Hi all! Next chapter incoming. Thanks for waiting. This one was a little more vanilla, but at least we got another firearm in Quiet's hands so she can work her magic. Next one should be a mission! Just a little something to look forward to. ;) As always, responses to questions, comments, and reviews will be at the end. Enjoy reading!

Mother Base, Seychelles Waters
Medical Platform

"The Boss is coming."

With that said, Quiet thrummed with silent anticipation. She laid her head back down on her arms, trying to stop the anxiety from rising up inside of her. This is my chance, she thought, and the idea of fighting alongside such a legendary soldier became all the more a reality in her mind. Finally my time to see who or what Big Boss really is. Her days of mindlessly following aged orders would be done and for the first time in a long time, she would be able to think for herself to make her own opinion. The thought excited her and she hid it as best she could, since she knew Ocelot would be watching her closely.

She could hear muffled greetings coming from the stairwell, then hard combat boots clanking on the metal stairs and she instinctively knew it was the legendary soldier. She could practically sense his presence. Something about him gave off a veteran, experienced feel and she had always felt most comfortable working with such people. Usually the kind of people I can trust with my life. Still, she shrugged mentally. At least, back in XOF.

Big Boss moved to stand next to the cowboy and Quiet pushed herself up off her bed, setting her feet on the floor and slowly walking to the cage door to watch the soldier intently. As always, his gaze seemed to slice through her, sending chills down her back. She briefly wondered if he could recognize her from when she had attempted to assassinate him several months prior, though she doubted his memory could be anything but fuzzy after waking from a long coma. If he recognized me, I'd probably already be dead, she reasoned, and that suited her perfectly fine. After all, I can't see who he is if I'm dead.

"She...uh….refuses to wear clothes," Ocelot spoke up, seemingly uncomfortable. Quiet mentally facepalmed. Really, she thought, practically glaring daggers at the man. That's the first thing that comes to mind? Could you make it any more awkward?

"The last staff member who tried to dress her?" the cowboy continued, tapping his throat, "He's breathing through tubes." Quiet scoffed mentally at the exaggeration, opting instead to move over to stand in front of Big Boss. She trailed her hand along the railings, feeling the thrumming vibration of the metal before she wrapped her arms around the metal bars, relaxing against the cage as she watched Big Boss closely. He seemed to be regarding her intently and she once again had the feeling that he was picking apart her character, bit by bit, to get down to her very core. It unnerved her just as much as it had in the past and she had to call to mind her training to keep from withering under his gaze.

"Other than that, she's been completely cooperative." Ocelot paced over to her, gesturing vaguely. "She understands English, but she never speaks, sweats, or breathes."

"What?" Big Boss seemed shocked and Quiet felt a small spike of satisfaction at the thought that she had confounded the legendary soldier. All your years of experience and you haven't met someone like me, she thought to herself smugly.

Ocelot stayed quiet a little longer, letting the cliffhanger float in the air as Big Boss absorbed the new piece of information, before finally continuing. "Well, not with lungs at least. She breathes through her skin." He glanced back at the soldier. "Clothing would suffocate her." Ocelot walked past her and he nodded discreetly towards the shower.

Quiet turned, stepping towards the shower. Something felt funny to her about showering in front of two men who were intently staring, but she pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on feeling the water refreshingly cool against her skin. "Showers are okay," she heard the cowboy say behind her, "but she can't be submerged." She smirked to herself, a devious thought coming to mind, and she allowed her parasites to drink the cool liquid. Bet you've never seen this before.

"What's wrong with her?" Big Boss sounded puzzled, almost completely lost from behind her, and she added another point to her tally of times he had been taken by surprise. "She's drinking," Ocelot said, "through her skin." Quiet slowly turned the water off, kneeling down to push waves through the water as it drained slowly through the floor of the cell. "She's okay?" The worry and concern in Big Boss' voice took her by surprise, giving her a slight pause as she played with the water. He's still worried about me? "She's okay," Ocelot confirmed. "She just can't move when she's taking in water."

The rest of the water drained away and Quiet slowly pushed herself to her feet, shaking herself off gently as she went back to her bed. She slowly laid down on her back, stretching slowly. The sun shined down on the cell and she rolled over, letting the sunlight hit her back as she took in the nutrients. Vaguely, she could hear Big Boss and Ocelot discussing her nutritional habits, with the legendary soldier still mildly taken aback and the cowboy patiently explaining. She caught the word "photosynthesis" and she scoffed to herself. Great, now he'll think I'm a plant. She shifted again, getting a little more comfortable.

