felt remorse for her death but had healed. With news of her being alive, it made him feel hurt again.

Damian Handy wrote:

Damian merely continued to eat his double cheese burger as well. "Catherine..." he says it as if he was trying to recall the last name of a famous debutante that was lost in a haze of memory loss. Then suddenly it hit him, and he choked on his burger, painfully swallowing it down with half his shake. "Miller?! But-but-she's been dead for nearly 8 years, I seen her go down in that tanker not too far from this very city!" he says a tad too loud for his own good, caught himself, grunted then added in a quieter tone: "I seen her die Ed, back in New Haven. That woman will wish she be in trouble now that I know she's still alive and kicking!" he whispered harshly, shaking his head and grunting in irritation. He shakes his head again, looking off in the distance. "8 years. Nearly a fucking decade, and the woman doesn't let me know she's alive. Wow, I feel used." he shakes his head again and then sighs, turning to Ed again. "Oh, yeah...sorry. But I'm just a government guy using government knowledge. According to my reports, you're a wanted felon, and your... lack of a better term that won't end up with me smeared against the wall 'daughter' is a Bio-Organic Weapon. I'm sorry I let it slip." he sighed. Looking out the window he then turns to Ed again.

"She...really alive?" he asked, going back to the subject of Catherine Miller, aka: DRAKE; his partner back on his 2005 mission to the nearby town of New Haven, Maine. He had watched her perish after she had forgiven him... He had felt remorse for her death but had healed. With news of her being alive, it made him feel hurt again.

"That's right, Catherine Miller is alive, and about to have the mother of all showdowns facing off against the FROGS, Liquid's personal troops. She retired from the mercenary life, got herself and her men set up in a place where they could pass away unnoticed by the world... I... helped keep her and her solders hidden. They had seen enough war, and they knew some the truth about what happened on Rockfort, that's why they approached me, despite my supposedly fell reputation." Edgar explained, ignoring Damien's jibe about himself and the Black Queen.

"Look, say whatever you want about me and mine, I'm a monster, a BOW, a weapon 'o' mass destruction, a demon from hell or whatnot, the point is, if I was any of those things, you would have been dead long ago, or if not from before your memories got erased, then you would have been dead at that hooker assassin's blade if I just merely stood back and did nothing, or heaven forbid, killed you myself. You don't like me right now, I know it, you know it, your sister knows it, even your badge and gun know it. The question remains, what are you going to do about it? You want to try and turn me in? Fine, I can cause enough of a ruckus right now to force the presidential speech to be called off, and it most definitely will if I transform in the middle of the city into that monster that wiped out millions of people. It would be world war 3 right here in Tall Oaks. You'd lose your shot at the President, sure, but the mass evacuation would also save the people here from the horrors brewing beneath the street, a general evac order would be issued, and they would start moving the people out by the planeload. So, my first question is, why shouldn't I do it?" Edgar challenged Damien as he started nibbling on a French fry.

Ben Winters wrote:

Ben chuckled at her response "haha, humor is the one thing that helps us get through the day, and i wouldn't say pure evil just a little bit" Ben chuckled as he said that last part he then replied to her previous question "and yes i was a member of the Raccoon City Police Department, you've no doubt heard the tragic story of Raccoon"

She fakes an irritated grunt. "Pff, thanks." she says this crossing her arms and leaned against the side of the front entrance. She then noticed he was still standing beside the sedan which was still in the rain's line of fire, despite the storm holding up a little. "Hey why don't you come over here where it's... well, less wet." she chuckled. "I promise I don't bite, despite my reputation." she says, waving him over to stand beside her, and out of the rain.

She heard him state his former job site and she made a slight face. "Eh...yeah. Sorry to have asked." she looks back up at him with a frown. "But...that can make sense why you've come all this way to meet with the Prez. I was about, I'd say 12 or 13 when I saw what happened on the news. I remember that there was a dangerous virus leak in the city, and that the President at the time had given the go ahead to destroy the city to prevent it spreading. They never said what the virus did...but I'd rather not know and put you through what you had to do... I remember some of the survivors being interviewed. Talking about the 'dead' walking, I mean... that's bull..." she says with a slight chuckle. "I also remember the President had resigned after this event...then again if anyone was in his position..." she looks up and shakes her head. "Sorry, trailed off." she sighs stretching her arms above her head. "But speaking of the President, when he comes tomorrow, yours truly will be part of the official motorcade escorting him to the University. For my sake, I hope it doesn't rain like it has today." she finishes with a chuckle.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

"That's right, Catherine Miller is alive, and about to have the mother of all showdowns facing off against the FROGS, Liquid's personal troops. She retired from the mercenary life, got herself and her men set up in a place where they could pass away unnoticed by the world... I... helped keep her and her solders hidden. They had seen enough war, and they knew some the truth about what happened on Rockfort, that's why they approached me, despite my supposedly fell reputation." Edgar explained, ignoring Damien's jibe about himself and the Black Queen.

