MGS: Lightning 'Ending'

[A moment later Silver has climbed down from the roof and is standing in a
deserted street. Then people start to appear out of nowhere and walk around.
Nobody takes any notice of him.  Some police officers dash towards Federal
Hall.]


Silver       : Who am I really...

Shadow      : No one quite knows who or what they are.


[Silver spins around to see Shadow standing right beside him.]


Shadow      : The memories you have and the role you were assigned are burdens
             you have to carry. It doesn't matter if they were real or not.
             That's never the point.


Shadow      : There's no such thing in the world as absolute reality. Most of
             what they call real is actually fiction. What you think you see
             is only as real as your brain tells you it is.

Silver       : Then what am I supposed to believe in? What am I going to leave
             behind when I'm through?

Shadow      : We can tell other people about -- having faith. What we had faith
             in. What we found important enough to fight for. It's not whether
             you were right or wrong, but how much faith you were willing to
             have, that decides the future. The Patriots are a kind of ongoing
             fiction too, come to think of it....

Silver       : ...

Shadow      : Listen, don't obsess over words so much. Find the meaning behind
             the words, then decide. You can find your own name. And your own
             future...

Silver       : Decide for myself...?

Shadow      : And whatever you choose will be you.

Silver       : I don't know if I can...

Shadow      : I know you didn't have much in terms of choices this time. But
             everything you felt, thought about during this mission is yours.
             And what you decide to do with them is your choice...

Silver       : You mean start over?

Shadow      : Yeah, a clean slate. A new name, new memories. Choose your own
             legacy. It's for you to decide. It's up to you.

Shadow      : By the way, what is that?


[Shadow notices Silver's dog tag.  Silver takes it off to look at it.]


Silver       : Dog tags?


[The dog tag says Silver's name and birth date he entered in the first node.]

Shadow      : Anyone you know?

Silver       : No, never heard the name before. I'll pick my own name...and my
             own life. I'll find something worth passing on.


[He throws the dog tag as far as he can.]


Silver       : They taught me some good things too.

Shadow      : I know. We've inherited freedom from all those who've fought for
             it. We all have the freedom to spread the word. Even me.

Silver       : Shadow, what about Olga's child.

Shadow      : Don't worry, I'll find it. Count on it. As long as you keep
             yourself alive, the baby will be safe.

Silver       : Do you know where Liquid went?

Shadow      : I put a transmitter on his RAY.

Silver       : Did he head for the Patriots?

Shadow      : Yeah. But I have a feeling they gave Ocelot a bogus location to
             begin with.

Silver       : ...

Shadow      : Cheer up. We have a better lead.


[Shadow grabs a disc from his pocket.]


Shadow      : This contains a list of all the Patriots.

Silver       : But Ocelot took it!

Shadow      : The one we gave you wasn't the real thing.

Silver       : What?

Shadow      : This virus is coded to destroy only a specific part of GW --
             namely the information about the Patriots identity. Which means,
             that there is a parameter coded in here that defines what that
             information is.

Silver       : I get it -- analyze the code and you can probably find out where
             they operate.  Count me in --


[Shadow's codec beeps...he taps his ear and answers the call]


[Codec Screen]


Shadow      : This is Snake...

????        : Hey, how's everything around there?

Shadow      : Everything's fine...heh.

????        : What is it?

Shadow      : Is nice to hear your voice...Blaze.

Blaze       : Same here, so...mission accomplished, huh?

Shadow      : Yep, Arsenal was stopped and "Sons of Liberty" defeated...

Blaze       : That's great! That means you're coming back, right?

Shadow      : Yeah, I am. Guess I deserve a little rest after this...

Blaze       : Don't worry! I'll be here when you come back, Shady!

[Silver, who's looking at Shadow, notices a little blush on his face.]

Blaze       : What about, him?

Shadow      : He did it. He defeated Solidus and Dead Cell all by himself... the kid haves skill, no doubt.

Blaze       : Told you, he's naïve but strong. That's what I like about him, but don't worry... you're the one I like the most.

Shadow      : Same here, Blazy... uh, you want to talk to him?

Blaze       : Is he close by?

Shadow      : He's watching me right now...

[Shadow nods; Silver understood and used his Codec.]

