WARNING! This contains Spoilers!
DISCLAIMER: The Metal Gear Franchise are all owned by Hideo Kojima!
P.S: Fuck Konami!
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Lost Episode
Chapter 1
"Kingdom of The Flies"
"I did not choose to be Quiet… I wanted to express my feelings to you. If only we Shared a Common Tongue. Vengeance was what drove me to them… the only language left to me, revenge. But the words we shared… no, that was no language at all. That is why… I chose the language of gratitude instead and go back to silence. I am Quiet. I am… the absence of words."
Venom Snake rewound and listened to the tape for over an hour on the ride back to the Seychelles Waters. He simply listened to her small and gentle voice, recorded behind all the static and the harsh sand storms of Afghanistan. His face was blank as always, covered in blood and grime, dark circles around his eyes, every muscle in his body ached from the battle against the armored division of the Soviet Guards Airborne Regiment. The impact force from a couple of shells from the Soviet tanks did a number on him and his back wasn't doing too well as a result. It felt like he was dying a thousand times over just to get through the third wave like some sick twisted game.
It wasn't something he couldn't withstand even for someone in his status, however, the effects from the snake bite and the anti-venom were making him hazy. The sand was in every inch of his fatigues that much he was used to since first arriving in Afghanistan except for the spitting out a grain once in awhile even during his meals and water breaks there was a taste of sand. The phantom pain in his left hand didn't make things better either, no matter how much he rubbed his bionic hand the pain never ceased. What he felt inside, however, was sadness by Quiet's departure and knowing that she was out there alone dying from the Vocal Cord Parasites. His bionic hand then clenched tight as anger fell on his shoulders reflecting how they first met many months ago in Cyprus, then in Afghanistan, even as going far to remembering that day sharing a tender moment together in the rain back at Mother Base.
'But I'm not Big Boss, just his phantom. A reflection of the Legendary Soldier, my leader, my friend.' Snake looked at the wall of pictures to his right. Memories of the MSF Mother Base, he picked the picture of him, Big Boss, Miller, and Morpho. The crease in the picture to where he had folded the image of himself over was still there. Before learning the truth every time he looked at that frozen picture of the silver-haired combat medic made a searing hot pain go through his brain, a face so familiar, and the message on the back; "Good Luck Adrian Zhdanov - Vic Boss." That name and the face on the picture were a stranger, taking the mantle as Big Boss while the real Big Boss was securing his heaven.
Outer Heaven.
Snake looked at his reflection in the window. He shaved, cut his hair down to the scalp and his natural platinum blonde was settling in. All that was left was the shaved down piece of shrapnel in his forehead. He looked less like Big Boss and more like the man in the picture, the best damn combat medic MSF had to offer who took over 108 shards of hot shrapnel consisting of Paz's teeth and bone, and the fragments of the explosives implanted in her for his Commander that faithful day nine years ago. Now Quiet got to see his real face, behind the face he was forced to wear. Did he do it for her? To make her see the man he really was?
"Boss! We're home!" Out called the Diamond Dog soldier as he hopped out of the cabin with the others.
They had already touched down on Mother Base. Snake didn't even realize it at first and he was always ready to hop out when arriving at his drop points, even when coming to Mother Base. Pequod still sat in the pilot seat maintaining the controls with a somber look of his own upon his face. Snake reached over and clasped Pequod's shoulder to which he gave a firm nod in return, the thought of leaving Quiet behind had impacted him too. The entire time Diamond Dogs were established, Snake, Pequod, DD, and Quiet were closer to each other than anyone else on the base.
Pequod would always give her a smile when Quiet would peek over at the controls and DD seemed to like her a lot as they always seemed to connect with each other like DD did with Snake. Here and there were nice conversations between the three of them during their rides, even though Quiet wasn't able to speak she felt like she was part of the conversation. Snake then remembered it was the same exact thing with him, Big Boss, Miller, and Morpho during the old days. The only freedom man really wants is the freedom to be comfortable, much like a helicopter cabin. Snake must have sat in the chopper for a while longer before exiting, settling on his sore feet, surrounded by his saluting troops, his family.