"Look, say whatever you want about me and mine, I'm a monster, a BOW, a weapon 'o' mass destruction, a demon from hell or whatnot, the point is, if I was any of those things, you would have been dead long ago, or if not from before your memories got erased, then you would have been dead at that hooker assassin's blade if I just merely stood back and did nothing, or heaven forbid, killed you myself. You don't like me right now, I know it, you know it, your sister knows it, even your badge and gun know it. The question remains, what are you going to do about it? You want to try and turn me in? Fine, I can cause enough of a ruckus right now to force the presidential speech to be called off, and it most definitely will if I transform in the middle of the city into that monster that wiped out millions of people. It would be world war 3 right here in Tall Oaks. You'd lose your shot at the President, sure, but the mass evacuation would also save the people here from the horrors brewing beneath the street, a general evac order would be issued, and they would start moving the people out by the planeload. So, my first question is, why shouldn't I do it?" Edgar challenged Damien as he started nibbling on a French fry.

He shakes his head. "Then do something about it instead of bugging me here! I can't leave, even for someone like Cat, I can't just up and leave. Not yet." he says, leaning back in his seat. "Oh...oh Ed...you should've really let me die, just so I wouldn't have to go through this..." he sighs again, throwing his head forward. "Look... you know... I don't know what's keeping you... but just some part of me is screaming you just wouldn't. You want me to apologize? You want me to paint a picture stating my sincere apologies? Huh...?" he palms his eyes then runs his hands through his long hair that he's accumulated throughout the six months. "Seriously... I'm sorry... But I'm trying to get back into the world Ed. The real world where I won't need a gun, won't need to worry about a half decomposed stiff coming at me with hungry eyes and a dried blood encrusted mouth. I'm done with the fight, the U.N. is done with me too. Just let me... let me go out in peace." he says with a depressed sigh. He sighs and looks around the room. "Your not that kind of person, human or not... I just got this gut instinct that you wouldn't cause a ruckus. You wouldn't put yourself into a spot, especially with the current rep you have. Let that rep be what you did or did not do... right now... I'm tired man." he sinks deep into his chair. "I'm... not the man I used to be Ed. Did I get shot in the head? Did I take the wrong pills? I dunno, but whatever it is you remember and what ever I remember are two different things..."

Then something hit him, looking at his burger. Something small...easily forgettable and easily overlooked. "...However.... In Raccoon... Aaron stole my cheese burgers..." he looks up at Ed. "At the Raccoon Mall... Aaron something... he wasn't human either, but he didn't want to kill us just the same."

Sheila McDougal wrote:

She fakes an irritated grunt. "Pff, thanks." she says this crossing her arms and leaned against the side of the front entrance. She then noticed he was still standing beside the sedan which was still in the rain's line of fire, despite the storm holding up a little. "Hey why don't you come over here where it's... well, less wet." she chuckled. "I promise I don't bite, despite my reputation." she says, waving him over to stand beside her, and out of the rain.

She heard him state his former job site and she made a slight face. "Eh...yeah. Sorry to have asked." she looks back up at him with a frown. "But...that can make sense why you've come all this way to meet with the Prez. I was about, I'd say 12 or 13 when I saw what happened on the news. I remember that there was a dangerous virus leak in the city, and that the President at the time had given the go ahead to destroy the city to prevent it spreading. They never said what the virus did...but I'd rather not know and put you through what you had to do... I remember some of the survivors being interviewed. Talking about the 'dead' walking, I mean... that's bull..." she says with a slight chuckle. "I also remember the President had resigned after this event...then again if anyone was in his position..." she looks up and shakes her head. "Sorry, trailed off." she sighs stretching her arms above her head. "But speaking of the President, when he comes tomorrow, yours truly will be part of the official motorcade escorting him to the University. For my sake, I hope it doesn't rain like it has today." she finishes with a chuckle.

Ben walked under the shelter beside her "Don't worry about it his tone then turned quite serious "Trust me it wasn't bull but then again if i hadn't have been there i wouldn't have believed it myself, but i guess more will be revealed tomorrow. Ben's stomach begins to rumble "ahhh, well it's been fun talking to you officer... (Ben glaces at her name tag) Mcdougal? but i'm gonna have to head inside and get something to eat, before he leave Ben extends his hand and introduces himself "My names Ben Winters by the way but you can just call me Ben" He finishes with a smile

She raised an eyebrow in his response and nodded with a soft smile. "Heh, I suppose so. Well I'd recommend anything but the napkins here, but don't take it from me-I'm just not the fast food type." she says raising her hands with a 'what-can-you-do' expression. She watched him reach out with his hand and properly introduced himself.

She vibrantly nodded, taking his hand with her own. "Yes Officer, soon to be S.W.A.T. Cadet, Sheila McDougal. But...you can call me Sheila; it is a rather long title." she says with a slight giggle which became a chuckle, forcing her tone to be a tad deeper while she shook his hand briskly.

