ReBoRn

For Souldin's Assist Trophy Contest

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

When Frank Jaeger, or his other alias, Gray Fox, was almost close to reaching that sweet line of Heaven, he was pulled away into a new world of pain. The Shadow Moses Incident in 2005 had almost granted him the ticket to the world above, but seemed as if God had other intentions for him.

What had gone wrong in Snake and his second assault on the Metal Gear REX? If anything, the 'Cyborg Ninja' had his emotions in disorder when he told Snake he had killed little Naomi's parents when she was younger.

And then when his arm was hacked off with that ridiculous laser! Frank had to snicker in his mind when he remembered what he had claimed after overwhelming the Rex's radome. '…a cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal.' Frank snorted at his words and at the next event that had happened.

He had ordered Snake to fire the damned stinger, but Snake had hesitated after he heard Liquid's inform that he, Frank Jaeger himself, would die from the resulting explosion. 'Gray Fox' had laid there on that cold, cold floor when he told Snake more and more about what he had kept inside.

Gustava Heffner, the attractive female he had wished to elope with in Calgary, 1988 Winter Olympics.

In 1999, when he was 'recovered' from Zanzibar Land and was transformed into the 'Cyborg Ninja'.

And how he would be glad to die in peace.

But some ungodly God up there decided he would have to live. To live through pain again. After that dumb blonde Liquid tried to squash him in an unseemly manner unbefitting of the Fox's stature, Frank could hardly breathe. Yes, his grafted exoskeleton had allowed him to survive the hit, and after that, he had seen white.

"Oh look, he's coming up from his sleep!" A girl's voice reached his ears, and Frank recoiled when he felt a soft hand touch his skin. The thought registered in his mind immediately. He hadn't felt skin in ages. So admittedly, feeling skin on his own was surprising, and his silver-white eyes opened to a world of color.

Color? Frank's eyes took in a head of turquoise colored hair, and deep blue eyes. Upon seeing the concern and the roundness of the face, Frank concluded it was a girl. Probably his age or somewhat close. Blonde white bangs shadowed silver eyes, and Frank propped himself up to survey the room.

Hey, instincts never leave.

He was in a comfortable hospital room, and curiously enough, only three people were there. The girl, a golden blond haired boy, and a red head.

"Hey, what's your name! My name's Roy!" the red head exclaimed cheerfully, and silver eyes blinked, and Frank answered in a low voice, "Frank Jaeger. Where am I?" He demanded, stretching unused muscles and cracking his neck. The golden haired boy looked with unease at the turquoise haired female, and Roy left the room announcing, "I'm getting Master Hand."

Goldie looked at Blue hair and he started to speak in a placid tone. "Well, first things first. My name is Isaac, her name is Lyn, and Roy is a retired-"Isaac was interrupted by Roy's shout, "I DID NOT RETIRE! I WAS REJECTED!" Lyn had winced at the loud voice the boisterous red head had, and Frank had too. Isaac cringed, and with a hot blue glare at the door the red head had left through, continued, "…Smasher."

Lyn took over, and Frank couldn't help but see that both wielded swords. "So are you Smashers?" Frank asked curiously, absentmindedly taking out an IV tube. Lyn winced and replied, "Nah, we're assisting them." Her voice turned into a mocking tone, and she had crossed her arms in an attempt to get rid of her anger.

"Is the man up and ready?" A disembodied voice asked, interrupting their conversation, and a baritone voice answered, "If he can think with such clarity, then he is Master Hand." Frank recoiled farther into the white bed when he saw two beings come in.

A floating gloved hand, and a humanoid purple cat. "Gray Fox, right?" The glove asked in a cheerful tone. Isaac stood stony-faced as 'Master' Hand floated next to Frank. "Sure." Frank slipped into a monotone. "I sure am glad that you could participate as an Assist Trophy-"Master Hand was stopped by Frank's sudden outburst.

"Trophy? I didn't just come back to life so I could be a trophy!" Frank hissed, his hand instinctively reaching for an invisible sword. When he wildly looked around the room for it, Frank twitched when he saw his exoskeleton and mask on a mannequin next to his bed, and his sword in the humanoid cat's hand.

He jumped out of bed only to be restrained by unknown hands. Subconsciously, Frank already realized he was just shorts and was unarmed, but…

Instincts prevail.

"Give. Me. That. Sword." Frank growled, and Master Hand wagged a finger at him and said, "I could let you go back to your world, you know." The famed Gray Fox stopped fighting, and looked at the sentient being suspiciously. "We just need to make a deal." Master Hand accented the word, 'deal'.

Frank jutted his chin out in defiance and retorted, "How 'bout you let me go away, get my sword, take an adventure with that lovely lady and Isaac, and leave you in the dust?" Lyn snorted, and Isaac choked on a glass of water he had gotten. Master Hand tensed and said quietly, "Your work starts tomorrow, whether you like it or not." He snapped his fingers, and Frank Jaeger slumped on the wall unconscious, but all healed.

"You," Master Hand pointed at Isaac, who stood as rigid as a pole. "Get him ready for tomorrow, and you," Master Hand switched his finger to Lyn who stared back at him emotionlessly, "Tell him when and how Hands' Apartments work." He turned, and went out the door along with Mewtwo in a cold fury.

"I rescue him Mewtwo, me. I rescue him and I get this?" Master Hand raged, curling up into a fist. Mewtwo floated along beside him and replied in a cool voice, "We saw how he lived, Master Hand, so we can't blame him for feeling like that. And do you remember how we got his exoskeleton off to restore his usual self? He begged for the anesthetic."

