Greetings cyborgs! And welcome back to METAL GEAR Clone wars: Revengance!
Now I understand that it has been a while since this last got an update and while I'm working on my Transformers Story I figured I'd update this one while I was on a Sci-fi high. Now as you know from the last chapter we got introduced to the Desperado PMC and Jetstream Sam. Now Jack/Raiden will be sure to pay them back!
So with that outta the way, Enjoy!
FILE: R-08 More questions than answers
Jack's vision was blurry when his eyes opened he didn't know how long he'd been out but from the sheer thrashing he got from the cyborg with the red blade it must've been a while. He closed his eyes again and lightly shook his head to get his sight readjusted, when his vison returned he found himself in an infirmary…again. He looked around the room and to his left his eyes set on Ryo at his bedside sleeping. He tried to sit up but when he did he groaned in pain which was enough to wake the blue skinned senator up and when she saw Jack awake she was now fully awake.
"Raiden!" She cried as she then hugged the damaged Cyborg.
"Argh, Ryo! It's good to see you too but…I'm still banged up". He groaned.
"Oh my goodness sorry, sorry". She apologised. "I thought you'd…"
"It'll take more than a cyborg with a red blade to kick me to the curb and expect me to stay down". He replied as he tried to cheer her up.
"But…there was so much blood". She trailed off.
"Ryo". Jack said softly as he held her hand in his while he rubbed it with his thumb. "My cybernetics will keep me alive even when I lose a lot of blood. And besides, I wouldn't do this to upset you on purpose". Ryo looked in his eyes and smiled softly.
"I know you wouldn't". She replied but there was something else bugging her. "Raiden…back on the train…did you, do what I think you did?" She asked him. Jack contemplated the moment on the train…even he struggled to believe he really did it.
"Maybe, I'm not so certain myself". He said honestly as he looked down, with a mix of confusion and fear, but mainly the former. "I just don't know why I was able to do it…are one of my parents Jedi or something?" He muttered to himself before looking back at the blue skinned girl. "Until I know what happened, can we keep this a secret between us? Please?" He asked her and she nodded in confirmation. They both heard the door open and in walked in Ross, along with Anakin, Mace Windu and Ahsoka.
"Hey kiddo, these three would like a word with you". Ross said simply as Windu stepped forward.
"Well, I'm all ears". The cyborg stated.
"I want to know what happened on the train. Before you passed out". Windu asked.
"Well, Sundowner left me and the other cyborg to fight it out giving senator Chuchi time to get to safety. Then next thing I know the bastard sliced my arm off and left me to bleed". Raiden explained to him as Windu held his chin in thought.
"These cyborgs have been popping up where we least expect it, and in greater numbers. We managed to trace their cybernetics to its creator Caton Lohgun which are very similar to yours Raiden". He said which made the said boy look at him strangely.
"What are you getting at? If you got something to say just say it" Jack asked with a glare. And the bald Jedi answered.
"How did you acquire the cybernetics? That's what we want to know".
"Caton is my father. The Separatists took him from me…and I'm fighting to get him back and bring him home". Jack answered which surprised Anakin and his Padawan along with Chuchi.
"Are you certain that they took him?" Windu asked which made Jack look at him, gesturing him to go on. "There's a possibility that he may have went will-," "Don't finish that fucking sentence". Jack interrupted with a snarl.
"Look Windu". Ross spoke up getting his attention. "I've known Caton my whole life when we were making the PMC we are today. Caton wouldn't join an alliance which would make his work turned into weapons which could hurt innocent people. And adding onto that the last thing you want to do is talk ill of the boy's father right in front of him". The War Hound founder warned.
"I am very much aware of that Commander Grek. However with cyborgs now within the ranks of the Separatists we need all the information we can get". Windu argued.
"By interrogating my God-son? I assure you I will get you the information you need but right now Raiden needs to rest. He's still getting blood put into his system". Ross stated as he glared at the Jedi master. "So do us a favour and leave him to recover". He then turned to Ryo and Ahsoka. "Raiden has told you two and him are good friends. Feel free to stay a bit before you leave".