Ben takes note as she mentioned S.W.A.T Cadet "Ahh i too was a part of the S.W.A.T in Raccoon only for a few months though, well it was nice talking to you Sheila and i'm pretty sure we'll bump into each again at somepoint" Ben finished with a smile he then made his way inside the fast food restaurant, he nodded to Damian and noticed the rather large looking man sat opposite him he mouths to Damian "Who is that he's fuckin huge" Ben still looking slightly shocked at the size of the man he then realizes he's sat down at which point Ben eyes simply widen as he orders his cheese burger and fries with a medium pepsi.

She chuckles. "Small world, eh?" she says in response to him being a former S.W.A.T. member too. "Yeah, I'm sure we will. This City is big, but it's easy to bump into people." she waves as he leaves. "Catch 'ya later." she says with a wink before heading to her squad car. Her cup was half empty now, but she didn't feel like drinking the rest. She enters the passenger side door and lays back into the plush leather seat. "Huh. Truly a small world, eh Pop?" she speaks, looking at herself in the mirror. "Not a bad guy, either. But his beliefs in the walking dead...they leave me a little questionable." she chuckles. "Heh, regardless..." she says setting her cup into the cup holder, closing her eyes and leaning back into the chair. "I hope to bump into him again soon. I can ask for a few pointers." she chuckled, reopening her eyes to notice Marvin was heading out of the restaurant. He opens the door and sits in the driver's seat. His eyes were wide.

Sheila turns to him, cocking an eyebrow. "What? Realized what you were eating finally?" she asked, teasing the other officer. He shook his head. "No. Just a 7' tall guy in a trench coat in there. Never seen a man that tall and that muscular in my entire life." he gulped.

"Ayuh?" Sheila responds, bending over the dashboard a hair to see if she could spot him through the window. "Can't see'em from here." Marv states. Sheila only nods and lays back in her seat again. Marv turns to her now and raises an eyebrow. "What's up with you?"

She chuckled. "Nothing, lets get the rest of this patrol overwith." she finishes, clapping his shoulder.

Soon, the squad car was pulling out, and took off towards Sizemore Park.

Damian Handy wrote:

He shakes his head. "Then do something about it instead of bugging me here! I can't leave, even for someone like Cat, I can't just up and leave. Not yet." he says, leaning back in his seat. "Oh...oh Ed...you should've really let me die, just so I wouldn't have to go through this..." he sighs again, throwing his head forward. "Look... you know... I don't know what's keeping you... but just some part of me is screaming you just wouldn't. You want me to apologize? You want me to paint a picture stating my sincere apologies? Huh...?" he palms his eyes then runs his hands through his long hair that he's accumulated throughout the six months. "Seriously... I'm sorry... But I'm trying to get back into the world Ed. The real world where I won't need a gun, won't need to worry about a half decomposed stiff coming at me with hungry eyes and a dried blood encrusted mouth. I'm done with the fight, the U.N. is done with me too. Just let me... let me go out in peace." he says with a depressed sigh. He sighs and looks around the room. "Your not that kind of person, human or not... I just got this gut instinct that you wouldn't cause a ruckus. You wouldn't put yourself into a spot, especially with the current rep you have. Let that rep be what you did or did not do... right now... I'm tired man." he sinks deep into his chair. "I'm... not the man I used to be Ed. Did I get shot in the head? Did I take the wrong pills? I dunno, but whatever it is you remember and what ever I remember are two different things..."

Then something hit him, looking at his burger. Something small...easily forgettable and easily overlooked. "...However.... In Raccoon... Aaron stole my cheese burgers..." he looks up at Ed. "At the Raccoon Mall... Aaron something... he wasn't human either, but he didn't want to kill us just the same."  

"I'm not asking you to leave, Damien. I'm asking you to get ready... Listen, don't you think there are too many coincidences? Like I said before, Ben is right. Firstly, why would the President make his speech here in Tall Oaks about Raccoon City, rather than in Washington? Then, mere hours after the announcement of the Presidential visit, people in this town start disappearing, strange rumors begin to circulate, the flow of reliable information ceases as gag orders are put into place, even as state and national services begin to arrive. Then I appear, followed by the Black Queen, who had emerged from a similar underground facility, just like Raccoon's own HIVE. Meanwhile, Catherine is under attack by Liquid Ocelot's FROGS and a merc group linked to Saša Petrovic, the Count, of the Edonian Templar Underworld group, who seems to have some sort of rivalry with your old friend Khristian. We have your old friend Khristian running around Paradise City doing whatever he wants. Now, all those things need not be linked, but I don't believe in coincidences. So, who would stand to gain the most out of the President's assassination? Certainly not you or I. The vice President would take up the reigns until the next election, but the Patriots decide who actually wields the power of the Oval Office. Certainly the break in momentum would benefit Ocelot who would probably use the opportunity. Then there are the various terrorist groups and black marketeers who would love the opportunity to capitalise on the US government's reorganization, not to mention silencing whatever it was he would reveal about the Raccoon Incident. Then there was the hiring of those assassins to intercept you and your Japanese friends. Tell me, have you ever considered who may have hired them? You focused almost exclusively on the assassins themselves, but never on who paid them for the job, a considerable sum of money was paid to silence whatever Yuki and her team knew, and if it is big enough for the enemy to consider another outbreak on American soil, especially with what happened on Manhattan a few years ago when that giant ship ripped through the city like a tidal wave, and with the proliferation of PMCs all over the world, you can bet everyone is on edge already, an outbreak now might cause an international panic..." Edgar explained himself out, then he heard Damien mention reality.

