"Welcome back! this is the last chapter before we head back out into the field! Please enjoy!

Chapter 168: The Favor

It was a new day on the Mother Base of Outer Heaven, walking down the hallway of the main Command Platform and to Miller's office. Deep down he knew what Miller was going to request and despite his hesitation he was going to give Miller the benefit of the doubt. Few more minutes had past and Wolf finally made it to the door leading into Miller's office.

Wasting no time Wolf took a step forward to the door and it slid open and right there behind his desk at the end of his room was Miller looking up some reports and thats when Miller looked up to Wolf coming in.

"Wolf" Miller placed the reports back on the desk and slowly got up. "Thanks for coming to see me, I wouldn't ask you if I was desperate".

"I know what you want to ask me Miller" Wolf stated as he came to a stop in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back. "You know how I feel about going back out there, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt".

"At least your willing to listen" Miller spoke calmly as he made his way around the desk to its front of it and crossed his arms as he leaned back against the desk. "Its about the AI Pod back at the Afghanistan Central Base Camp, the one the Boss snatched Huey from".

"As we all know the Mammal Pod was a creation by Strangelove for Peace Walker, I have a feeling that Mammal Pod has been in Huey's research ever since he began to work for Skull Face"

"Go on" Wolf nodded.

"I believe we may have information locked away in that pod, if Huey has been working on that thing I believe he may have placed something in there that may solve the mystery to who betrayed us back during the Ground Zeroes incident" Miller revealed and then looked down to his folded arms.

"I wanted the Boss to take this mission...but with Big Boss missing I cant rely on anyone else to do this mission" He then looked up to Wolf again. "No one except you Wolf, you are pretty much Big Boss in skill and intelligence and I believe your the only one besides Big Boss who can handle this mission".

Wolf looked down to the floor thinking it over and thats when Miller leaned off his desk and came to arms length of Wolf. "I know how you feel about being out in the field Wolf, but we need this...I am fed up of having the past holding us back. Holding me back...".

Wolf slowly looked up to Miller as he continued. "Being a drill instructor for our men and women has created greater soldiers from it and I am forever in your debt for it Wolf, I am more then happy for you to continue your duty as an instructor."

It was then Miller placed his hand on Wolf's shoulder. "But please, will you go out on the field one more time to help bury the past once and for all. Our fallen need to be put to rest once and for all, I want to move on Wolf but that Mammal Pod is stopping me from doing it.".

"Will you help me end this pain once and for all?" Miller asked calmly and Wolf just looked at him and he saw the eyes of a tired man, a man who wanted to move on and he was almost begging for closure. Wolf wondered was it really that terrible to want to find the answers once and for all?, he had the right to want closure.

Looking down to the ground once more Wolf took a slow deep breath he battled with his own mind trying to push through the barriers he put up, it was a hard request but deep down Wolf knew he was stronger then this. Stronger then he ever believed.

He looked up to Miller who was waiting for an answer and soon Wolf gave a single nod. "Ok Miller, if you want me to get the Mammal Pod then I will.".

For the first time in a long time Miller then smiled taking his hand off Wolf's shoulder and offered his hand to him and Wolf accepted it.

"Thank you Wolf, this means alot to me. I mean it...thank you" Miller shook his hand and Wolf gave a small smile. "Lets end this once and for all".

"I agree" Miller was now happy and the two let go of each others hands. "I promise this will be the last time I ask you to go on the field".

"I know Miller but..." Wolf paused for a moment as he looked to the window with the sun shining through it. "What if the Mammal Pod has nothing..." He then looked back to Miller. "What if your suspicions about Huey are wrong?".

"If it turns out Huey really had nothing to do with what happened.." Miller trailed off as he turned back to his desk. "If he was just another victim...". Soon he came back around his desk and sat back in his chair. "Then I will reconsider his place here, I will go up to him and apologize for everything I did. But...I dont think that will be the case".

"At least your willing to say you were wrong about him and apologize" Wolf was happy with the answer. "So when do you want me to head out?".

"As soon as you can Wolf, the sooner the better" Miller asked picked up the report he was reading from earlier as he looked up to Outer Heaven's best soldier. "How soon are you prepared to leave?".

Wolf took his hands from his back and placed them on his sides. "Immediately, but first there is something I must do".

-Ocelot's Office-

Down on the lower level from Miller's office standing in the center of a large room was Quiet, now back in her original gear with her black bra, thongs, black arm sleeve, green harness, leggings and boots she was looking over a file handed to her by Ocelot who was looking out his nearby window to the sun rising over the ocean.

