Board Thread:Metal Gear Solid V/@comment-189.60.0.82-20140802215653/@comment-25366375-20140908133142

I've been considering a crazy theory lately about Chico, and from reading many other discussions I'm pretty happy knowing I'm not the only one that's considered this.

[Note: I don't actually believe the following theory, I just think it's an interesting talking point.]

To be blunt; this theory suggests that Chico goes on to become Decoy Octopus and working for FOXHOUND during the Shadow Moses Incident. This would firstly mean that he and Big Boss will probably part ways during the events of The Phantom Pain. I'm gonna be borrowing from some theories and making some pretty desperate connections, but at the very least this will be something to think about.

To borrow a notion from the infamous "Chico is Quiet" theory; I think that Chico probably is incredibly traumatised by what he had to do during Ground Zeroes. However, rather than getting a sex change, I believe Chico will develop an obsession with escaping "himself" and doing whatever he can to change the person he is. This slides perfectly into the modus operandi of one Decoy Octopus, who impersonates people and even goes so far as to take their blood in himself. I consider this action as part of the ritual of penance Chico is putting himself through in order to hopefully overcome his guilt.

My second point is that Decoy Octopus dies from exposure to FOXDIE. Why a virus engineered to kill only a select few targets would affect Chico if he were Octopus, I really can't even guess, but the important thing is Ocelot's reaction to Octopus' death; "FOXDIE... It killed Octopus and the ArmsTech president... So it's true that it affects older people first." So then, going by the wiki and Peace Walker itself, we know that Chico was born in 1962 (as he was 12 during the events of Peace Walker), and if he truly does become Octopus, he will be 43 as of the Shadow Moses Incident. What this would mean is that Ocelot presumably knows Octopus' true identity, as the two will invariably meet on Mother Base during The Phantom Pain.

Now to the problems with this theory; 1. Straight up Octopus' wiki says he is Mexican. However the only support for this is in the Metal Gear Solid Official Mission Handbook (and details not strictly mentioned are sketchy at best) and Metal Gear Acid 2, which is non-canonical and therefore sketchy as well. Alternately, this can be explained away with yet another of Kojima's famous retcons, to make Octopus Nicaraguan instead. It could even just be a case of ignorance, as both nations speak Spanish and are therefore lumped together to be one and the same. 2. Octopus is also noted as having little to no combat experience, apparently in stark contrast to Chico who is a child soldier. My only suggestion for that point is that all we see Chico do is recon work, and no fighting. So on a technicality he would have no combat experience aside from recon.

So, if indeed this theory is correct, Chico's role in The Phantom Pain may either be short lived, or perhaps we may see Chico being counselled by someone (perhaps Ocelot) to use his guilt for his own ends. I personally would like to see it, or a similar theme come true. It would give Chico the depth he really lacked in Peace Walker, and explain why he--as Octopus--would go on to join FOXHOUND; out of his adoration for Big Boss and possibly Ocelot.