Amongst them was Ocelot and Miller, even DD as he ran up in a desperate attempt for a pet from his master which he gladly gave, however, the hound also sensed the despair from him and the absence of Quiet which caused him to whine. The last thing Snake wanted right now was to hear Miller's voice after all he has done to Quiet, and only hoped that his XO wouldn't push the wrong buttons.
"Boss, Quiet was too dangerous to be kept alive you know that." Miller began as he slowly hobbled over to Snake, "She was the last to be infected with the parasites. We won't worry about her infecting-"
Smack!
Kaz's aviators flew off his face and he tumbled to the ground clutching his painful jaw with his only hand. Everyone's eyes had widened and there were a lot of distinctive mutterings among the men at what had just transpired. Ocelot pinched the bridge of his nose as Miller stared at their leader in utter shock. Snake didn't say a word and neither dared his own men or Ocelot as he simply walked away from the scene with DD trailing behind him. Snake had begun crossing the connecting bridge to the Medical Platform, on foot with nothing but the sea breeze and fresh ocean air accompanied by the occasional calls of seagulls. By the time he had reached the Platform the sun had already set.
He walked towards Quiet's cell, looking down through the barred ceiling seeing it bare empty, the radio usually on 24/7, dead silent. The signs that were tagged "Talk or Die" and other deliberate comments to them Snake ripped them from the railings and tossed them into the sea. With his heart heavy, Snake descended the stairs walking closer to the cell before entering and paced slowly over to the cot where he had seen Quiet sunbathe and sleep. Snake sat on the cot staring blankly at the wall behind the bars, DD had curled up near his feet quietly whining. Pulling out his tape recorder and lying out flat on the cot, Snake played Quiet's message on repeat before sleep had overwhelmed him, her voice as his calming lullaby.
0600 Hours...
Snake's eye shot open after another nightmare snuck up on him, however, they weren't his own nightmares. The battery for the Walkman was dead, the cell was flooded with the thick morning dew. Snake sat up on the cot stretching out the tense muscles in his only arm, his neck and back. After a few cracks and pops, Snake stood up working out his legs until he saw Ocelot's figure leaning against the bars of the cell spinning one of his revolvers like he always does.
"Feelin' lucky, kid?" Ocelot quipped.
"There's no such thing as luck on the battlefield." Snake's gravelly voice recalled.
"Guessing you're starting to remember after hearing the tape the Boss has left you."
Snake nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose. Snake then ran his hand through DD's mane as the hound laid beside the cot and scratched his head earning him a tired yawn.
"Just bits and pieces, give me more time and my mind will be right as rain." Snake said.
"Filled in Miller on the Boss's plan. He's not happy about it, but he's still agreeing to be the XO. Pretty soon all of Mother Base will know the truth, but the world will still see you as Big Boss."
Snake placed the Phantom Cigar in his mouth and used the iDroid to activate it. Remembering as a former medic Adrian gave up smoking a long time ago, but to uphold Big Boss's mantle he had to take up on his habits as well in terms with being implanted with memories through induced hypnagogia during his coma. The Phantom Cigar was one of his creations, the perfect substitute for tobacco without the risk of lung cancer. Eventually, the Phantom Cigar became a habit to Snake, in the end, he breathed in the smoke of the medicinal herbs used as the cigar's tobacco and exhaled the sweet tasting vapors. When Snake looked at his watch he noticed it was already 10 passed 6 AM.
"I'm just a Phantom. I've written my own history, I'm my own man." Snake recalled, remarking Big Boss's words on the tape he had received from Ocelot the day before. "I got my orders and you do too."
Ocelot spun his weapon back into its holster, "Fair enough. So what's next, Boss?"
"Get the Intel teams together, I want every inch of Afghanistan searched."
"You're going after her?"
Snake ascended the stairway, "I know Quiet well enough to know she won't go down without a fight. A hunter never stops hunting."
"Where are you going?" Ocelot followed.
Snake placed the cigar in his mouth, "To see the wizard."
Code Talker's Lab
Medical Platform
"Skull Face had stolen my research before I was even able to develop a thesis for a solution into curing the condition." Code Talker explained, setting down his pipe and leans forward in his wheelchair. "It is why with such little resources I had left I was able to create a prevention method."
"The Wolbachia treatments." Ocelot said.
"Yes."
"But Quiet refused them?" Snake asked.
