"What the...Fire alert!...Damn... Mayday! Mayday! Controls not responsive! Tower do you read?!... Shit...radio's down..."
America rests on shared values rather than shared ethnicity.
Joseph Nye
Just another day in a conflict without end
OUTER HEAVEN
13 months prior...
AWAKENING
...What is? WHAT HAPPENED? I see nothing, just darkness. Wait, I see some light! It's blurry? Ow, my head hurts. I can still see it... what is it? Color, please come back. Yes! Here!...what is this? It's so blurry. I can't hear anything, except some music...
I thought you died alone, a long long time ago
Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
What is this music? It's sounds like it so old. Ow! My head is hurting again. I still can't see... WHERE AM I? Oh, I can see better now! It's getting clearer. Looks like...sunlight, and white colors. Am I in Heaven? I'm so tired... I feel so weak. But... my eyes are starting to focus more. I can see a fan...a ceiling fan. And some lights, it's the roof...um, ceiling. Then, something came in front of my view... it's someone's...chest?! Ah! GO AWAY!
...Wait, who is that? Is it, a nurse? Am I in a hospital? But what happened? I can't remember much... All I remember was...all I remember was... I can't remember? I see that nurse, she's hidden behind some curtains...she must be with someone else...are they talking about me? What are they gonna do with me? Are they're gonna kill me?! I don't wanna die! I want to go... WHY CAN'T I MOVE MY BODY? Not even my finger... only my eyes? Why? Did they drug me?
That nurse is going away, I want to talk to her! Hey! HEY!...can't she hear me? I want to talk. A gasp... I heard a gasp. Was it mine? The nurse heard it! She's coming back to me...
"...me..." Was all I can hear... she repeated, "Look at me."
I looked right into her eyes of astonishment... I tried to make a sound, only another gasp again...
She was taken aback, and she bolted to the door, "Doctor! DOCTOR!" She knocked the radio to the floor... wait. Come back...come back! AM I IN A DREAM?
Maybe I should go to sleep. I should rest a bit...Good night, Izumi...
"Can you hear me?" I start to hear a voice. It was male... ow, my head is hurting again. Who's there... I can't see again!
"Can you hear me?!" the voice was louder. My vision came back and I see the nurse... with her was a man, probably a doctor...
"Can you hear me?" He asked, why the repetition? I can barely speak... I can't make a word come together, "Are you having difficulty speaking?... Can you move your head? Just nod if you can hear me."
I found myself in pain as I tried to move my head. But I nodded. He then pointed upwards, "Look up, please. At the ceiling." I began to look up, my head hurting even more... "That's it... very good!" He helps me lower my head down. "How do you feel now? Can you speak?"
I tried to move my lips... all that comes out are grunts and groans... "Let's try this. What is your name? When were you born? Try to recall..."
I move my lips to try..."I...Izum...Izumi. Izumi Nagano..."
"Good, and your birthday?"
"September...1st...19...99..."
He smiled and began to walk, "Good... now then... please try to relax..." What? What do you mean? Usually something bad is happening...
"I need to tell you something. Please listen, and try not to panic." He began to pace... I feel nervous... my head...
"You were... in a coma..." WAIT! A coma?! "For, quite some time."
How long?!
"Yes yes. I know, you would like to know how long..." He paused... that's usually bad! He looked at me, "I'm afraid... it's been 9 months."
9 months! What?! That's a long time! Why?
"Now, take some rest. We would speak again soon..."
Rest...there's so much I need to know! I want... I want... I'm tired...Good night...
As I woke up again, I see the nurse, "How do you feel?" She began to change the IV, while I look around and see the doctor...
"It's been a week since you waken up. Now... I think it's about time to get you up. Nurse..." He began to lift my back up... it began to ache, "There now, don't worry. We have maintained your muscle mass by massages and EMS."
The doctor was carrying something, a folder... He took out some paper? It looks like an x-ray... "Now, let me explain something...you mustn't be alarmed" He propped it on to a board, it shows an x-ray of a human body... there are little specks within. "9 months ago, you were injured by an explosion and crash."
Explosion? Crash?
"Upon inspection, we have discovered 32 foreign bodies within you..." 32? Foreign bodies... watch does that mean? "Foreign bodies, as in objects that have entered your body."
Oh my god...
"In addition to metallic shrapnel, we have also found some fragments of human bone and teeth." Human bone?! Teeth?! What happened? The doctor noticed my astonish, "I know it's hard to understand...but worry not. All of it has been removed."
