Dead Cell is the name of a former special forces unit created by fictional Ex-President George Sears in the Metal Gear video game series.

The name was originally intended to reflect its anti-terrorist functions. The unit originally launched unannounced assaults on government complexes, for the ultimate terrorism simulation. Their leader was Colonel Jackson, the husband of Fortune. He was arrested and charged with misappropriating government funds, and sent to jail. Then Dead Cell became out of control. Finally, six months prior to the events of the Plant Chapter of Metal Gear Solid 2, the unit was devasted,resulting the deaths of two of its members: Chinaman and Old Boy, leaving only Fortune, Vamp, and Fatman. During the events of the Plant Chapter of Metal Gear Solid 2, they are part of the terrorist group that overtake the Big Shell. Something along the lines of the real Red Cell.

Members

Colonel Reginald Jackson

Founder of Dead Cell and husband of member Fortune. Convicted and found guilty of corruption charges, the remaining members of Dead Cell tried to convince the public of Jackson's innoncence, but Jackson died in prison from apparent suicide while serving out his sentence. This in turn, changed Dead Cell into a rogue terrorist unit.

Solidus Snake

Leader of the terrorist squad that took over Big Shell. His plans are to eliminate the Patriots and establish his own government, "The Sons of Liberty". He is the unknown third soldier created from Big Boss's genes during the "Les Enfants Terribles" project. For the past several years, he has posed as former president George Sears.

Fortune

One of the three members of Dead Cell, she is a powerful psychic wielding a magnetic bolt-shooting gun. When a gun is fired at her, the bullet is deflected away before it even comes close to touching her. Additionally, her heart is on the right side of her body, as opposed to the left, like other humans. She believes this happens because of an ability in her psychic power she cannot control. Because of this, she believes she cannot die, and this belief brings grief and sorrow to her. Fortune seeks revenge against Solid Snake, believing he killed her father on the Tanker that sunk in New York two years earlier. Ever since that incident, she has wished she was dead.

Eventually she learns that the ability of hers to deflect bullets is in fact due to a high-tech device placed on her clothing by Revolver Ocelot (AKA Shalashaska). She is unaware of this until the end of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty when it is deactivated. Despite this, she manages to deflect a large number of missiles sent down by a Metal Gear RAY unassisted, saving everyone else on top of Arsenal Gear.

Vamp

A member of Dead Cell. When he was young boy, he almost died in a church bombing incident. Several days afterward, he was found alive in the rubble. Most believe he stayed alive by drinking his dead parents blood. It is believed that after such incident, he's become fond to the taste of blood, and therefore, drinks the blood of the victims he kills. Contrary to popular belief, he is given this name, not to his vampire-like traits, but because of his bisexual tendancies (confirmed by Solid Snake via a Codec conversation during the game, the lover of Scott Dolph, father of Fortune). Not much is really known about Vamp, other than his strange characteristics of a vampire. During the Big Shell incident, Raiden shoots Vamp in the head, but he raises up saying, "I cannot die twice."

Vamp is the only member of Dead Cell to survive the Big Shell incident. Shortly after Arsenal Gear crashes into Federal Hall and Raiden defeats Solidus Snake, Vamp can be seen in the crowd on the street, spying on Raiden and Solid Snake.

Fatman

A member of Dead Cell; while his girth is considerable, he's actually named after the infamous atomic bomb used to end World War II. The neglected son of a clock maker, he has a wide knowledge span on bombs. He can disarm any bomb and set bombs in places where the naked eye cannot see. Due to his obesity, he skates around areas on a pair of roller blades, in order to increase his agility.

Old Boy

Dead Cell's strategist born during the 1900's. A former Nazi general who participated in World War II. He was a mentor to several world-renowned soldiers and mercenaries, including Big Boss himself. Wielded a Panzerfaust as his weapon. Died six months prior to the Big Shell incident.

Chinaman

A former Navy Seals swimmer naturalized in Chinatown, originally from Vietnam. He was a special effects artist who specialized in martial arts and chi kung. Died six months prior to the Big Shell incident.

Note about Chinaman & Old Boy

The characters of Chinaman and Old Boy were boss characters that were proposed for Metal Gear Solid 2 early during development, but were written-off from the finished game. While neither characters are actually featured in Metal Gear Solid 2, they're both mentioned in the script (as seen on The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2) as being killed in action. Aspects of Chinaman were integrated into Vamp in the finished game, while certain characteristics of Old Boy were carried over to The End and The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3.