Code Talker nodded. The Navajo Elder was the only one on Mother Base who had a direct conversation with Quiet, and through his native language, Code Talker had uncovered Quiet's true intentions and struggles with loyalty and revenge. The One That Covers was a worthy ally to her as much as it was to him, and to use it for the safeguard of language from Skull Face's Ethnic Cleansers even as to sacrificing themselves to rid the world of the Vocal Cords Parasites while being a puppet for Skull Face's control was nothing but pure raw emotion. But Code Talker had realized Quiet's intentions upon sacrificing herself was not for the world or for herself.
"As I said before, a part of her still wanted revenge, against you. But in the end, she had sacrificed her life so that you would live." Code Talker continued, returning the pipe to his mouth and took a slow drag.
"Diamond Dogs has lost so much already. I don't need any more of my men dying on my watch." Snake grumbles.
"The treatments, will they work on Quiet?" Ocelot asks.
"The One That Covers serves her well, I have no doubt that she can withstand the lethal effects of the parasites for a given time."
"But not for long." Snake deduced, earning a slow nod from the Navajo.
Ocelot continued to pace the room, as usual, his spurs clinking with each step, "If I remember correctly, Quiet's tests shows that her lungs were burned to almost nothing back in Cyprus, but thanks to your parasite treatment she was able to survive. However, the Vocal Cords Parasites were primed to feast on the host's lungs upon hatching. Besides thanks to the parasites in her skin, she's able to breathe without the use of her lungs, how is it the vocal cords parasites are still able to kill off a host like Quiet?"
"Even with a case like her, the Vocal Cords Parasites is like cancer. When the eggs hatch it is death incarnate if the proper treatments aren't received in time."
"What will it take for you to make a cure?" Snake asked suddenly.
"Skull Face has stolen my research before I was able to come up with a thesis as I've said before, however, with the materials you have recovered for me I may be able to run some tests, but there is one crucial element."
"Which is?" asked Ocelot.
"I'll need a sample of the English Strain."
"The remaining English Strains were destroyed, the Boss made sure of that."
Code Talker frowns and a emits a quiet groan, "Then there is no hope for a cure."
The entire lab fell into a silence and Snake's face was blank as he looked towards the ground. He removed himself from his seat and headed for the door with Ocelot trailing behind him. The outside had a faint scent of rain approaching, a weather of sorrow, not that Snake ever believed in superstitions. Snake only began to reflect on how many men were lost since it all started back in the Carribean, since MSF, and now here in Diamond Dogs. Losing his comrades to Cipher and the Parasites were two times too many for his conscious as a leader and servant to Outer Heaven. But Big Boss didn't allow demons into his Heaven, and Venom Snake was more than a mere demon like Skull Face said.
"Boss!" Miller's voice called from behind both men. The XO hobbled over and with a visible bruise appearing on his jawline from where Snake had hit him when he got back from Afghanistan. "We have an emergency." He says.
Snake nodded and they walked side by side to the jeep. Ocelot hopped into the driver's seat and Miller got into the passenger while Snake rode in the back. Along the way to the command platform, Miller began to detail the findings from Intel.
"Boss, about Eli and his boys." Miller began.
"You know where they went?"
"We're still working on it, but the chopper pilot they had fly them out of here is back."
"And?"
"He said once Sahelanthropus and the chopper got out to sea, they splited up and headed into different directions. The chopper headed straight for Africa. They made it about 50 miles in island before running out of fuel. The kids used vines and duct tape to tie the pilot to his seat before they disappeared. He was almost dead from dehydration when the medics found him. They left him alive on purpose."
"Yeah, they're calling us out. They want to settle this."
"The intel teams are using the direction Sahelanthropus headed and the direction the kids took off in, to narrow down the search area. And with HEC helping out, it won't be long before we know where Eli is."
Command Platform
0630 Hours…
The jeep had arrived at the platform pulling up to the command building, "There is one thing that bothers me." Miller added.
Both men exited the jeep, "What's that?"
"Apparently there are already men going around the nearby villages asking for witnesses of the "giant in the sky"."
"Damn it, already?"
Miller nodded, "It's clearly business as usual for Cipher even with Skull Face gone. They must have been dying to get Sahelanthropus back ever since Afghanistan." Both men boarded the handicap lift up to the main floor of the command center and entered, "And if they beat us to it, they'll be getting more than that - Eli's carrying the English strain of the vocal cord parasite."