Really? Thank goodness.
"Now...I'm gonna show you an x-ray of your head..." It shows the specks within the head...Does that mean I...
"Now... some of the fragments have been lodged within your head... around your mouth and nose. Your brain was fortune enough to not have any of the shrapnel." That's a good thing?
"Now, I'm going to explain how you gotten injured. You were involved with a helicopter crash just off the coast. However, we were informed that you were unconscious when the crash occurred. But... I must tell you something. It's regarding your family."
Oh no... Is it my dad? Is it my aunt? My sister?
"Unfortunately..." His words were cold...but empathic, "Your mother is dead."
NO! NO NO NO! WHY?!
"Calm down...please calm down." I can't! MY MOM'S FREAKING DEAD!
"Dammit! Nurse, quickly!" He began to grab my arms, which are grabbing into the wires and tubes...
"It's going to be okay! Calm down! Try to calm down!"
I struggled... get me out. GET ME OUT! The nurse tried to inject me with a syringe... what is it? Poison? No! DON'T AH! IT HURTS! MY HEAD!
AH...I feel...weak...
"Better now yes? Try to calm down... There now, you'll be alright... just rest..."
My mom is dead...no! My mom, my dad! Who's left in my family now? My sister...she's disappeared, gone into hiding...My aunt... she...I don't remember where I last seen her. My grandma... she's with grandpa back in Japan... at Okinawa.
What happened...
"She's in no condition to move. We need more time for this..."
"I know that, but time is something we don't have!"
I looked at the nurse and the doctor, who are engaged in a conversation. They looked back at me...
"We're doing it tonight...this is ridiculous." He began to walk towards me, while the nurse walks out of the room, mimicking his words.
The doctor was fearful, "It's true. There are those who want your kind dead."
My kind?
"You should have died from that crash... but you didn't. The wheels are in motion. We need to move you out of this country."
What? Country?...
"Now let's remove your head bandages..." Bandages... "Hm, your face has healed quite nicely. Good as new. To tell you the truth, this is more for your protection...as of today, you will be known as 'Rachel'." Rachel? ...wait...the nurse is...who is that behind her? Wait! She's being attacked! Help her! "Forget what happened before, your memories, your past. Everything."
But the doctor doesn't noticed... didn't he noticed? But he did showed me something... a photo... It has a group photo... two boys, a girl, and me...The girl and me were posing peace signs... one of the boys was fisting the air. The other was silently staring into the camera... as if he feels like he's supposed to be professional. I grabbed the photo, and took a closer glance at it. I turned it around... wait what's this writing?
Become the phantom 'Rachel',
G.R.
Who's "G.R."?
The doctor picked up a mirror... that attacker! He's here! But the doctor showed me the mirror, and my face, "This... is you as lived till this day... Soon, it will become... a phantom... a ah..." Huh? What's going on... The mirror dropped, and the man... He's being attacked... Wires around his neck... Ew! He's dying! Wait that gun. The gun! Come on grab it! Ah! I fell off the bed... The doctor he's... Dead. Oh no... I don't want to die! The attacker... Is he going for me?
"Not yet. Someone else saw my face...Of course. Consider it done." He took out a knife... The gun is in front of me... Come on...no. Don't pick it...no. Help me... Someone HELP!... Who's that? He's tackling the man...but he grew him back towards the wall. The attacker took out the knife again... The patient... He's taken some random items, and he chuck it at him. They do nothing. But, a bottle... It contained liquid... Maybe it's acid! Nope... He's gonna throw the knife! Look out! Oh no, he's hurt... The attacker, his hands are strong. Ow... My neck... I can't... I can't breathe...
Is that humming? Is this the end...what's that sound? A lighter? Screaming? Who's screaming? The attacker...oh my god! He's on fire! That man lit him on fire! But he's crawling... he's crawling towards me! AH! GET BACK! STAY AWAY! Patient... save me... he grabbed the knife... what are you doing?! It's in your should...oh my god... you can do that?! Throw it! No, don't deflect it! Ah! Come on... think of something...Wait...that bottle...you're gonna... OH MY GOODNESS NO! ...He jumped out of the window...IS THIS REAL? Is it? It can't be...
"All right 'Rachel', time to go." That patient was in bandages; I can't clearly see his face.
But that solder... "What happened to that man?"
He looked at the window and back at me, holding his shoulder, "That man? I...WE gave him a light. Took the short way down."