"Unfortunately, this is the reality, and rarely does it strike us in the moment of our choosing. If you wanted to give up the fight, then why are you here, still looking for answers? You'd be back in Virginia, living the simple life, away from the warzones, away from the snivelling politicians and their petty agendas, and away from BOW labs roiling beneath your feet. If you can't fight anymore, then leave, leave and do not come back to the battlefield. Leave the BSAA, leave your memories of December, or the incidents you helped avert. Leave it all behind. Someone like you, who has seen too much war in the past, and has allowed it to affect him like you've done should not be allowed anywhere near a battlefield. Give me your gun, and go home, a person with selfish interests like yours are no better than the terrorists who cause the problem, because your out to help nobody but yourself. Even if this town goes to hell, and you had a chance to stop it, you'd do nothing of the sort, as long as you got your faceoff against the President, is that it?" Edgar challenged, his eyes narrowed into slits.

Ben Winters wrote:

Ben finished with a smile he then made his way inside the fast food restaurant, he nodded to Damian and noticed the rather large looking man sat opposite him he mouths to Damian "Who is that he's fuckin huge" Ben still looking slightly shocked at the size of the man he then realizes he's sat down at which point Ben eyes simply widen as he orders his cheese burger and fries with a medium pepsi.

Damian shielded his face and sighed, mouthing back without looking at Ben 'I'll explain later...'

He then sits up and listens to Edgar fully:

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

"I'm not asking you to leave, Damien. I'm asking you to get ready... Listen, don't you think there are too many coincidences? Like I said before, Ben is right. Firstly, why would the President make his speech here in Tall Oaks about Raccoon City, rather than in Washington? Then, mere hours after the announcement of the Presidential visit, people in this town start disappearing, strange rumors begin to circulate, the flow of reliable information ceases as gag orders are put into place, even as state and national services begin to arrive. Then I appear, followed by the Black Queen, who had emerged from a similar underground facility, just like Raccoon's own HIVE. Meanwhile, Catherine is under attack by Liquid Ocelot's FROGS and a merc group linked to Saša Petrovic, the Count, of the Edonian Templar Underworld group, who seems to have some sort of rivalry with your old friend Khristian. We have your old friend Khristian running around Paradise City doing whatever he wants. Now, all those things need not be linked, but I don't believe in coincidences. So, who would stand to gain the most out of the President's assassination? Certainly not you or I. The vice President would take up the reigns until the next election, but the Patriots decide who actually wields the power of the Oval Office. Certainly the break in momentum would benefit Ocelot who would probably use the opportunity. Then there are the various terrorist groups and black marketeers who would love the opportunity to capitalise on the US government's reorganization, not to mention silencing whatever it was he would reveal about the Raccoon Incident. Then there was the hiring of those assassins to intercept you and your Japanese friends. Tell me, have you ever considered who may have hired them? You focused almost exclusively on the assassins themselves, but never on who paid them for the job, a considerable sum of money was paid to silence whatever Yuki and her team knew, and if it is big enough for the enemy to consider another outbreak on American soil, especially with what happened on Manhattan a few years ago when that giant ship ripped through the city like a tidal wave, and with the proliferation of PMCs all over the world, you can bet everyone is on edge already, an outbreak now might cause an international panic..." Edgar explained himself out, then he heard Damien mention reality.

"Unfortunately, this is the reality, and rarely does it strike us in the moment of our choosing. If you wanted to give up the fight, then why are you here, still looking for answers? You'd be back in Virginia, living the simple life, away from the warzones, away from the snivelling politicians and their petty agendas, and away from BOW labs roiling beneath your feet. If you can't fight anymore, then leave, leave and do not come back to the battlefield. Leave the BSAA, leave your memories of December, or the incidents you helped avert. Leave it all behind. Someone like you, who has seen too much war in the past, and has allowed it to affect him like you've done should not be allowed anywhere near a battlefield. Give me your gun, and go home, a person with selfish interests like yours are no better than the terrorists who cause the problem, because your out to help nobody but yourself. Even if this town goes to hell, and you had a chance to stop it, you'd do nothing of the sort, as long as you got your faceoff against the President, is that it?" Edgar challenged, his eyes narrowed into slits.

Damian ran a hand through his hair again and scratched at the back of his head. "My gun...is not for me to give.... not to you Ed." he says at last, looking up at him. "I'm no messiah, and I'm not a selfless man. There are just some things that I need to do. And please....just leave them out of it." he says, referencing the Japanese team. He looks down at his plate with a frown. "I am...what you call an oxymoron my friend. A contradiction of new and traditional methods. Please, let me go. Let me have my time with the President, and you know what? I'll deliver my weapon personally to the one who it rightfully belongs." he says this and then sighs. "Then... I'll try to sit down with you and listen to you without prejudice. I can't leave now that I'm halfway in the hole... I wouldn't forgive myself for leaving this personal mission of my half assed completed."