"Commander with all due respect if Raiden has anything regarding his father we need to know". Windu argued.
"You're in no position to make Demands Jedi". The familiar mechanical voice came from the other side of Jack's bed and Bladewolf had made himself known.
"Oh, sorry Wolf I didn't know you were there". Jack apologised.
"It is alright Raiden". The mechanical canine replied. "As in regards to demands, we are not obligated to tell you anything. This is between us and them. Not you".
"Doesn't mean much coming from a Fenrir". Windu said not being phased at all. "We've encountered your kind on various battlefields, you just seem to be a beast in chains. Regardless if you with em or not".
"Unlike them, I was given a choice. They are much like you, both don't understand the concept of freedom due to your Jedi traditions. I do not appreciate speaking to Raiden like you did, if you are just here to interrogate him you might as well leave right now".
"Is that a threat?" Windu asked as he glared at Wolf.
"It's a guarantee Mace". Ross said as the Jedi looked at him. "Wolf has been set with parameters by Raiden's father himself. They're to protect Raiden and keep him safe if something were to happen to him. I suggest you think very carefully now". Ross pointed out.
Silence fell upon the room as the only sound was Jack's life support beeping. Mace sighed and began to leave the room with Anakin. However the Jedi knight looked at his Padawan before speaking.
"I'll let you know when we're leaving snips". He said as he then left leaving Ahsoka, Ryo, Ross and Wolf left in the room.
"Raiden". Ryo said getting his attention. "I understand we wanted to keep it between us but I feel that we should let Ahsoka and Ross know". She said as the Togruta Padawan looked between the two in confusion.
"Let us know about what?" She asked them as Jack looked at the door before looking at the two.
"I think…I think I'm able to use the force". He muttered quiet enough for only those in the room present could hear him.
Ross was running his hand through his hair trying to process the information he had been told, Ahsoka however was shocked beyond all belief.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Ahsoka asked him.
"It only happened when I was on the train when Sundowner grabbed Ryo. I didn't even know I could do it". Jack answered.
"Raiden you do realise that with you being force sensitive, the Jedi order and the sith will come after you right?" Skywalker's Padawan stated.
"I know, but I don't plan on being buddy, buddy with either of em". Jack stated firmly.
"Raiden if you let us help you with your force sensitivity-," "I've made I my mind Ahsoka" Jack interrupted. "I understand you want to help…but, I'm dangerous in more ways than one. Trust me, Ross can confirm that".
"We appreciate your hospitality Ahsoka, however you may have jumped the gun a little, give him some time to consider the offer. We'll let you know ok?" Ross offered the young Jedi as she looked down before looking back to him and nodding in understanding.
"Ok, just at least consider it ok Raiden?" Ahsoka said to him.
"Sure, also can you keep this between us?" He asked and she smiled at him.
"Lips are sealed". She answered.
"Thanks, and by the way…" He trailed off as he looked back at the door and back at the girls. "My real name… is Jack" He smiled, and the girls smiled back in return. They then left the Med-bay leaving only the PMC personnel present. When Jack looked at Ross he had a smug smile on his face.
"What's with that face?" He asked.
"Kiddo, they're into you". Ross said with his smile never leaving his face.
"Ok Ryo I can understand but Ahsoka? I dunno Jedi aren't too big on relationships or emotion for that matter". Jack pointed out.
"Trust me, she may not seem like it at first but I can assure you she is. Come to think of it before Ryo got here I saw noticed her at you bedside when you were still out. She even held your hand as well". Ross said with confidence. "Also…you're very lucky to have two girls who are after you. But I don't envy the problems you might run into with just one". Ross said with his smile getting a bit bigger.
Jack just flipped off his God Father with his only remaining hand in response.
Three weeks later…
Three more weeks, that's how long it took for Jack to recover and go through several upgrades to his cybernetics to ensure that he had a much better chance in a fight, to ensure what happened back on the train that day didn't happen as easily again. With his upgrades now installed, he was eager to get back into the field but this time he was more determined than ever to get payback.