We? "Who are you?"
"Who am I? Pfft... You forgotten already..." He pointed towards me, "Been watching over you for 3 months of my life. You may call me 'Ishmael'."
"What's happening?"
"Well, good news is: You're still in the land of the living. Bad news: This part of it wants you dead." Then the world shook apart, "On your feet, kid. Whole place's coming down." He tried to lift me up, but I still can't move my body. "Ah... need a little pick-me-up?" He showed a syringe...
"Wait..."
"Don't worry. A little digoxin won't hurt..." He said as he injected it into my neck, "Although you may have hallucinations."
"What?!"
"Come on, let's go." I tried to move my arm... it works...kind of. Does my feet work? That cart, let's try to get on it. Come on... ah!
"Drug's not working?"
Come on...oh! "It's not working."
"Okay... just crawl for now." He looks out of the room..."Let's take the stairs."
Hey! That's not fair! Jeez...Come on move it. Need to crawl faster... That water machine, oft!
He looked at me, "Gh, this isn't gonna work. We better take the elevator." He moves towards the elevator... And I have to follow...Wait... what's that? It's a kid...with a mask. Red hair..."What is that?"
O...WHAT THE HELL HE CAN FLY?!
The elevator is beeping... SOMETHING IS COMING! It's on fire! AH! OW! OW OW OW! IT HURTS! MY ARM! What the hell is that? It's... a man...ON FIRE?! It's coming for me! Go away! ...Is that water...He's gone...Where did he go?
"Ishmael" got back and turned me over to my stomach, "Calm down. You can do this."
I start to move my arm, the other... yep definitely broken. I felt something...MY LEGS! I can...I can walk!
"Drug's kicked in? Good. Over here."
The windows...it's nighttime? What is it like...hey! OW! "Hold up... don't expose yourself. Hm, let me fix your arm." He hold it and...OW OW OW OW OW! "AHHH!" He pressed his hand against my mouth... "mh..."
"Next time, you need to do it yourself. Maybe, when this is over, instead of my hand, it's my mouth."
I was shocked..."Um, I..."
"Heh, don't worry. Remember, always mend your injures, but keep out of sight of the enemy..."
Wait...what's that...WHAT IS GOING ON? ...is that a grenade? No, it's producing smoke. There are lights coming. Are those flashlights?
"Shit. This way hurry." He went into a door, and I followed him... "Get on your belly. Crawl."
I crawled after him... the room ahead is filled with smoke... I see a patient ahead... He's walking towards someone, "Help me... help...AHH AHH!" Someone shot him! AH! LET GO OF ME...Ishmael? Hide under the bed? We're not children! That other patient he's trying to crawl...AH! That soldier shot him in the back... He flipped him over...and shot his head...Oh my god...Ew...I can't look... That soldier... he's checking under the bed! Wait... he took a ID badge... Whew...
"Let's go." Ishmael moved forward. As I did, I felt something on my leg...huh? "Help me...I don't wanna die!"
It's another patient...Let go!...!...The soldier's back! "AH AH!" The soldier dragged his foot, "WAHHH! AH...GAH!" I hear his footsteps coming closer... Is that a bottle crashing? It came from somewhere else. The soldier is walking away. Ah...Time to go...I see Ishmael at the doorway...I look around the corner and see a nurse and a patient at the window, waving at a helicopter.
Ishmael hid away and said to me, "Blackhawks... not them. Again?"
Wha...what do you... AH! SO LOUD! Did they...oh my god...they shot them...DO THEY WANT ME DEAD? Ishmael is moving forward...I follow him... but still crawling.
"Time to walk. Press the Stance Button to stand up."
...
What the hell? This isn't a video game, "Ugh!"
"Pfft, I guess you play Assassin's Creed, huh? No proper crouching mechanic... Typical." Games...your typical nerd...wait... He stopped where those people were killed, "That helicopter is still there. Don't get caught in those searchlights!"
A light came by... and I almost went into it...Whew...Ishmael turn at the hallway, and began to crouch by the windows, but out of view. "Come on, to the doorway." He pointed to the door at the other side of the hall. I followed him, slowly pacing myself... I turn around me, and see another patient backing up... A light's blinding him...AH! He's been shot...
"Run! Come on!" I see the man at the door, with Ishmael just getting through it. My legs ached, but the began to move fast. They feel numb... and I can't breathe well... But then another shot rang out... That makes me run faster! I see it! As soon as I got to the other side, Ishmael closes it. Another patient found a metal cabinet, and dropped it in front of the door. We hear the footsteps...they can't open the door. HA! Wait...what's that sound...ah, they're sawing the door?! Why are they so persistent?! WHAT ARE THEY AFTER?
