Author's note: I'm trying a new approach of shorter but more frequent updates, so bear with me on this. I hope you like it.
Chapter 2
Right now, what Snake wanted more than anything in the world was a cigar. He was finally well enough to sit, but not to speak, so he did his best to pantomime his desire for a cigar to the nurses. They deliberately ignored him, taunted him with the scent of cheap cigarettes still on them from recent smoke breaks. It was a small comfort in a cruel world that his nose for fine tobacco was still intact. Nine years of hibernation had done a number on his senses; The lights were too bright, the sounds were too loud, the hospital food actually tasted good.
If he behaved himself the nurses would bring him newspapers to read. But what he really wanted was a history book on the last nine years. From what he could piece together from headlines, the focus had shifted from Central America to the Middle East. Iran and Iraq were at war, the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan, and beyond a shadow of a doubt the United States was involved behind the scenes. The proxy war between East and West, the bloody golden goose that fed his Militaires Sans Frontières, he had left it unattended for nine years only to return and find it fatter and still laying. He wasn't surprised. If his coma had lasted twenty years he still wouldn't be surprised; different scenery, same old shit. How long can nuclear deterrence keep the inevitable at bay? World war two was fought with guns, world war three will be fought with nukes, and world war four will be fought with sticks. Peace was dead, blown to bits by people like him.
He closed the newspaper and took a deep breath.
"You alright Ahab?"
Snake turned to face the "patient" on his left. He willed his vocal chords to speak. "Fine." His voice was hoarse and soft, he was a stranger to his own ears.
The heavily bandaged patient showed off a wide smile, the only part of him besides his right eye that wasn't covered in bandages. "I haven't heard that voice in ages, welcome back Bos-"
"Ishmael," said Snake, reminding Alligator of their covers. But he was moved by his bodyguard's enthusiasm, even after all these years, even after the demise of MSF, the man was still loyal to his Big Boss.
"Sorry, er, welcome back, Ahab," the man scratched his head, no doubt it was itchy after the plastic surgery.
Snake didn't see a need for a body double, but the operation had been carried out while he was comatose. He wondered if eventually they would fit Alligator with a horn as well. He reached up and touched the black spike sticking out of his forehead above his right eyebrow. It was too dangerous to remove the spike, it was firmly lodged in his skull, but medical technology would one day advance to the point where the procedure would be possible the doctor had assured him. He hadn't noticed any adverse effects on his motor skills yet, though he wondered if his vivid nightmares were related to the horn.
He admired his bandaged face in the bedside mirror; he looked like a demon. How fitting.
The nurse had barely pushed her trolley into their room when Alligator asked, "Hey, miss? Can you open the window? It's too hot in here."
"Still not used to Cyprus huh?" teased the nurse as she slid open the window.
"Guess not," answered Alligator cheerfully. "Hey I was wondering-"
But what Alligator was wondering would have to wait, his words were cut short by a sound he and Snake knew all too well. Gunfire - automatic - submachine gun - outside but very close. Then came the screams from below, then more gunfire.
"Run, run!" Alligator shouted at the nurse. She ran on two unsteady legs.
"Shit, they've found us." Alligator jumped out of bed and flipped the mattress, revealing a small cache of weapons. "Code red, code red, will attempt to rendezvous at point alpha," whispered Alligator into a small handset, while loading a SMG and handgun.
"They?" asked Snake. But he already knew the answer. It was the same name that haunted him at night, the same name that pounded a steady drum beat of war in his head right now. He barely heard Alligator over the chaos.
"XOF."