Jack was on the Warrior's Storm heading towards Ryloth, now even though the CIS has been pulled out and the republic had taken it back ages ago, Intel suggests that the Cyborg faction allied with the Separatists is there under the Republic's nose in attempting to take it back. He was going over the plan with Ross until he got a call from Doktor.
"Can you hear me Raiden?"
"Doktor". The cyborg replied giving his answer.
"Remember the two procedures to maintain your new body: One, seizing Nano-repair units from cyborgs. And Two-," "Absorbing said cyborgs electrolytes, and energy from Battle Droids. I got it". Raiden finished for him.
"Yes, enemy cyborgs should provide plenty of MCFC electrolytes once you slice them open and…extract their fluids". Doktor said.
"Their terrorists. I was planning on doing that anyway". Jack replied simply
"Battle Droids will give you the energy you need as well. However a simple B1 won't give you as much as say, a B2 would". Doktor added.
"Well I mean they're not as bright compared to Gekkos but can't deny the fact that they're cheap to manufacture". Jack replied.
"Ok Jack let's go over the briefing. Objectives are of course touch down on Ryloth, naturalize all the terrorists and we'll send in a clean-up crew to get rid of the mess you'll eventually make". Ross explained.
"What? Don't have faith in me Ross?" Jack said sarcastically making Ross chuckle.
"Oh I have faith. Faith in knowing that I was right about you destroying stuff on a massive scale". Ross shot back making Jack's eyes roll.
"Cham Syndulla's scouts have given us the data needed to know where their being held up. They're planning on taking Ryloth and handing it over to the CIS with a fancy bow on it without the Republic knowing until it's too late". Ross pointed out. "Kraton Giskis, a Zygerrian leading the occupational forces there for the Separatists"
"Why would a Zygerrian be here on Ryloth? I get the race of all for slaves and Ryloth is the Twi'lek home world, what's the deal?"
"Well, that's something we're not sure about, but if he were to take the planet he'd have the entire population under his thumb…and his main arms supplier? None other than Desperado Enforcement LLC".
"Now that rings a bell". Jack said.
"But our more immediate problem…is Jetstream Sam, I believe you two have met". Ross added on as the info was shared towards Raiden as well.
"The only problem I see is that nickname". Jack stated. "I got my enhancements this time. He won't be an issue".
"He may not be on planet, but just be wary. You didn't look so good the last time you fought him son". Ross pointed in a worried tone.
"Don't worry Ross…I won't let it happen again. I need to be alive to get my Dad back now don't I?" Jack assured which gave Ross a small smile on his face.
"That you do".
"We're heading planet side now". Jack announced as the ship made its decent to the planet with its cloaking field up remaining undetected by the Republic Warships, not wanting to draw any attention. A few moments later the ship had landed far from any Twi'lek village and was out of sight, both Wolf and Raiden had stepped off ready for the mission. Raiden's cybernetics were black and more advanced than his previous augments, he also supported a visor which split in half and retracted to the sides of his head.
This time…Raiden was ready.
The sun had started to set on Ryloth and Raiden had no problem cutting through the Cyborgs that Desperado had sent for extra security. Raiden had made his way to a rooftop and he saw several huge tanks of fuel being constructed for a refinery, some were even fully built. Jack then activated a small Hardlight feature built into is augmentations and zoomed in on the fuel tanks and began surveying the area for his next move. He then had found his target higher up on one of the fully finished tanks.
"Giskis". Jack muttered. He noticed he was talking to a woman in a thick red and black jacket with pink hair, leaning on the railing. The Zygerrian then pulled a blaster and pointed at the woman…who wasn't fazed at all. "That woman…" Giskis then stormed off and made his way down. The woman remained and turned and looked in his direction. "Huh?" Jack wondered. A second later she blew him a kiss which was enough to make him react and draw his blade in a flash.
"Raiden, what's happening? Your heart rate spiked…" Doktor's come over his CODEC but Jack pushed the screen with Doktor's face on it and zoomed back in on the tank. However the woman was long gone.
"Yea, I just dodged a bullet". Jack muttered as he stood up. "All right. I'm heading to the refinery". Jack then stepped off the rooftop and used his hand to dig in the side of the building to slow his decent. As he reached the ground he kept walking until he was close to the refinery perimeter, he then slashed the fence blocking his path until it was nothing but bits then made his way inside.