"Move! GO!" Ishmael ordered, he went down the stairs. The other patient went up the stairs...Who should I follow..."AH AH! Guh...AH AH AHHHH!"
The patient fell over the rails...Definitely not upstairs! I should follow Ishmael, who is going downstairs... but he stopped, "Shit! It's ugly down there... turn back!"
I saw what he saw, flashlights...We're being surrounded. We can't escape, can we? Hold on, there are some other people. Patients and staff. "Hey, over here. C'mon!" One of the staff opened the gate, and we entered in... Lots of people...Ishmael? Where are you going?! COME BACK! People are talking, "What's happening?...don't worry. We'll be alright. I can't see what's happening!"...Gah...Gotta, pushed through, "Hey!...Ah...watch it!...oph! Hey, what the..." Ah! Nurse! Let me through! I want out! Is that Ishmael...looks the same: head bandages...Wait...those flashlights! Oh no!...AH! They're shooting! No...no...no! Go back! They're there as well! Oh no...Am I dead? Is this the end?
"GET DOWN!"
AH! Oph...Ishmael? But... you! And the...the sold...HOW?! ...Those people behind me...they're all dead...Are they targeted too? DO THEY WANT US ALL DEAD? We're in a patient room. Ishmael walked forward, but quickly dashed into one of the patient areas...why? Flashlights! Damn! They're searching here too...two of them... one's watching the hall between...one's going forward...and going into the patient's beds...AH! They're shooting the patients...I better hide...under one of them...He's checking another one...I can move towards the one they already searched... "AH! GAH!...Ahh..." Who was that...a patient... whew...Ishmael is still O.K. The two soldiers are leaving... Ish...wait! Don't go there!...He's coming back.
"They're checking again. This way." He quickly moved to the door, leading back to that hallway...why there?! I approach him, and he motioned, "We're sitting ducks...blend in with the bodies." We crawled on the floor. On the blood! EW!
"If you move, we're done for. Play dead!" I rested my head down... and bit my lips...I see them coming...They're shooting the corpses...Oh no...they stopped...wait...whew. What's that sound...water...pee?! Ishmael! I looked...it's an IV bag...ah! Someone moved me...oh! Too bright...I can't see... "HVT located!"
HVT? They are going for me! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?
What's that sound? Is it...fire! That man is back! Those soldiers...they're firing at it...It's not doing anything! Oh...he set one of them on fire..."AH AH AHHHH!" He leaped out of the window...hmph. Idiot...They're still firing, but nothing's working. "Shit...grenade!" One of them fired something...it's explosive apparently... but nothing...Another took something out...a rocket launcher?! "TAKE THIS!" Nothing! What's keeping this guy up?! Wait...what's he doing?! AH! OW OW OW! MY LEG! IT HURTS! WOAH! The helicopter... It's not working..."Ishmael?" I see him, he looked at the helicopter, and the floor...a gun! The helicopter is turning towards the man on fire..."Geh...Incoming! Move!"
He pulled me up, and we ran... but my leg's still broken! I felt and hear a boom! I can't looked... another explosion...is it the helicopter? Ishmael reached the gate...but I'm lagging behind. Hold up...he has a gun. He began shooting at something behind me... I can feel heat on my back! NO ESCAPE? Looks like it huh? He looked up and fired at something... ah...water? Sprinklers! He shot the sprinkler...that means the Man on Fire will disappear. Whew...but...OW! My leg!
"Hold up...you better fix up that leg of yours."
Yeah, thanks for stating the obvious. Alright...try to...AH! Whoo...Great. Now we can go. Alright... Ishmael is covering the front. Good. I guess that means... I should follow behind. He comes up to a door, and opens it. Alright...flashlight! I hid...is he gone? Did Ishmael kill him? Good...I came up at the body...he has a gun. Ishmael picked it up, and he took out the magazine...wait. What are you doing? He racked back on the slide, locking it...Before presenting it to me, "You know how to shoot a gun, kid?" I looked at it...nervous, "No."
Then I felt a boom behind me. Fire began to spread..."Well, better be a fast learner. Hold the aim button to aim, and press the attack button to fire. The extinguisher, destroy it."
...
