The recruit was infected. Quiet had seen it in his throat when she'd focused her vision; his larynx was at a feverish temperature. How had he become host to the vocal cord parasite? Was he a spy who had let himself be captured? Was his intent to kill the Boss because she had failed?

She had panicked, materializing through her cell to slip past the guards. The infected recruit was a threat to Mother Base and to her. She wouldn't be able to stay here if they found out about her curse. She had hunted him without thinking.

She plunged the knife into the man's mouth and angled the sharp edge toward his tongue, trying to reach the back of it so she could cut it out. He must not be allowed to speak. She would not let him harm the Boss or his home.

Blood flowed from the man's mouth and he sobbed in terror. She had only pierced some of his tongue, so she pressed more of her weight onto the knife. His front teeth broke under the pressure of the blade with a crunching sound. How dare he spread the infection?

"Stop this!" someone called. "Now!"

She spun around as she felt the hand pulling on her shoulder, intending to swing the blade close to the assailant's throat and kick him away, but the man pushed the knife from her grasp and blocked her kick in the time it took for her to realize it was the Boss. She didn't want to fight him; she only wanted to neutralize the threat. She wanted to shout at him to stay away. She struggled under his knee on her spine, cringing at the pain in her twisted arm, crying out in frustration.

"What the fuck, you freak!" yelled the infected recruit, sitting up. She realized now that he probably hadn't been sent here to kill, but she didn't care. The parasites would mate, infect other hosts, and continue the reign of death endlessly from the corpses. Quiet thrashed desperately. She had to stop it.

"Gimme a hand!" the Boss called, and the injured soldiers dove onto her.

"Can't CQC the Boss, bitch," one of them snarled breathlessly, digging his nails into her leg. She managed to kick off another soldier with a thud.

"Hold her still!" ordered Ocelot, and her world went dark.

She woke up in her cell. The usual number of guards had more than doubled, and they looked more experienced than the last group. One of them said something into a walkie-talkie. Another one sneered at her, baring his teeth. She turned the radio on and ignored them; she had to think about what to do.

She had attacked the infected man impulsively, but there could be other infected recruits whom she hadn't seen. She didn't know what to tell her handlers. They didn't know about the vocal cord parasite. If they found out-when they found out-they would exile or kill her. It was only a matter of time, if her guess regarding Skull Face's plan for the world was correct.

Five minutes later she heard a truck drive near and stop. She turned off the radio. Ocelot came into her cell and he signaled the guards to leave. She looked at him through the bars.

"Quiet, why did you attack that man?"

She didn't know what to tell him.

"What did he do to you?"

How could she tell him the truth without giving away the fact that she was carrying a similar-or perhaps even the same-parasite? That she had chosen to reject her mission to kill Big Boss and his Diamond Dogs? He probably wouldn't believe her.

She pointed to her throat. There is something in the man's throat that should not be there.

"He tried to strangle you?"

She shook her head. She opened her mouth and waved her hand to imitate speaking. I don't know what language has activated his parasites, but I know they spread through saliva. Talking, coughing, and sneezing will infect others around him.

"He said something you didn't like," Ocelot deadpanned.

Quiet shook her head and pointed at her mouth, slightly open.

"There's something wrong with his mouth," guessed Ocelot, "Or in his mouth."

She nodded; it was close enough.

"The medical staff did say it looked like he was coming down with a cold," he continued, "But it's something else, or you wouldn't have attacked him."

Quiet gave her silent assent.

"I'll keep an eye on him."

He left. Quiet gripped the cell bars, fearful and guilty, fiercely hoping they would figure it out, yet hoping they would not suspect her once they did. She bowed her head against the bars.

Please, keep him away from the Boss.