He then sighs, leaning back. "I can't believe every conspiracy out there either. As fishy as this place...looks. Feels... it's all too easy. Your idea doesn't sound like it's up for the task. I think it's overlapping nostalgia that's hindering our senses. Are you sure that you're not just being overworked? I mean, big guy, since when have you had a decent day of sleep? The real you." he asked.

He shook his head. "I'm going to ask the President, kindly. I want to know who was involved. I want to know even if he was made aware of what happened in Manhatten six months ago." he says folding his hands together. "But...there is something I could ask for you to do....strictly off the record of course... perhaps by you accepting this side task, I can more openly believe your statements." he says looking at Edgar with sharp eyes.

Damian Handy wrote:

Damian ran a hand through his hair again and scratched at the back of his head. "My gun...is not for me to give.... not to you Ed." he says at last, looking up at him. "I'm no messiah, and I'm not a selfless man. There are just some things that I need to do. And please....just leave them out of it." he says, referencing the Japanese team. He looks down at his plate with a frown. "I am...what you call an oxymoron my friend. A contradiction of new and traditional methods. Please, let me go. Let me have my time with the President, and you know what? I'll deliver my weapon personally to the one who it rightfully belongs." he says this and then sighs. "Then... I'll try to sit down with you and listen to you without prejudice. I can't leave now that I'm halfway in the hole... I wouldn't forgive myself for leaving this personal mission of my half assed completed."

He then sighs, leaning back. "I can't believe every conspiracy out there either. As fishy as this place...looks. Feels... it's all too easy. Your idea doesn't sound like it's up for the task. I think it's overlapping nostalgia that's hindering our senses. Are you sure that you're not just being overworked? I mean, big guy, since when have you had a decent day of sleep? The real you." he asked.

He shook his head. "I'm going to ask the President, kindly. I want to know who was involved. I want to know even if he was made aware of what happened in Manhatten six months ago." he says folding his hands together. "But...there is something I could ask for you to do....strictly off the record of course... perhaps by you accepting this side task, I can more openly believe your statements." he says looking at Edgar with sharp eyes.

Edgar leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head. "You were once. We both saved each other no less than 5 times each, and you saved the other survivors both times more than you know... You may question that statement, but there are ways of saving lives that don't necessarily require the use of your guns. You kept many of them alive, and got them out before the nuclear explosion hit ground in Raccoon. Later on, you managed to rescue Rachel from Rockfort before the last act... People do change, but I don't believe you've changed that much in your heart. I know that getting your memories ripped apart like that, and then the situation with the Japanese team screwed you up and shot your confidence to shit, but let me give you this piece of advice. You didn't fail due to your lack of capability and experience. You failed because you were alone, and your fighting style and tactics are not built for solo ops. They never were. Even before the Raccoon incident, your ground combat training was never geared for solo combat ops. Not everyone can do a Solid Snake or Rambo."

Edgar started biting into another fry, before replying again. "It probably would be nostalgia if most of those events didn't occur within the last 48 hours. Like I told you earlier, I've been monitoring a lot of the chatter around the world. People are beginning to move, and I mean the really bad ones. They have been forewarned about an imminent attack, and they are watching, while at the same time, they are keeping me specifically otherwise occupied by going after the last known link I have to past friends in DRAKE. If I'm over there preventing Cat and her group getting killed, then I'm not here to thwart the Presidential assassination attempt and the outbreak used to cover it. Whatever the President may or may not know about the December incident, or the information that was used to draw them here to the States, clearly he has outlived his usefulness, which means he may be in the crosshairs of all 3 of the major players, the Bio terrorists, Ocelot's faction, and perhaps even the Patriots themselves. If any and all of them are gunning for him now, you may be in way over your head, and I'm talking to a scale that's global, and much worse than either of the two shitstorms we fought in together."

Ed arched an eyebrow at Damien's request. "Let's hear about it."

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

Edgar leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head. "You were once. We both saved each other no less than 5 times each, and you saved the other survivors both times more than you know... You may question that statement, but there are ways of saving lives that don't necessarily require the use of your guns. You kept many of them alive, and got them out before the nuclear explosion hit ground in Raccoon. Later on, you managed to rescue Rachel from Rockfort before the last act... People do change, but I don't believe you've changed that much in your heart. I know that getting your memories ripped apart like that, and then the situation with the Japanese team screwed you up and shot your confidence to shit, but let me give you this piece of advice. You didn't fail due to your lack of capability and experience. You failed because you were alone, and your fighting style and tactics are not built for solo ops. They never were. Even before the Raccoon incident, your ground combat training was never geared for solo combat ops. Not everyone can do a Solid Snake or Rambo."