Again with the video game talk?! All right...I placed my hands on the gun...wait, Ishmael what are you..."Don't hold it like your having tea with the Queen...Greenhorn."
Hey! I'm a girl! Fine...fire! Yes! "Good shot, let's go."
He came up at a corner, but we hear footsteps... "I'll take the right, you take the left." I took position at the corner, and see the two soldiers in front. They're holding guns sideways...like gangsters would...Why? I aimed my gun at him...and fire...he stumbled, but went back attacking... "Calm down, you can do this." Ishmael is really on a broken record. He fired, and killed one of them, "The other! Get with the program!"
I fired again, and the soldier dies...whew..."Why hold the gun sideways?" I asked Ishmael.
He seems like the intelligent one, "Field of vision. They wear gas masks, which limits it. If you hold it sideways, you still retain your peripheral vision."
We see another door, and it leads to the main lobby. But those soldiers...there are lots of them... Ishmael...wait...what are you doing? He's unscrewing the suppressor on his gun. He explained his plan, "I'll run interference. You'll be fine." He lobs it, and it made a ding...it grabbed their attention. He's running! DON'T! DON'T LEAVE ME!...Damn it... I guess I have to get out on my own... I can get around them...easy...Wait... is that Ishmael? Is he, still alive? How?! Hm...Wait was that? I felt something...next to me...AH! The entrance's blocked! How?! Is that...the Man on Fire! He's here...Oh no...he's approaching the soldiers... he's really taking his time...Ah! He's burning one of them...They're firing at him, but nothing happens...He just absorbs those bullets...Uh oh... he's gonna blow up! Hide!...AH! He's still alive... but the soldiers are dead. Am I doomed...
HAVE I GONE TO HELL?
The fireman is coming towards me! The entrance is blocked! Wait... what's that noise? The ground's shaking... I better jump out of the way...HUP! WOAH! TOO CLOSE! Is that a tank?! More soldiers! That...the gas mask guy is back...the soldiers...are still firing at him! He's not getting hit! What's that noise? Is that a helicopter...the wreckage! It's floating! The blades are... Ew...Oh my god. The tank's back! I should run... the entrance... it's straight ahead! Come on! I can reach it... that noise... AH!...
Ow... my head...
My eyes are closed...I can hear something. Come on, Izumi.
OPEN YOUR EYES.
It's coming closer...
OPEN YOUR EYES, ALREADY.
OPEN! HOOF! I'm still alive...the Man on Fire...he's coming! Damn! A gun! Hah! Fire!... die...die!...DIE! WHY WON'T YOU DIE?! NOOOO!
CRASH!... Huh? Is that an ambulance?...Ishmael?!
"Get in! Come on!" I sauntered to it, and got in the passenger seat..."Hang on!" The vehicle began to drive, but the Man on Fire is still alive! He's attacking! AH!...what's that sound? Fire trucks? Woah! Look out! Ishmael is taking a different road. AH! He's throwing the fire trucks at us! Woah...Leave us alone! Oh no...
The helicopter...AH! Glass...ow...why is the horn...? Ishmael! Are you okay... Come on! Wake up! No...Okay... the wheel. It's like a video game. Oh no it's not! Ah! The tunnel... good...I look behind...the entrance collapsed?! Damn! Okay, let's brake...I can't reach the pedals! NO!
The other side...they're gonna be waiting for us... they are! AH!...
...
...
...
Ow...My head...
I'm okay? I'm okay! Whew... what...why am I feeling so...lightheaded...Oh...I'm upside down. Ishmael...Wait! Where is he? Is he dead? Was he a ghost? Was he jettisoned out of the ambulance?...
Okay...forget about him. Let's get out... the seatbelt. OH! OW! The windshield... I can crawl... yes! I'm free... Oh no... the helicopter...
AH! The mask boy... he's so creepy! What's he doing... I... I want to live... Make it go away! Blow up that thing!
What's that...Is that...
A WHALE?!
BOOM! AH! GHH! It's gone... the helicopter's gone. Did he grant my wish? Oh my...oh come on! Why you?! Leave me ALONE! Come on... get up. RUN! AH! A horse? Who's on the horse? Is it a girl?
"Get on! I'm on your side!" She offered her hand...Should I? I don't remember her..."Hurry..."
I don't I should...Oh right! The Man on Fire!
"Hurry!" I grasped the hand...and she pulled me on..."Hang on!"
The horse neighed and we ran off...but the Man on Fire is also on a horse...which is also on fire!
The girl gave me something...a shotgun!