Snake stopped in the middle of the room with his eye widening. Miller wobbled around the command table looking down at the maps, "We tracked down Eli and his "men". They've spread the parasite across the island. It won't affect you if your voice hasn't broken, so they're safe, for now."
Snake rubbed his stubbled face as many thoughts were running through his head at once, like a sudden answer to a solution.
"Eli's driven the adults off the island. 'Recess is officially in session'. His own version of the "Lord of the Flies". Only instead of a pig's head, Sahelanthropus. And it's swarming with something worse than flies. They've presented one demand in exchange for the nuke, Big Boss's body. Those kids have got a lot to learn."
Snake had lit his Phantom Cigar once more taking a drag before deciding against it and switched it off.
Miller adjusted his aviators, "So it was you all along. Huh, Lieutenant?"
Miller knew he was looking at Lieutenant Adrian Zhadanov, former medic of the Soviet Airborne Regiment, the chief medic of the Militaires Sans Frontières. Snake, however, didn't answer as he was looking out the viewing window of the command center.
"The Boss I knew would never let that slime Emmerich walk away scot free while he sent our brothers to die! Or let an agent of Cipher onto the base in the first place! Have you learned nothing?!" Miller incensed.
"I have everything I need to know, Kaz." Snake spoke.
"Just like that then?!" Miller scoffed.
"Yeah, just like that. There is only room for one boss and one snake." Snake explained, "I'm the Phantom of both, nothing more, nothing less. And I'm no hero, never was and never will be." Snake turned to face his XO, looking him straight in the eye, "You best remember that Kaz." Snake then proceeded to head for the exit before the sound of Miller's voice stopped him.
"After everything we have done for him, this is how he repays us?" Miller asks, "This doesn't bother you?"
Snake stood at the doorway looking over his shoulder, "In time." He says before exiting, leaving Miller behind to sulk in the feelings of betrayal and deceit Big Boss has ensued.
(Episode 51)
"Kingdom of The Flies"
Aerial Command Center
20 Miles from Landing Zone
1200 Hours…
Punished "Venom" Snake had smoothed out the material of a long strip of cloth. 'I cheated death because of you, and thanks to you I've left my mark. You have, too. You have written your own history, you're your own man. I'm Big Boss, and you are too. No, he's the two of us together. Where we are, today? We built it. This story, this legend, it's ours. We can change the world and with it the future. I am you and you're me. Carry that with you wherever you go. Thank you, my friend. From here on out...' Snake took the same cloth and tied it around his head.
'...you're Big Boss.'
This bandana was found in the mammal pod that stored Strangelove's body. With Big Boss's memories, Snake knew what it was. It was hers. How it was salvaged from Lake Nicaragua was unknown and it was evident that Strangelove had repaired it lovingly. Snake took out a cassette tape labeled "Operation Kingdom of the Flies" and placed it in his Walkman then pressed play.
"Okay Boss, the objective is to recover Sahelanthropus and the children, Eli included. Once you're in the air, we'll hit the island with napalm. We can't let those things spread. It gets worse, here's the tape from when Eli took off."
The second recording in the background began to play and it was the sound of Eli going through a coughing fit,
"Where is he?" Eli's thick English accent spoke
"I told you, your father is not here."
"They're back." The tape cut off.
"His voice is starting to change, meaning he's almost a man. So if he's carrying the English-language Strain, well, if he starts showing symptoms, it's over."
Quarantined Island off the coast of Africa
1221 Hours…
Snake had on a protective mask as he descended into the treacherous jungles. Holding close his silenced equipped AM MRS-4 aiming it ahead of him in case of XOF soldiers popping out from the wilderness. They were already searching the island when Snake arrived and it wasn't much sooner when Snake found bodies of XOF soldiers lying or hanging dead from the boobie traps, lied out by the children no doubt. Each body of the XOF had on white hazmat suits and masks. Snake passed over the bodies and looked out for any remaining traps heading towards the center of the Island. The heat was wearing him down aside from the occasional bug bites, sweat dripped in long lines soaking into his bandana. Snake stopped for a drink from his canteen letting the cool water flow down his dried up throat, moisturizing it back to life.