She quickly flicked through the file and saw this mission was in Africa near Nova Braga Airport, she lost count how many times she had been there but she was happy to go out and distract her mind from the frustrating fact she had gone back to the woman she hated being.

"So the mission is to eliminate a commander along with his armed escorts plus his chopper?" She asked in Navajo as she flicked another page seeing a picture of the target.

"You sure you dont want me to Faulton him?" She asked looking up to Ocelot and soon he looked back to her. "Not this time Quiet, this guy is a monster he's killed women and children in his line of work and that is something we dont want here".

"Good point" She then looked down at the file as she closed it and she saw the title of the file. "Operation Proxy War Without End" She couldnt help but chuckle. "You guys come up with crazy names for your missions".

Ocelot himself couldnt help but chuckle at this as he turned around to fully face her. "Miller comes up with the names, always came up with the crazy names".

Taking a look up to Ocelot she smiled at him. "Miller has had some good names every now and then, what would you have called it?".

"Maybe up your arsenal?" Ocelot gave a name and Quiet just gave a chuckle as she looked back down at the closed file. "Despite the dangers.." She then looked back to Ocelot and offered the file back. "...I'll do the job, I'll head out right now".

Smiling at her determination Ocelot moved forward to her and then took the file from her and turned to his desk. "Well dont have to worry about this mission now" He joked as he tossed it on the desk before he turned and leaned on it while looking back at the sniper.

"How you feeling anyway kid?"

"Honestly?" Quiet thought for a moment and looked down at herself and just sighed. "Despite the fact I am now safe...I hate looking like this". She looked back up to him. "I feel exposed".

Ocelot nodded looking her up and down understanding her situation. "I can understand".

"I just feel..." She took a deep breath looking to her side trying to think of the words before looking back to Ocelot. "I feel like a slut in this, I was happier as The Silent Butterfly being able to wear clothes, eat and drink but now it just felt like a dream I just woke up from".

"We will fix it again Quiet, we just need to find a way to modify the original strain without it killing you. But the one thing you can take from this is that you are still here, even the men and women here are happy you have avoided the worst." Ocelot revealed. "They are happy you are ok".

"And I appreciate that Ocelot I really do, but this..." She looked down at herself once more before looking back to him. "It's not me...not anymore".

Ocelot nodded as he crossed his arms "I know, you've become a better person since joining us. I think we have Wolf to thank for that but this is why I am offering you the jobs Big Boss would originally do, something to keep your mind off the problem before you".

"Speaking of which..." She then crossed her own arms. "Has there been any word from the Boss, I hate to say it but I'm getting worried about him".

"Its strange I know, the Boss normally doesnt go this long without trying to make some sort of contact but we must remain strong and hope he contacts us" Ocelot stated.

"Dont judge me Ocelot but...what if..what if he was killed? what would happen?" Quiet was hesitant asking such a question but the man in front of her was understanding.

"If somehow Big Boss was killed, then all we worked for will just sink into the ocean. The men and women here only follow the Boss and if word got out that he was killed then they would cut and run and everything will be no more".

"Cut off the head of the snake and the body dies?" Quiet stated and Ocelot nodded. "Exactly, but dont count on the Boss being dead. I've known that man for a long time and I stake my life on it that he is alive somewhere, maybe captured but alive. We just have to wait and hope he will contact us somehow".

"I understand, will you keep informed on any changes?" Quiet asked calmly wanting nothing more then for Big Boss to return and Ocelot nodded. "Of course, you and Wolf will know before anyone else".

Quiet slowly nodded back. "Thank you Ocelot" She then looked to the window next to Ocelot's desk and the older man could see she was thinking of something and soon his suspicions were correct as she looked back at him. "Ocelot is it ok if I can make another request?"

"Whats on your mind?" He responded full of curiosity and he watched her looking down at her hands as she rubbed them together. "Is it ok if I can stay in Africa after the mission is done" She then looked back up to him. "I just want some privacy thats all, I want to just be out there working for a while".

"You mean Side Ops wise? How long do you want to stay out there?" Ocelot was now very curious.

All she could do was shrug her shoulders. "I dont know..maybe a week or two...possibly three?".

Ocelot's eyes widened really surprised. "Up to three weeks?, thats a lot of privacy why do you want to be away for that long?".

"I guess I just need...to find and accept that this is me again. I need to remind myself of the person I am, it sounds silly I know but I think this will really do me some good plus I can take on all the side ops missions there" She explained and Ocelot looked down at his folded arms for a few seconds before looking back up to her.