"Use this! Watch our backs!" She ordered...I looked at it...and then at the Man on Fire..."Shoot him!"
I fired a shot at it...and the horse stumbled a bit...slowing it down. Come on...again! Huh? Why won't it fire?
"Rack it! Pump-action! You should know these things from the movies!" The rider told me...of course!
The fireman continues to close in, "Shoot! Don't let him burn us!"
I fired again...and he fired in return... It barely missed us...whew. The girl riding commented on it, "Gh...Persistent bastard... wait!...Is that...? Back from the grave, huh?"
The grave...was he dead? Is he a ghost too?! It charged up at us...and he took an elevated route...but the girl took another route...and he's gone...
"Did we lose him?" She asked...
"I...I think so..." I responded. I let out another sigh of relief...wait...that light...AH!
"SHOOT!" I quickly raised it up and fired...as the flames touch our bodies...OW OW OW! He continues to gallop...burning everything in his path...What can stop him?! "Just keep shooting! Fill that bastard full of lead!"
How long... Are we there yet?!
"I see it... the harbor! We're almost there! Hang on!"
The bridge ahead...AH! LIGHTNING! WOAH...AH! GUH! MOAPHHH... Whew...whew...whew...
Deep breaths...deep breaths... Take it slow, Izumi... crawl...stop! The boy...woah...ah! Huh? He's not...
"Come on..." AH! The girl...she saved me...I don't know who he is...I just realized...it's raining...oh my god...The hospital...it's in flames...it can be seen from here.
The girl...she spoke to me face to face... "Name's Mary...but call me 'CHICK'..." Chick?
"You remember me, right? The camp? We made bread together."
Mary Wang...
"I wasn't expecting much to be honest. You were in a coma. I was ordered by someone to do a job... well, two actually. 1: Get you of the hospital. 2: Rescue the man himself." She got on the horse..."Remember, Andrew Wong?"
Andrew...the man who found me a place to sleep at the camp? The one who leads soldiers?
"He's the leader of our military special team, Strike Force. A force of 32 strong, lead by an entity of death: The 'GRIM REAPER'. 9 months ago, an American Intelligence Group, nicknamed, 'Cipher', attacked us. 1,600 were dead... leaving only 400 left. The GRIM REAPER, was considered dead. Until today that is, when 'Cipher' found what they thought to be it's protégé, or should I say reincarnation...you."
Me...the Grim Reaper? I was taught to be a Demon of Death?
"It's not just them...The rest of the world has eyes on the GRIM REAPER. Officially, all they know...is that it's just a young kid. They don't know it's true identity. They want to know...we're gonna get the Commander, and rebuild our group once more. Our only chance... of being considered good again." She reached out towards me..."Don't you want to avenge your family?"
My mom...my dad...they're dead because of them! Of course I'm angry! I want them back! "Yes."
"Alright..." She grabbed me, and put me back on the horse... "First, we need to save him." Wait what?!
"He's in Afghanistan."
"Afghanistan?!"
V Has Come To
"Hi-yah!" NIEGH! "What...Can't keep up with our activities in a coma?"
"Gh..."
"Well, Afghan military is still fighting the Taliban, with some ten thousand U.S. troops left there to train them. Commander was helping assisting the local militia fighters. That was, before they captured him...total enemy strength still estimates around sixty thousand. The squad holding him, set off near the border of Pakistan just yesterday. 3 more days, then they'll reach a garrison base, interrogated, then off to a prison...or executed...either Taliban or ISIS...I'd say, he has two weeks tops." He stopped before a harbor...I can see a ship...adorned with a Japanese flag..."Well, there's our ride. The JS Izumo. 'Helicopter destroyer' as they call it. It's about 7 days to the Eastern Front, then another 3 over the land by helicopter. So, we won't have much time. Better not take too long, getting used to your new life...hang on, YAH!"
We rode closer to it... Afghanistan...what's over there that requires the Commander to be there himself?
"Oh by the way, happy belated birthday." Mary reminded
"Huh?"
"Your birthday's September 1st right? Well, it's already December, and nearing Christmas. Don't worry...We'll have a celebration for you when we get home..."
Home...what is home? Our old ones were destroyed...I guess they mean a new one...
METAL GEAR SOLID: THE CHRONIC PAIN
Based on:
METAL GEAR SOLID V
THE PHANTOM PAIN
-TACTICAL ESPIONAGE OPERATIONS-
Original by Hideo Kojima