Edgar started biting into another fry, before replying again. "It probably would be nostalgia if most of those events didn't occur within the last 48 hours. Like I told you earlier, I've been monitoring a lot of the chatter around the world. People are beginning to move, and I mean the really bad ones. They have been forewarned about an imminent attack, and they are watching, while at the same time, they are keeping me specifically otherwise occupied by going after the last known link I have to past friends in DRAKE. If I'm over there preventing Cat and her group getting killed, then I'm not here to thwart the Presidential assassination attempt and the outbreak used to cover it. Whatever the President may or may not know about the December incident, or the information that was used to draw them here to the States, clearly he has outlived his usefulness, which means he may be in the crosshairs of all 3 of the major players, the Bio terrorists, Ocelot's faction, and perhaps even the Patriots themselves. If any and all of them are gunning for him now, you may be in way over your head, and I'm talking to a scale that's global, and much worse than either of the two shitstorms we fought in together."

Ed arched an eyebrow at Damien's request. "Let's hear about it."

Damian grunts. "I don't know man.." he sighs, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, why would anyone attack Catherine for? If what you say is true about her lying low, then there shouldn't be a reason for her to be in anyones radar...and again, just off the record she REALLY should have let me in on her faked death, etc." he sighs, leaning back in his seat. He takes out a cigarette, his last in that pack, and places it in his mouth before lighting up (despite the complaints from others nearby). He blows out a steady stream and closes his eyes briefly. "'Oh fearless leader', the man who caused Manhatten to shower with lead and debris and taught me how to spin my gun like a real cowboy." he says opening his eyes. "The man I refer to, known as 'The Black Spade', but more commonly known as Jack 'The Black Spade' Taylor. He's alive and I know it. He's somewhere out in the world, a wanted felon like you-or at least how the media and my reports state. Find him." he says leaning back. "Bring him in to the BSAA Camp in Edonia." he says before taking another drag.

Ben Winters wrote:

He nodded to Damian and noticed the rather large looking man sat opposite him he mouths to Damian "Who is that he's fuckin huge" Ben still looking slightly shocked at the size of the man he then realizes he's sat down at which point Ben eyes simply widen as he orders his cheese burger and fries with a medium pepsi.

Ben then took the food he had ordered and sat down at the opposite side to what Damian and the rather huge man was on, Ben sighed as he was eating his food he then began to think about Rachel a huge flood of memories were now going through his mind he pushed the tray that his food was on to the side and placed his head in his hands he thought to himself " i know something else happened on that mission but why can't i remember it all happened so fast and i can't seem to recall it. Ben quickly left his seat and made his way outside for some fresh air a he left he accidentally nudge into a young looking man who was stood with three others Ben half turned and apologized he then proceeded through the doors and leaned against his own car while the rain fell down on him

Ben looked at the man who was currently gripping his shoulder "Well i was gonna apologize again but the way you just threatened me makes me have second thoughts" He then looks onward at the other three men approaching Ben sighed "okay you asked for this" Ben delivers two quick punches to the first mans chest and throws him to the side the next two then throw simultaneous punches at Ben most of which miss apart from one which catches Ben on the Cheek "Haha I'll let you have that one" Ben grabbed the man who punch caught him and punched him four times in the face causing his nose to "burst in a gush of blood" while he falls back clutching his nose one of the other men grabs Ben in a full nelson while the other proceeds to punch Ben in the stomach Ben kicks the man in knee causing him to buckle and fall forward as the man does so Ben raises his knee with enough force under the mans chin to knock him to the ground, he then drives his head back into the other mans nose causing him to releasing the full nelson Ben quickly turns and roundhouse kicks him knocking him to the floor, the first guy who started this then approaches Ben with his Bowie Knife in hand Ben lets out a sigh "Seriously, I've just knocked all kinds of shit out of your friends here and you still want more?, Fine then come on then and while i'm at it i'll do your dentist a fucking favor and knock those bastards out" Ben pointed towards the mans teeth as he said this the Man then slashed at Ben four times missing each one prompting Ben to grab the mans wrist thus disarming him he then goes on to slam the guys head into the hood of his car Ben then pulls him up and delivers a powerful roundhouse kick to his chest causing him to fly back and fall to the ground with the four men now battered and bruised on the floor Ben turned away and noticed the customers of the restaurant all wide eyed due to what they had just witnessed Ben sighed once more "Oh great, now chances are i'm gonna be the one who gets it in the neck"

Damian Handy wrote:

Damian grunts. "I don't know man.." he sighs, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, why would anyone attack Catherine for? If what you say is true about her lying low, then there shouldn't be a reason for her to be in anyones radar...and again, just off the record she REALLY should have let me in on her faked death, etc." he sighs, leaning back in his seat. He takes out a cigarette, his last in that pack, and places it in his mouth before lighting up (despite the complaints from others nearby). He blows out a steady stream and closes his eyes briefly. "'Oh fearless leader', the man who caused Manhatten to shower with lead and debris and taught me how to spin my gun like a real cowboy." he says opening his eyes. "The man I refer to, known as 'The Black Spade', but more commonly known as Jack 'The Black Spade' Taylor. He's alive and I know it. He's somewhere out in the world, a wanted felon like you-or at least how the media and my reports state. Find him." he says leaning back. "Bring him in to the BSAA Camp in Edonia." he says before taking another drag.