Silver      : Can you read me, Shadow?

Shadow      : Loud and Clear, Silver.

Silver      : Uhh... is something wrong?

Shadow      : Not really, actually, there's someone who wants to talk to you.

Blaze       : Has been a while, Silver...

Silver      : huh!? That voice...! B-blaze!?

Blaze       : Yeah, is me! The one and only!

Silver      : I-I can't believe it! Is really you!

Blaze       : Hehe! You wouldn't think I'll die that easily, do you? You're SO naïve...!

Silver      : Hahaha... yeah, that's you Blaze. Is nice to hear your voice again…!

Shadow      : You weren't expecting her, right?

Silver      : Yeah... wait! That means you REALLY knew each other!?

Blaze       : Yes, we do! We meet during The Shadow Moses incident!

Silver      : So... the book was right after all.

Shadow      : You mean "In the Darkness of Shadow Moses"? Yeah, in fact, the author, Nastasha Romaneko, is a friend of mine.

Silver      : Wow… this day is getting better. I defeated Solidus, knew that Blaze is alive and better yet... you two know each other!

Blaze       : Yeah, but we aren't only "friends" or "teammates" you know...

Silver      : Huh...? Wait! Are you saying you two--?

Shadow and Blaze: Heh! Yeah!

Silver      : Now that's a shocker...! I'm happy for both of you, really. You both have a lot in common now that I think about... like the serious mood!

Shadow      : Haha...

Blaze       : Very funny, Silver...

Silver      : Come on! I was just joking!

[The three laugh for a while…]

Shadow      : Don't know about you, kid... but you have skills. I'll give you that.

Silver      : Maybe... but not as much as you. After all, you're Solid Snake. The legendary Soldier!

Shadow      : Nah! I told you before I'm --!

Blaze       : I'm no hero, never was, never will be...!

Shadow      : Hey! That's my line!

Silver      : Hahaha! Man, Blaze surely knows you Shadow!

Blaze       : Believe me, I do! Hahaha!

Shadow      : Well, guess is time to go.

Blaze       : Oh, yeah... Bye Silver, it was nice to talk with you again. Later!

Silver      : See ya, Blaze.

Shadow      : Talk to you later, Blaze.

Blaze       : Hehe! I know we will... take care, Shadow.


[Transmission end]

Silver      : I'll go with you, Shadow! I know if I do I'll be able to find who I am really!

Shadow      : No, you have things to do first. And people you need to talk to...

Silver       : ???


[Shadow leaves.  Rose is standing in the street waiting for him.  Silver turns around to face Shadow.]


Silver       : Shadow?


[Shadow is gone.  Emma's parrot flies up into the sky.]


Rose       : What's wrong?

Silver       : Nothing.


[He turns around to face Rose.]


Silver       : Can I ask you something? Who am I really?

Rose       : I wouldn't know. But we're going to find out together, aren't we?

Silver       : Uh? Yeah...

Rose       : See me for what I am, okay?

Silver       : I know.

Rose       : Do you remember this place?

Silver       : Of course. This is where we first met... I remember now -- Today
             is the day I met you. That's it. I think I found something to
             pass along to the future. He said all living things want their
             genes to live on.

Rose       : Are you talking about the baby?

Silver       : Yeah. But genes aren't the only thing you pass on. There are too
             many things that aren't written into our DNA. It's up to us to
             teach that to our children.

Rose       : What kind of things?

Silver       : About the environment, our ideas, our culture... poetry...
             compassion... sorrow... joy... We'll tell them everything...
             together.

Rose       : Is that a -- proposal?

Silver       : This is for your ears -- only...



[A monologue from Shadow can be heard…]


Shadow      : Life isn't just about passing on your genes. We can leave behind
             much more than just DNA. Through speech, music, literature and
             movies... what we've seen, heard, felt ...anger, joy and
             sorrow... these are the things I will pass on.  That's what I
             live for.

             We need to pass the torch, and let our children read our messy
             and sad history by its light. We have all the magic of the
             digital age to do that with. The human race will probably come to
             an end sometime, and new species may rule over this planet. Earth
             may not be forever, but we still have the responsibility to leave
             what traces of life we can. Building the future and keeping the
             past alive are one and the same thing.