Jack had dealt with many Desperado security when he was inside, right now he had made his way to the top of the tank that he was surveying not too long ago and standing before him was none other than the woman from before. She was leaning against the railing looking off in the distance.
"I was wondering when you'd come…Jack the Ripper". She stated.
"I'd rather not go by that name". Jack replied. "Giskis, where is he?"
"I can show you a better time than that crusty old fur ball". She said.
"Thanks, not interested. You in charge here?" Raiden refused following up with a question.
"I am "Mistral"-The cold wind of Ryloth". The woman now named Mistral answered, which Jack had a raised brow.
"You don't look Twi'lek. Halfling, am I wrong?" Raiden asked.
"On my mother's side". She answered again. "And you…your reputation precedes you. A natural-born killer for someone so young".
"I have my reason for doing so". Jack pointed out simply.
"Ah, of course. Your father". She stated. "I must say his work is simply, beneficial. Cut from the same cloth you and I".
"Just because you have my Dad doesn't mean you know me". Jack glared.
"I lost my whole family, everything…" She stated as Jack looked down before back at Mistral. "But I butchered those fuckers. My family's killers. That's when I realised…I am a Killer, too. And a good one at that". She stated as she took a few steps forward. "I slaughter dozens on different planets, different systems…" Jack then pointed his blade at Mistral stopping her.
"Proud of that, are you?" Jack snarled.
"What happened, happened". She said nonchalantly as she reached for the clip on her jacket. "To be honest, I found it quite dull". She then pulled it letting her jacket drop to the ground revealing her augmentations. "My enemies fell like domino, one after another. Not once did I feel threatened. I was adrift…without challenge…without purpose…At times I envied my prey". She said as the two circled each other and several small Gekkos had come out of hiding. "At least they had a cause to die for. And then…I met him".
A Gekko had jumped at Jack who had sliced it sending it to Mistral's feet.
"Who?" He asked her.
"And I knew what I had been missing". She continued ignoring Jack's question as she kneeled at the Gekko. "His ideals gave my life meaning. Ideals Jack, What are yours?" She asked him looking him in the eyes.
"I…protect the weak. While fighting to free my father". He answered. Mistral then stood up and grabbed two arms from the damaged Gekko.
"Still…" She said before ripping both arms off the small robot as it flailed around. "So naïve".
"And if I must kill to protect them, so they don't have to…so be it". He shot back as Mistral then stomped her mechanical foot into the Gekko splitting it in half.
"It seems we have less in common than we thought". She stated.
"I'll take that as a compliment". Jack scoffed.
"If you would kill for your ideals, then surely then you are ready to die for them!" She said as she connected the Gekkos arms together and they straightened up. The rest of the Gekkos then raced towards to Mistral as they then too their arms off and began to plug into her augmentations giving her too many arms for one person to have. The arms she had connected made a staff which the hands at each end held a HF knife.
Jack then readied himself as he Visor snapped into place in front of his eyes.
[Now Playing-Stanger I remain, Mistral Boss battle-Metal Gear Rising Revengance OST]
Raiden and Mistral leapt at each other, their blades clashed time and time again creating sparks all over the place. Mistral's staff then began to bend as it then doubled as a whip lashing out at the blue haired cyborg, however Jack wasn't so reckless and went on the defensive and blocked each strike and countered with several strikes of his own. When he was done the two were locked in a blade clash, but Mistral then swung her staff up sending Raiden back, the young man landed on his feet a moment later. But Mistral's whip wrapped around his leg flinging him up in the air.
Jack's perception of time slowed to a crawl as he activated Zendatsu and cut the weak-point on Mistral's weapon sending him flying. However he used the momentum and swung around a pole kicking the Desperado cyborg of the tank. Jack landed in a crouch and raced after her.
Mistral had hit one of the many pipelines as Jack landed on top of the one she crashed into.