"What about Cub? Sure Wolf will understand but that little girl? She loves seeing you, dont you think this will upset her? Even with everything going on right now?" Ocelot added and Quiet slowly nodded. "I spoke to Wolf about it and he's happy with it but theres something else, I want to offer her something but I would like for her to be brought here so I can speak to her before I go".

Ocelot could see she planned this all through, what ever idea she had in her head sure was gonna be crazy to hear but he decided to take a gamble. "Ok, I'll call her here".

"And I'll go and get Wolf before he heads out" Quiet turned and rushed out of the office while Ocelot made a call to have Cub brought up to his office, his mind was wondering with what the hell Quiet was planning but she was a great kid with a heart of gold and he trusted her with his life. He began to input numbers and then waited for the call to be answered.

-Twenty Minutes Later-

Cub was walking down the hallway of the Command Platform and towards Ocelot's office, she was holding the hand of a Diamond Dogs soldier as she was escorted down the hall. The little girl was stressed for the last few hours as she was being bullied by the child soldiers calling her the devil and blaming her for killing Ralph, it caused a huge toll on her strength and she was exhausted from the harassment she was going through. Even with DD being there to comfort her there was nothing that could help her feel better, all she did was stay in her room and sleep the hours away but now she was called to Ocelot for some unknown reason.

Soon she was finally brought to the door to Ocelot's office and as soon as the door slid open she suddenly spotted Wolf sitting on a chair by Ocelot's desk and he turned to her slowly getting up, seeing Wolf was a welcoming sight for her as he always made the little girl smile.

"Hey kiddo" Wolf smiled as he finally stood up and thats when Cub let go of the hand of the Diamond Dog soldier and she rushed to him and thats when he knelt down allowing Cub to rush into his arms and embraced him tightly as the Diamond Dog soldier left, Wolf returned the same care as Ocelot slowly got out of his own chair smiling at the two as he walked around the desk.

"Heard the boys have been mean to you.." Wolf whispered and Cub just nodded in his shoulder confirming the situation.

"They make me sad Wolf, I did nothing wrong" She could only whisper as she held him tight but soon they pulled back with Wolf placing his hands on her shoulders as she rubbed a tear away. "I know, but I have a surprise for you".

It was then the sound of the wind echoed behind Cub and she froze on the spot, she knew exactly what that sound was and seeing Wolf smile and nod at her just confirmed her suspicions. Now her heart was racing.

Ever so slowly she looked over her shoulder with her heart racing faster and as soon as she caught glimpse of the woman behind her it was then Cub fully turned around and right there standing before her was Quiet, with a loving smile looking at the little girl.

"Quiet!" Cub exclaimed and ran from Wolf and right at the woman in front of her and all the sniper did was kneel down with a chuckle and she opened her arms allowing the little girl to rush right into them and into a loving embrace, holding on to the woman tight Cub's tears broke free as she buried her head into the shoulder of Quiet as the sniper held her just as tight not wanting to let go of the little girl she adored and loved.

Standing back up Wolf smiled at the scene before him with Ocelot coming to his side placing his hand on Wolf's shoulder as he looked on. "Those two would be lost without the other.." Ocelot stated and then looked to Wolf. "And the two would be even more lost if you wasnt here with them".

Wolf could only let out a quiet chuckle as he looked to Ocelot. "I'm sure they would be alright if I wasnt involved in their lives".

"No, you changed them both for the better. The proof is right in front of you" Ocelot added and the two looked back at Quiet and Cub still holding on to each other until they let go of the other.

Cub's heart was now full of happiness as she placed her hands on Quiet's cheeks and the sniper just placed one of her on hands on to of Cub's as her other hand was still around Cub's back.

"I'm so glad your ok..I was scared you were gone..." Cub whispered and in response Quiet smiled and pulled her in for another hug. Cub had a huge place in the heart of Quiet and she just loved her as if she was her own.

After the happy reunion Cub had calmed down and now was sitting on the sofa set on the left side of the office with Wolf and Quiet sitting in chairs facing the sofa while Ocelot just leaned on his own desk watching the scene before him, Cub sat in the middle of the sofa and looked to Quiet who was speaking to Wolf in the Navajo language that she didnt understand, curiosity filled the little girl's soul as she then saw Wolf and Quiet look back to her.

"Cub, we know of the problems you have been facing with the boys. We just want to let you know, and I have told you this before that what happened to Ralph wasnt your fault..." Wolf supported. "...we are gonna do everything we can to make the boys realize that this was one big accident that no one saw coming".

It was then Wolf leaned forward on his chair looking at Cub. "They have been throwing stones at your window havnt they? Even banged on your door screaming havnt they?".