"The reason being that, while she certainly has not announced it, she didn't exactly keep it secret either. That, and... she turned down a job, specifically from the Templars. She never told me the details of the job, and I didn't ask, but apparently either they are reacting to a perceived slight, or the details of that job are sensitive enough for them to go to the extreme lengths of hiring Outer Heaven's elite FROG units directly. Ocelot wouldn't need the money, so the payment for that job must be something more usable. Which probably explains why Sasa approached me yesterday here in Tall Oaks, asking for a sample of my blood as bold as you please. He claimed he had the footage needed to clear my name of the Rockfort Incident, but my proving my innocence vs allowing a criminal organisation to gain possession of my blood and it's power... There was no choice, I declined his offer, but I did show him something... something I've been working on ever since reawakening in Ferral's bunker. As for why Catherine didn't tell you she was still kicking, I'm afraid that was my doing. I told her not to contact you, otherwise I couldn't help her build her retreat. If you had discovered my hand in her retirement construction, you would have exposed me very quickly, back then, between the Rockfort incident and the incident in December, you were not suffering from severe depression, and you had an extreme rage towards the memory of me..."

Edgar then smirked slightly  as the task Damien wanted done laid open before him. "Seems like you want to pull some of the old band back together... Jack Taylor eh? Heh, good old Sidewinder." Edgar stroked his slightly stubbly chin in thought. "Sometimes I miss my beard."

"Well, it'll have to wait until I can save Catherine, but sure, I can pull Jack out of the fire too. Anyone else?" Edgar asked, before the noise of commotion caught his attention, and his head swivvled towards the entryway.

"It would seem Ben is entertaining some company..." Edgar said evenly, tonelessly.

Darkstorm Zero wrote:

"The reason being that, while she certainly has not announced it, she didn't exactly keep it secret either. That, and... she turned down a job, specifically from the Templars. She never told me the details of the job, and I didn't ask, but apparently either they are reacting to a perceived slight, or the details of that job are sensitive enough for them to go to the extreme lengths of hiring Outer Heaven's elite FROG units directly. Ocelot wouldn't need the money, so the payment for that job must be something more usable. Which probably explains why Sasa approached me yesterday here in Tall Oaks, asking for a sample of my blood as bold as you please. He claimed he had the footage needed to clear my name of the Rockfort Incident, but my proving my innocence vs allowing a criminal organisation to gain possession of my blood and it's power... There was no choice, I declined his offer, but I did show him something... something I've been working on ever since reawakening in Ferral's bunker. As for why Catherine didn't tell you she was still kicking, I'm afraid that was my doing. I told her not to contact you, otherwise I couldn't help her build her retreat. If you had discovered my hand in her retirement construction, you would have exposed me very quickly, back then, between the Rockfort incident and the incident in December, you were not suffering from severe depression, and you had an extreme rage towards the memory of me..."

Edgar then smirked slightly  as the task Damien wanted done laid open before him. "Seems like you want to pull some of the old band back together... Jack Taylor eh? Heh, good old Sidewinder." Edgar stroked his slightly stubbly chin in thought. "Sometimes I miss my beard."

"Well, it'll have to wait until I can save Catherine, but sure, I can pull Jack out of the fire too. Anyone else?" Edgar asked, before the noise of commotion caught his attention, and his head swivvled towards the entryway.

"It would seem Ben is entertaining some company..." Edgar said evenly, tonelessly.

Damian was rather silent and listened, but scoffed when Ed brought up about him being 'in rage' towards the memory of him. "Gee...I wonder why." Damian shakes his head and chuckles. "Well I don't know about that. My reasons are a little less personal." he says blowing a steady stream of smoke from his nose. "Jessie Taylor, Raymond's Daughter...his niece. She wants to see him. Specifically to look at his blood. I dunno, something about a virus they discovered almost a year ago. The Government has already tried synthesizing her own blood, but apparently there isn't enough concentration to harvest a successful strain to test against it. They'll need a more direct source... But if the reports are true, then Jack has been the one 'spreading' the virus they're trying to fix to begin with." he sighs, no longer hungry or wanting his cig, he stabs the lit end into his burger and snuffs it out. "But yeah, we'll make it one hell of a party. Three superhuman entities, a deplorable drunkard that's outlived his usefulness, a spy that never tells ANY of her plans or explain ANY of he motives. Where's the bitch of an ex wife to just add to the mix? Oh... yeah, probably fucking the brains out of that old man she got re-hitched with to get her money's worth. Well we can't have them all come back after all." he says with a sigh.

He turns his head in response to Ed mentioning Ben. He sighs again. "Bah, he's just having fun. Though regardless...this is my cue to exit." he says standing up. "I'll talk with you again after the President makes his speech. I'll take my car and I'll drive out to the coast where there's a nice diner. Get done what I ask of you, and I'll even buy you a Maine Lobster Ed." he says taking his tray and his milkshake, chugging what was left and tossed the rest into a waste bin before walking out of the building.