Unfortunately, it was the last drop and it was just as well as he couldn't afford removing his mask when getting closer to the target, had to make it count. Snake checked his watch and it was about 10 minutes till one already. Just when he thought he was drawing closer following the smoke rising in the distance, sighing with relief that he had found a stream of fresh water to refill his canteen, only to also discover the hulking towering bipedal weapon, Sahelanthropus. Beyond the spiked makeshift gate, there were kids sitting on the rocks swinging their legs and exchanging conversations in their native languages. Inside the cockpit of the Sahelanthropus sat a child clad in a red hazmat suit and mask.
Strangely he was the only one, so far and the children below were without a doubt infected.
The child stood up from the pilot seat using Sahelanthropus' height to his advantage in scoping out for any more intruders, like Snake and the XOF. The whole sight alone basically said, "No adults allowed" which seems adorable, but not with someone like Eli leading them. Especially when he was suspecting of being part of the Les Enfants Terribles project. Miller was the only one fooled into believing that the DNA test was false after comparing DNA from someone who isn't really Big Boss. This child really is one of the Sons of Big Boss after all. Snake was about to sneak closer when he suddenly saw white-clad figures on the ridge beside Sahelanthropus. XOF Soldiers were sneaking up from the ground on the opposite side of the streams. But even more coming in from Snakes side forcing him into hiding as the XOF coordinated closer to their target. There were about a dozen men lying in wait, one aimed his weapon at the child in the mouth of Sahelanthropus. Before Snake would even risk intervening the soldier had fired his shot.
But the shot never connected with its target as it struck the Floating Boy instead as he appeared out of nowhere. That straight jacket and gas mask was hard to forget. The children at Sahelanthropus' feet ran away from the danger before every XOF soldier released a flurry of machine gun fire. Nothing was phasing the boy, not until the XOF soldiers pulled out GROM-11 Rocket propelled grenade launchers. Volleys of rockets zipped through the air and lit up the head of Sahelanthropus. The attack halted as the entire region was shrouded in smoke. When it cleared, however, the Floating Boy was left unharmed and the child in the Hazmat suit flashed a mocking posture before hopping down into the pilot seat and the cockpit had closed. Sahelanthropus screeched to life almost making Snake's ears ring from the tense metal grinding against each other. It was no doubt that child was Eli.
What which was a good defense became the offense as Sahelanthropus' Vulcan cannons activated showering the XOF platoon with gunfire almost tearing their bodies in two and turning their white hazmat suits crimson red. Sahelanthropus' high-pitched wail disoriented some of the XOF as they tried to help their wounded. Then came the devastating leap into the air and tons upon tons of metal had dropped upon the XOF like a big boot stepping on ants. Snake's third encounter with the weapon of mass destruction when he bolted in the opposite direction, avoiding suffering the same fate of the enemy. Those who made it out of the Sahelanthropus' way were ultimately burned alive by supernatural fire combusting over the streams.
Pained screams filled Snake's ears as he looked back up the towering behemoth. Sahelanthropus squatted down close enough for the mouth to open and reveal its pilot. Snake let his rifle hang at his side walking closer.
"I'd knew you'd be through here!" Eli called down.
"You're not a kid anymore. You call your own shots." Snake replied, "But at this rate you'll be dead before you have a chance."
"I'm free to die however I wish. Yes, free." Sahelanthropus' stood up straight, "You don't get the last word, Father. I'll break the curse of my heritage! And to do that, first I will kill you!"
Before Sahelanthropus could attack, helicopter blades whistled by as a fleet of gunships bearing the symbol of the Diamond Dogs appeared.
"This is Pequod! Commencing attack! Boss, get out of there!" The radio crackled.
A volley of Anti-Tank missiles whistled from the choppers and hit its target barely causing a dent. Snake began running to a safe distance as the Diamond Dogs commenced their attack when battle tanks came from the forests and aimed their cannons at Sahelanthropus. Next was Walker Gears equipped with Gatling guns and Anti-Tank missiles. After a dozen missiles connected with Sahelanthropus, the dented behemoth suddenly reached into it's side to pulled out a long black whip and began snapping the choppers out of the air, and using the said whip which straightened out and slammed down to the forest ground causing a tremor of black spikes to shoot up from the ground and take out a battalion of tanks.