Both Wolf and Quiet saw Cub lower her head looking at her hands in her lap, all she could do was fiddle with her fingers. "Yes, one of the boys yelled they would get me. Make me pay for killing Ralph...even said they would kill DD...".

"DD is no longer in danger, we decided to have him move into mine and Quiet's quarters where he will be safe" Wolf revealed and Cub looked up to Wolf for a few seconds and then nodded as she looked back down at her hands.

Soon Quiet began to speak in Navajo to Wolf again and Cub looked up watching her speak to Wolf and he just looked at the sniper listening to her words, it was then Quiet looked to Cub and gave her a loving smile before looking to Wolf once more saying what she needed to say.

Wolf gave a slow nod to Quiet and then the two turned their attention to Cub once more. "Cub, we want to offer you something...only if you want it though".

"What is it?" Cub asked curiously and she watched Wolf and Quiet looked to each other again and they did look a little nervous but were sure more then anything of the question they were about to ask her, Cub's little heart raced as the two adults before her looked back to her.

"Cub.." Wolf spoke again calmly. "Me and Quiet have been talking, with everything going on we want nothing more then for you to be safe".

Wolf then slowly got up out of his seat and moved to sit next to Cub on the sofa and the little girl looked up to him next to her with her heart still beating fast wondering what they were gonna ask.

"Me and Quiet have come to really care about you, just as much as you have cared about us, Ocelot and Big Boss..or Saladin as you call him" Wolf corrected himself as he looked to Quiet smiling at him from her chair.

He then looked to Ocelot still leaning against his desk with his arms crossed and he smiled at Wolf giving him a small nod like a sign of permission, taking a slow deep breath Wolf then looked down at the little girl next to him seeing her little eyes looking up to him.

"Cub, would you like to come and stay with me and Quiet in our quarters?" Wolf finally revealed and Cub's eyes widened, she couldn't believe what Wolf just said and all she could do was look at Quiet and she saw the sniper smiling at her with a nod.

Cub then realized what she heard was indeed real, Wolf and Quiet was actually offering Cub to come and stay with them on the Combat Unit in the safety of their quarters. She slowly looked back up to Wolf with her eyes watering.

"You...want me to come stay with you? you and Quiet?" Her lower lip quivered as her emotions were coming to the surface and Wolf placed his hand on her back in support as he smiled down at her. "If you want to Cub, you dont have to...but me and Quiet would love nothing more then for you to stay with us".

Taking one more look to Quiet all Cub saw was the sniper still smiling with her own eyes watering, unable to hold back her emotions she suddenly jumped off the sofa and rushed to Quiet jumping on to her lap and wrapping her arms around the sniper's neck crying tears of joy and that was then Quiet held her tighter then ever before as her own tears broke free.

Quiet turned her head placing a kiss on Cub's blonde hair as the two held on to each other tight while Wolf just watched them with a smile of his own, soon Cub broke from Quiet and jumped off her lap only to turn and run right to Wolf and the two entered a tight embrace showing how much they cared for each other.

"Thank you...thank you.." Cub whispered burying her face into his shoulder as he rubbed her back in comfort and he couldn't help but smile slightly holding her tight. "You mean alot to us kiddo, we're lucky to know you". He whispered and then looked up to Quiet still sitting in her chair and he watched her rubbed a tear away from her right eye and the two just smiled at each other and as they did Ocelot just had a proud smile of his own looking at the three before him.

He saw three people who lost everything but in coming together they form something together, something they could live for instead of living with their own phantom pains. They found a way to heal within each other.

-Miller's Office-

One hour had past since Miller spoke to Wolf asking him to go out into the field one more time to collect the Mammal Pod which he believed in his heart would hold the truth to what happened over ten years ago, his heart was set on nothing but putting the soldiers they lost to rest once the traitor was delt with. But now alone in his office, Miller was waiting for a call and after a few moments the phone rang and Miller made sure to set up a secure connection so that no one on Mother Base would be able to monitor the communications.

He took a deep breath picking up the phone and he finally spoke. "Yes?".

"It's me." An old and familiar voice echoed in the ears of Miller and anger fulled his heart once more as the man on the other side of the line continued. "Took me a while to get hold of you, seems to be getting harder every time".

"Where is he? I know you have him" Miller demanded to know.

"Safe, but at this moment he is going to be occupied. We need him to do one simple favor for us, I know we've had our misunderstandings you and I. But...as you've made clear our relationship is strictly business".

"What do you mean he's going to be occupied?" Miller asked with venom in his voice.

