Les Enfants Terribles

Les Enfants Terribles was a plan devised by Coran, aka Major Zero. To Clone Big Boss and Pidge.

Basically, Big Boss's DNA was taken, and was fertilized in vitro, with an egg from Pidge, Pidge carried the babies as a Surrogate Mum. As also, the babies were infected with strands of Quintessence.

Solid Snake, aka Keith Pliskin: Was the closest resemblance to Big Boss. And the least corrupted by Quintessence.

Meryl Holt: Aka the other Pidge, also least corrupted by Quintessence. She was also a surrogate baby and was not actually part of the Quintessence Triplets. And was actually the illegitmate daughter of a man called Roy Samuel Campbell. Because of this, her birth was rather complicated.

Liquid Snake, aka Lotor: The most corrupted by Quintessence, his skin turned Purple as a result of the Quintessence Corruption. He instigated the Shadow Moses Incident.

Solidus Snake, aka Zarkon: Also corrupted by Quintessence, managed to become President of the United States. Using the lies of a group called the Patriots.

The Plan happened while Big Boss was in his 10 year Coma from 1974 to 1984. As well as this, Lance was having cosmetic surgery to make him look like Big Boss.