Even so in the end when Venom Snake watched the battle from his ACC, the Diamond Dogs Navy, and Air Force had invaded showering Sahelanthropus with more cannon and missile fire. Piece by piece, Sahelanthropus began falling apart and wailed as if it was suffering from pain if a machine could feel.
"Head's up, boss!" Miller called over the radio.
Snake looked up to see something lower down to the battlefield, The Battle Gear. The tank powered to life using its treads to glide over the debris and get closer to the heavily damaged Sahelanthropus. The Railgun on the Battle Gear started to power up and charged with a bright blue light. An electrically charged whistle from the weapon suddenly sent a large beam towards Sahelanthropus delivering the final blow. Both arms had dropped from the body and the head had gave away falling down to the forest ground. The Diamond Dogs had begun cheering their victory while the determined as ever Venom Snake motioned for Pequod to land near Sahelanthropus' head. When he arrived, Snake jumped down to the ground almost tumbling to the ground after Sahelanthropus' pursuit. Snake knelt to draw in more air looking around the next corner seeing Eli crawl from the wreckage.
?!
Snake suddenly saw XOF soldiers open fire on Eli. Fear gripped Snake tight as he saw Eli fall from the cockpit and to the grassy earth. Five more XOF had come from the trees surrounding the boy. Snake panicked fishing out his sidearm, checking the clip seeing one of the XOF soldiers toss his rifle to his partner before drawing his own sidearm to finish off Eli.
Damn it!
Snake replaced the clip and loaded a fresh round into the chamber before popping up and shot three rounds striking each kill zone of the XOF, but Snake had given away his position to the remaining XOF soldiers. Snake quickly ducked behind cover when chunks of stone were being chipped off the boulder he was hiding behind from automatic gunfire. Snake blindly reached over the stone to return fire until the clip went dry. As he proceeded to load another, he suddenly saw a spherical shape land beside him.
Grenade!
Snake leaped over the rock dodging the fragmentation but was caught in the blast wave. Snake's head connected with another set of stones causing a head trauma sending him into a seizure. His vision was blurred and was unable to differentiate between red and white. He tried to blink away the trauma making him see colors that weren't there. The red of his bionic arm was all white, Eli's hazmat suit was all white as well almost making it impossible to determine which is which when XOF surrounded him. Without thinking, Snake drew his sidearm and fired at each XOF despite his color blindness. Then Eli let out a terrible scream.
Snake had gotten to his feet blinking repeatedly seeing Eli's red Hazmat suit.
"No…" He gasped, "No, no, no…" He chanted walking towards Eli, Snake fell to his knees gripping the boy's head, looking through the visor of his gas mask.
His eyes were closed.
Something snapped inside of Snake as he drew his gaze into the air, "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" His voice echoed causing birds to abandon the treeline and take to the air.
What have I done…?
1421 Hours…
As Cargo Choppers began pulling pieces of Sahelanthropus off the ground, a separate chopper landed and Ocelot had touched the ground surrounded by his Ocelot unit and wearing masks for protection. Ocelot can see Snake kneeling over Eli he placed against the rocks. The team medic walked over placing a gentle hand on his commander's shoulder,
"Gimme some room." He orders.
Snake moved out of the medic's way for him to kneel down and take off Eli's helmet and mask. The medic zipped down the hazmat suit to reveal a bullet lodged into body armor Eli was wearing.
"He's alright, vest took the bullet."
Snake nodded with relief, "Get him on the chopper. We'll patch him up at base."
Another Medic had placed on his goggles looking closer at Eli before gasping and jumped back, "Boss, he's showing symptoms!"
The other Diamond Dogs stepped back in fear. Eli began laughing at their cowardice before coughing. Snake, however, knelt in front of the boy.
"I was created by Cipher. And I was the flaw... My fate was written in my genes... I'm the loser." Eli spoke, defeated. "You! All because of you!" Eli raised his hand, "I'm not me… I'm just a copy of you! I will surpass my father, I will destroy my father." Eli suddenly grabbed Snake's bionic arm, "Destroy you! I'll kill all of Cipher. I'll destroy your precious world!"
Ocelot reached over and placed a hand on Snakes shoulder waving him to step away.