"Its strictly business nothing more, therefore I will limit this conversation to the business at hand, please understand that I dont dislike you..not inherently".

"Where is Snake?!" Miller spoke louder then intended as his anger got the better of him but the man on the other line was still calm and collected. "Now, now, settle down, or I'll hang up...".

Miller's swore under his own breath absolutely despising the man he was speaking to. "...And then you will never hear from me again, do you understand.".

Taking a few moments to himself Miller calmed himself down knowing if he continued the way he did he may screw up things for Big Boss, he had no choice but to just listen to what the man was calling about.

"First, about your Boss. I have someone close to him, an old friend you might say. She is currently getting him ready for his new mission, dont worry it doesnt effect you and your..heaven in anyway negative".

"I'm sure its become quite a shock to you to hear this, but you'll have to forgive me".

Miller could only sigh in frustration. "What could you possibly gain from this..".

"Surely you understand, All I want is a world of control. To be able to protect and sustain humanities future, to allow the world to become one again. You have no reason to trust me but this mission, this favor we are asking of him. It will take us one step closer to achieving our goal".

"I'm sorry but I am not going to share his location, not yet anyway. Problems could arise you see, I cant allow you to interfere".

"If you have no intention of telling me where he is, why did you call me?" Miller asked tightening his grip on the phone.

"The only reason we are having this conversation is cause you still have a role to play. Which brings me to our next issue".

"Which is?" Miller simply asked still annoyed.

"We have a problem which could effect the world, a weapon walks on your base freely. You see we abandoned him once we realized he was no good to us. However after recently discovering what his is capable off, we must deal with him as he will pose a threat to the new world".

"You know who I am referring to, the other Snake. We know you have him and we wish to bring him back home".

"And what is it your gonna do with him once he as you say 'comes back home'?" Miller asked as he looked to his window as he knew the man was talking about Eli.

"You must understand, what we must do must be for the best of all the world. The next generation cannot be allowed to have this Snake wonder freely".

"Then what about David? Is he to suffer the same fate?" Miller frowned a little confused and the man on the end of the line chuckled. "No, David is no threat to us. Not in that way anyway, David is safe but the other...I'm afraid he must be expired".

"If you want him dead I can have him eliminated" Miller offered not really liking Eli anyway.

"No!" The man spoke louder but then composed himself. "We must have him back alive so we can run tests on him, we must find out changed within him which made him a threat to us. Once we have the answers then we will eliminate him ourselves".

"I want you to keep him on your base until the time is right, as for Big Boss I'm afraid it will be a few weeks before you see him again but reassure your men that he is alive and well and he will return to you. You have my word on that".

Miller's frustration only continued to grow as he balled his cybernetic fist on his desk and then the man spoke again. "Until then, do what you like. Just be ready when the time comes".

"...I know its been hard on you too, but what happens now..must be for the good of mankind".

"Tell me something" Miller finally spoke up again. "I only joined you after I found out what you were after, to make the world one and you needed Big Boss for that and hes done a hell of a lot for you. So on some level at lease, I think your being straight with me".

"As straight as I can be with you, I know you may not believe this but I never intended for any of this to happen, my organization has many arms. Its just gonna take a little longer for all of us to be on the same page".

"I admit I have been lax in my supervision, but the mistake we abandoned...that will not happen again.".

"Whatever" Miller mumbled clearly fed up of this conversation.

"Do not worry about Big Boss, once he completes his mission for us I will reveal his location to you and you can pick him up, after that do what you want as long as you return the other Snake".

"What ever scheme your planning, what ever world you envision it wont last. Just so you know, one day we will be coming after you. This ends with you begging us to put you out of your misery Zero!". Miller finally said the name he despised.

"Is that so?" Zero didnt seem as convinced. "Fantasy can make for a powerful ally Miller, but remember this is reality...and in the end there can be only one truth...one perfect world".

It was then Zero hanged up the call and Miller took the phone from his ear and looked at it for a few seconds only to lash out and throw the phone across the room in a fit of rage. Zero had Big Boss and Miller couldn't do anything about it, not until Zero allowed it.

Zero was unlike any other enemy, always hiding in the shadows and always out of reach. But one day he will step into the light and Miller will be there to see the light of his eyes fade away with Big Boss pulling the trigger on Zero and ending this war once and for all.

"Getting crazy right? Next chapter will have Wolf head back to Afghanistan one more time as a favor to Miller, next chapter after that will show Quiet go to Africa and thats where she will be staying for a few weeks. And now Cub is going to live with Wolf and Quiet for her own protection. GET READY FOR THE NEXT EPISODE!