"I'm starting to enjoy this!" She said to the blue haired boy. She then leapt to higher ground as several more Gekkos came to her aid. "Ready to slice off some more?" However she used the ball part of the said Gekkos as projectiles but Raiden swiftly dodged them. She then got to Raiden's level and as he swung at her she pole vaulted over him and then dashed back for a strike, however Raiden blocked it, along with each strike she threw at him. Mistral then leapt into the air and split her whip/staff in half as each end grabbed the pipe Jack was standing on and slingshot herself at him. However Jack moved out of the way and she ended up smashing through the pipe instead.
Raiden then followed her down as the debris from their last encounter had begun damaging the refinery around them and several fires was raging around them. When Raiden had caught up to her she had several cuts all over her which bled meaning she was almost at her limit.
"This ends now!" She said to him as she cracked her whip on the concrete she stood on. Both combatants lashed out at each other again trading blow after blow as sparks once again began to fly. Raiden then cut off several mechanical arms that she had. When the two clashed blades once more Raiden took a few steps forwards and quickly slashed her across the gut sending her back as he then ran away.
"Don't fuck with me, Boy!" She barked as Raiden ran up a tank, Mistral went to pierce Raiden but he kicked off the tank making the staff puncture the tank. He then landed on the staff itself and sliced the tank open making its liquid contents spill all over Mistral. Freezing her on the spot.
Raiden activated Zendatsu again and began slashing Mistral all over before slamming his sword down making her parts shatter into pieces.
Leaving Raiden, the victor.
[End Track]
Jack's CODEC then went off as he then answered it and Giskis's voice came through.
"Mistral! Report! Your Vitals are dropping!"
"I, Lost…So this is how they felt…" Mistral's dying voice was coming through as well.
"What?"
"…Dying…for a cause…" She said as the life was snow beginning to fade from her voice.
"What? No…hold on!" Giskis assured.
"I am sorry. He was…too much…" She apologised.
"I don't need an apology, I need you alive!" Giskis replied.
"But I know…You will never fall…" Mistral stated.
"What…what is this talk about?" Giskis replied once more. What Raiden heard next from her he was unable to understand before she took her last breath…and finally perished.
"Mistral…you never…" Giskis said shocked from what he heard. Jack then tapped into the communications and spoke up.
"She's not talking to you, idiot!"
"You! You killed her! Murder!" Giskis shouted.
"That's rich coming from you!" Jack scoffed with a small laugh. "It's over Giskis, surrender!" But all that Raiden heard from the other end of the line was the Zygerrian laughing and saying something he didn't understand. "Translation?"
"Why would I surrender? We are exactly where I want". He answered, Raiden looked ahead and the gears finally turned in his head.
"Shit". He said to himself as he rushed to the railing and looked at one of the huge fuel tanks.
"Zygerrian were the most powerful empire before the Republic! Before the Clone War! To sell slaves with Zygerrian money, to make Zygerrian money!" Giskis stated. "But with salvation in sight, we shall rise AGAIN!" A second later the tank he was standing on exploded into a huge fireball, with the shockwave sending Raiden back into a wall cracking it due to his cybernetic body and slumping on the ground.
"Damn…crazy son of a bitch". Raiden groaned.
"Raiden?! Raiden, what happened?!" Ross called from Jack's CODEC.
"Crazy bastard blew himself up..." Jack answered.
"I see…time to get you out of there. Wolf's on his way with the Warrior's Storm now. Secure an LZ". Ross ordered.
"Rodger that". Raiden replied as Ross hung up. However Jack couldn't help but wonder what Giskis meant by salvation. He's hoping Wolf will have something to shed some light on that when they reach the rendezvous point. But there's one thing he's certain of…
He's only just getting started with Desperado.
There you have it folks!
Mistral is defeated! Now it won't be the next chapter but we all know the next member of Desperado that Raiden will be squaring off against. Now Next chapter will be another Star wars Episode to flow back into the cannon and when that happens the odds will be really stacked up against the Rupblic and Jack with Desperado involved in the episode. So I do hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and be sure to let me know your thoughts and opinions in the review section. A bit of feedback can go a long way.
So until then, I'll see ya next time!
Cronus Prime Out!