"There's nothing you can do for him…" Ocelot said.
"Island is completely contaminated. Orders are to use napalm to sanitize." A soldier said.
"Sanitize every square inch." Ocelot ordered, "Prepare to drop."
The soldiers saluted.
"We're pulling out, move!" Ocelot ordered the men leaving Snake and Eli alone.
Snake drew his sidearm and aimed it at the White Mamba.
"Live…" Eli began, "Live!"
"You're one hell of a soldier." Snake spoke.
"I will kill you!" Eli yelled.
Snake ejected the ammo clip, "That's right." He then ejected the chambered round, "Don't blame yourself, blame me…" He replaced the round and locked the slide. He knelt down to Eli's level holding the gun by the barrel, "You're inferior, but it's up to you to change that." Snake narrowed his eyes at the sound of a respirator approaching behind him. Using CQC, Snake grabbed the intruder and flipped him to the ground pulling off his gas mask. The red haired boy began coughing and wheezing, Snake then grabbed his arms and reconnected the straight jacket while finally holding the gun against his head.
"Break your concentration?" Snake said holding up the Floating Boy's mask. Snake, however, then mentally winced at the sight of the boy's disfigured face. "Here's what's gonna happen, I need something from him and I need you to get it for me. And I know you can." He pulled out an empty vial and opened it, "Look me in the eye and you tell me what I want."
The Floating boy blinked looking at Eli still wheezing by the absence of his mask. The boy bowed his head and suddenly Eli coughed up a blob that hovered in the air and slowly glided into the vial. Satisfied, Snake replaced the cap of the vial and dropped both the mask and the gun before walking towards the chopper giving Eli one final look. Eli had already picked up the gun aiming it at Snake, but never pulled the trigger as the chopper began pulling away.
Eli watched the chopper fly away looking down at the gun. The Floating Boy replaced his mask which returned his focus into using his abilities once more and hover in the air. The boy motioned for Elie to take his hand which he did and they both took to the air before the napalm commenced.
"Not yet… It's not over yet." Eli sneered.
(Debriefing)
Seychelles Waters
Medical Platform
1700 Hours
Three days later...
Code Talker analyzed the parasite Snake had retrieved from Eli in an airtight room of his lab and very carefully began writing down detailed notes. He carefully began splicing the strain and Wolbachia, adding different compounds collected from the skulls and data collected from Quiet's file on her parasite therapy. Code Talker took out a separate vial of Wolbachia combined with synthesized English strain twisted with a potent concoction making it a possible prevention method, an antidote. After Code Talker injected the "Cure" into the sample of an infected Larynx, the elder looked into the microscope seeing the parasitic cells come into contact with the injected cure. The English strain was washed away in an instant much to his satisfactory. When the experiments were successful, Code Talker handed a vial of the cure to Snake.
"It is potent, though it may not last forever. I must do more tests, but for now, this was a success." Code Talker let Snake take the vial. "Now you must find her and make her take it. Though I must warn you, she may put up a fight."
Snake nodded exiting the labs to the outside of the medical building. Snake placed his Phantom Cigar in his mouth and used his iDroid to activate it. After a couple of drags he saw Ocelot approach him.
"You've been quiet the past few days." Ocelot said joining the Diamond Dogs commander in the sightseeing of the Seychelles.
"Haven't I always?" Snake remarked.
Ocelot chuckled, "I guess so. This thing with Eli, it…" He paused, "I can't imagine how hard it is."
Snake exhaled the vapors, "What? That he was my son? His son? I did what had to be done, Big Boss would do the same."
"And Quiet? Would Big Boss do the same for her?"
Snake cast his gaze to the ground letting loose a quiet sigh before returning to his cigar.
Ocelot took note of his silence, "I guess there is somethings about Lieutenant Adrian Zhdanov that can't change." Ocelot pulled out the folder from under his arm and handed it to him, "I can't complain."
Snake took the folder and opened it showing a picture of Quiet wearing a cloak concealing her face. Snake can feel the relief and joy of seeing her still alive.
"She's heading towards Mazar-i-Sharif. The city is Soviet controlled, Boss… There's gonna be a speech made there for the man of honor."
Snake narrowed his eye at the report of the upcoming event, "Gorbachev… She's gonna kill Gorbachev."