He made it out into the parking lot where he leaned against the door of his sedan and folded his arms across his chest. "Playing with the locals, Ben?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ben turned to Damian "I guess you could say that, they didn't want to play nice though" Ben let out slight chuckle "oh one moment mate" Ben then turns and crouches beside the "leader" of the group "If you have any sense my friend you'll take what you've learned here and not bother me again unless you want to to head to an early grave" Ben then stands up and turns back to Damian "so mate what shall we do now?" Ben finishes with a smile

Damian stroked his own stubble and grunted. "I need more of a lay of the land, and noting any key locations can be vital..." he then grunts, and lowers his head slightly. "I have to bring my suit to a dry cleaners, but you don't need to accompany me for that." he says before turning towards the city itself. "I think I'll also go buy myself some fifty caliber ammunition. About 2 boxes of .50 Action Express, and a box of .500 Smith & Wesson would do me fine." he says walking towards the BSAA emblazoned vehicle. He pauses, and turns to face Ben with a smirk. "So, who was blondie back there?" he asked leaning against his car door.

Ben turns to Damian "well i could do with coming to the gun shop too could do with getting a few boxes of 5.56×45mm NATO ammo maybe a few boxes of 9mm ammo too, after that i'm not too sure Ben then walks towards his car then turns back to Damian after hearing him ask about the blonde woman "haha that my friend was Officer Sheila Mcdougal quite a nice woman only problem was she reminded me of Rachel abit but yeah other than that quite a nice woman be finises with a chuckle.

Suddenly in the not-too-far distance, sirens could be heard approaching. The Tall Oak PD Squad Car comes rolling back into the parking lot of the Happy Burger joint, and the officers pulled themselves out of the vehicle. The man places a hand on the butt of his Glock as he stepped out, while Sheila came out from the passenger side. The man cleared his throat, looking from the injured men to Ben, who only looked a tad bruised. "Okay...start slowly. What happened, and why are these four on their bellies?" he asked. Sheila remained silent, just shook her head slightly and chuckled to herself.

Ben sighed and then turned to the officer who spoke to him "Well i was quite happily sat inside eating my food after which i came out here for a bit of fresh air but on the way out i accidentally bumped in that i mean him" Ben points to the one who started the trouble "who then followed me out with with these rather weak and predictable men, he then went on to say how he was going to make me apologize again cause he apparently didn't hear me the first time he then pulled no wait he attempted to threaten me by showing of his little toy" Ben kicked the man's Bowie Knife into view and i guess the rest is pretty much self explanatory, oh yeah he tried to man handle me too really didn't go that well for him" Ben then pauses for a moment before asking "So what's it to be?" Ben holds his hands out as if he was to have handcuffs placed on him "If that's the case i'll come quietly besides i know the procedure anyway" Ben tilts his head to Shelia and winks

Ben Winters wrote:

Ben sighed and then turned to the officer who spoke to him "Well i was quite happily sat inside eating my food after which i came out here for a bit of fresh air but on the way out i accidentally bumped in that i mean him" Ben points to the one who started the trouble "who then followed me out with with these rather weak and predictable men, he then went on to say how he was going to make me apologize again cause he apparently didn't hear me the first time he then pulled no wait he attempted to threaten me by showing of his little toy" Ben kicked the man's Bowie Knife into view and i guess the rest is pretty much self explanatory, oh yeah he tried to man handle me too really didn't go that well for him" Ben then pauses for a moment before asking "So what's it to be?" Ben holds his hands out as if he was to have handcuffs placed on him "If that's the case i'll come quietly besides i know the procedure anyway" Ben tilts his head to Shelia and winks

Officer Marvin shook his head. "Well, isn't it Rick Bowers... I see assault with a deadly weapon Bowers, this might put you up in Shawshank for good." he says kneeling in front of the one who assaulted Ben with the knife. "Your poor Momma's going to have a heart attack thanks to you." he sighs, reaching back and cuffed the man.

Sheila smiles at Ben's response, and heads to the others, cuffing them as well. "Looks like the gentleman here is claiming self defense here Marv. I can agree with this statement, despite the injuries of these assholes." she says looking up at Ben and winked back at him.

Marvin stands up and looks at Ben, then to Sheila and then to Bowers. "Well, I'm sure that this was a case of self defense. I'd drop anyone who'd come at me with a bowie knife." he says, kicking Bower's temple with the side of his shoe lightly. "I'll call for some back up for we can get these guys down to the station." he says before turning to Ben. "Are you pressing charges for these other guys sir?" he asked, lifting Rick from the ground, holding him and ready to place him in the back of the squad car.

Sheila on the other hand, was zip tying the other individuals and looked up to Ben and Marvin once she was finished.

Ben turns to Marvin to give him a rely "No Officer, I think they have learnt their lesson for today besides with the leader behind bars the followers just scatter without proper direction a thing i learned back in the day along with my friend here" Ben points towards Damian "Anyway thanks for the help officers, If i'm not needed for anything i'd like to get on with my day have alot to do. Ben finishes with a smile