Master Hand snorted in contempt. To the Smashers, he showed kindness and was patient and polite with them. But with the Assist Trophies…Master Hand had no patience for them. It was just…unusual to see an Assist Trophy go against him. Mewtwo could feel his annoyance without using any powers.

"Breakfast is coming soon, and the cooks need to finish glazing the cinnamon rolls." Mewtwo informed Master Hand, glancing at a nearby window. The red dawn shone through.

"C'mon Frank…" Lyn muttered as Isaac prepared a bucket of ice-cold water. "Lyn, move. This is gonna wake him up." Isaac dumped the water on Frank's head and heard a low groan. "Son of a…" Frank moaned, holding his head, but decided against the last word as Lyn looked murderous.

"Ugh…What'd the massive almighty being do to me…?" Frank groaned, clutching his head. An amused Isaac looked down on him and replied, "Well, you gotta big day ahead of you Frankie! We've got the entire complex to see, look at the new Smashies, and then drink the day over!"

Frank looked at Lyn bemused. "Drink?" He asked. "I gotta six-pack of Red Bull in my room." Isaac answered happily, putting his hands behind his head in a lazy fashion. Lyn smiled, and the Gray Fox was at a loss.

"So…When's breakfast?" Frank changed the subject quickly. His silver eyes gleamed with amusement when he saw their sheepish faces. "Ah…would you like chocolate chip or smores?" Lyn pulled out six granola bars in front of Frank's face. Frank leaned his head against the wall with a sad face on.

"I'll take the chocolate chip, thanks." Frank retorted, snatching a chocolate chip bar out of her hand hungrily eating it. His light blonde hair fell over his face and he heedlessly ignored the fact again he wasn't wearing any clothing besides a pair of baggy shorts. After finishing the five bars, Isaac wordlessly handed him a tight fitting black t-shirt and brown flip-flops.

Lyn snickered as Frank turned red. "So…tour?" Frank hesitantly asked, and Isaac threw him a belt, scabbard, and his sword. Putting all of them on his body, Frank rubbed his neck. "Kitchen's first, then the rooms, then our rooms, and finally the 'play' rooms." Lyn explained, throwing him a mask that hid the top part of his face.

"What's this for?" Frank asked, holding it curiously in his hands. "It's supposed to hide your identity, dummy." Isaac choked out, and Frank glared at him in return. He coughed instead, "Tour?" Isaac turned bright red, and he tugged Frank and Lyn's collar to the door. "To the kitchen!" The golden haired boy yelled.

Frank inhaled deeply the scent of buttered rolls. "Mm…Why couldn't you get me this for my breakfast?" He asked teasingly to Lyn, who flushed furiously.

The kitchens had brick red tiles, and granite counters. Two chefs, a young pale blonde boy and a lanky green capped male were toasting bread and roasting meat, running around all over the place.

However, they took the time to introduce themselves, and for that Frank was grateful. "Luigi, and this is my-a assistant Toon Link-a!" The green hat said in a thick Italian voice. Frank inclined his head politely, and Toon Link looked at him with curiosity.

After that, they moved on to the 'play' room since Isaac was too high on Monster to go to the Smashers' rooms yet. Frank was simply amazed at the technology the Hands' had. All types of game consoles were there, along with millions of games they had manufactured. Shelves and shelves of movies were lined up next to at least five TVs, and an Xbox laid helplessly on its side.

After the 'play' room, Isaac dragged them to the front door, just in time for Frank to see an old friend. Frank stumbled into Lyn when he saw Snake signing his signature on the roster with a flourish. Prodding Lyn in the back, Frank hastily whispered, "You mind if I say hi?" Isaac noticed this, and wordlessly shook his head.

"We can't interact with them on their first day Frank!" Isaac hissed back when Frank swore at him. "He's a friend that's all! What's wrong with a friendly hello?" the Gray Fox demanded, his hand going to his sword. Lyn sighed, "It's…it's just a rule Frank."

Frank Jaeger clenched his hand tightly, and let the matter go. "Then…let's get a drink." He said, resigned to not seeing his friend. Isaac looked at him in surprise, and said incredulously, "At 4 PM? Geez, aren't you crazy!"

Frank looked out a window absentmindedly and muttered, "I'd rather drink myself to the point of being deranged, but then again meeting Snake sane would be nicer."

Lyn snickered, and she tossed her ponytail back. "You want to go watch the new Smashies get their orientation then?"Frank inclined his head when a thought came to him.

"How long have I been out…?" the Gray Fox asked. After seeing a few gray hairs on Snake's head (He had sharp eyes), it made him rather worried. Isaac warily moved out of the way when Frank turned his intense silver eyes on him. "Um…Give or take a few years or so…RUN LYN RUN!" Isaac screamed as he dashed away to a room which Lyn had dubbed, 'obstacle room'.

Lyn followed close behind as a raging white-blonde haired man raced after them. "GET BACK HERE!"

Somewhere below, a lone mercenary tensed as he heard a voice he hadn't heard in three years.

Isaac inhaled a deep breath as he hung overhead, hanging by a single iron bar. Lyn had taken refuge behind a fallen punching bag, and was stealthily sneaking sideways so she could reach a pile of pillows and a long metal pole. They had both refused to turn on the light, and were anxiously waiting for the arrival of their fuming new roommate.

'Where are you Frank…?' Isaac worried, biting his lip. And then his question was answered.

Lol, this is for Souldin's Assist Trophy Contest. More later. Oh, just so you know, the Gray Fox's real name really is Frank Jaeger. Or something else. I got it off the Wiki (Which I think is very reliable!) So this is going to be three chapters, hopefully being at least 2,000 words each. Constructive criticism welcomed, or just review for the heck of it!

Also, 'Smash Mansion' is now to be called 'Hands' Apartment'!

Word Count: 2,058