"Some of the staff...they can't stomach her," Ocelot said, and Quiet knew he would try to push the soldier to take her with him. "It's starting to affect morale." Quiet rolled over, trying to pretend as though she weren't paying attention.

"Can't you send her on a mission?" Big Boss asked, and she could almost see the slight frown creasing his face.

"By herself?" Ocelot scoffed, shaking his head. "No. But as you know, she does have skill." Quiet felt her hopes rising and the cowboy's next words confirmed her suspicions. "Why not take her out on one of your missions? She seems to like you." The last sentence sounded almost unsure, but Quiet knew it was all a ruse designed to convince the soldier further. Ocelot let the suggestion hang a bit in the air before adding more. "Of course, only if you think she'll be useful. Next time you go out, keep her in mind."

Big Boss grunted, staying a few seconds longer to watch her before leaving with Ocelot in tow. Inside, Quiet marveled at how masterfully the cowboy had played to the soldier. He's got a tongue like a snake, she thought to herself, impressed. No wonder he's their interrogator. Although Big Boss hadn't spoken much, she could already feel he was considering the suggestion. And when I get the chance, I'll make sure he picks me.

It was the fifth time she heard the chopper landing on the platform. It would be the fifth time Big Boss had decided not to allow her to accompany him on a mission. Quiet gave an annoyed huff, making up her mind. If he won't come to me, then I'll go to him. She stood up, pulling on her combat boots and going over to the cell door. The tiny lock still hung pitifully and Quiet ripped it apart with a firm tug. The door squeaked slightly as she opened it, though the noise was masked by the chopper passing by overhead.

Cloaked by her parasites, Quiet made her way up the stairwell. Stone Hedgehog, her usual guard, stood watch and used one arm to shade his eyes from the sun as he watched Big Boss' chopper pass by, heading for the Command Platform's landing pad. Quiet felt guilty as she quickly slipped away, knowing her friendly guard would be horrified to learn that his "prisoner" had slipped away, and she made a silent promise to pay him back if he ended up taking heat for her actions.

For now, though, she pushed the thought out of her mind as she snuck into the armory. Having been through training exercises with Ocelot, she knew exactly where all of her equipment was stashed. It only took her half a minute to slip on her utility belt, pistol, and combat knife, before grabbing her modified RENOV-ICKX sniper rifle and a belt-full of magazines.

Darting out of the armory, Quiet ran full-tilt towards the Command Platform landing pad, arriving just in time to see Big Boss and Miller walking up to the landing chopper. She came to a stop at the chopper's side, landing in a crouch before rising up and leaning against the side of the chopper to wait for them. She made sure to stay silent to avoid detection from the nearby Diamond Dog soldiers and Ocelot, though, knowing that detection would only mean tighter security on her cell. I'll just slip inside the chopper with Big Boss and nobody will ever know the difference, she thought confidently.

"Our weather surveillance indicates turbulence out there," Ocelot said as Big Boss came to a stop beside him. "Try not to get knocked out of the sky." Big Boss replied with an affirmative, but Quiet suddenly realized Miller seemed to be gazing directly at her, frowning thoughtfully. She cursed to herself, crossing her arms and glaring at the crippled soldier. I don't have time to play your games, Miller.

With a snarl, Miller raised his crutch, slamming it against the side of the chopper with the resounding metal clang resonating despite the rapid thumping of the chopper blades. With a bitter curse and an annoyed glare, Quiet decloaked, fighting to keep herself from ripping the man apart with her bare hands. You won't let me do anything, will you? She uncrossed her arms, suddenly feeling like a berated child. There was an itching in her eyes and she blinked them rapidly, feeling the demoralizing of another failure, head down to hear her punishment

"Quiet?" The voice of Big Boss brought her back to the moment and she raised her head to look at him, a determined pout meeting his questioning gaze. I won't let Miller stop me.

"Where does she think she's going?" Miller asked. Quiet could practically feel the disgust dripping from his voice. Although his eyes were hidden, she knew they were boiling with barely-contained rage.

"You want to head out with the Boss," Ocelot commented, a slight smirk crossing his face as he nodded in approval. Quiet flicked her eyes to him, then back to Miller as he spoke up again. "That'll be the day," the crippled man retorted. Quiet felt her spirits drop once more and she glanced down and away, trying to come up with some way to convince the group otherwise.

To her surprise, Ocelot stepped forward. Quiet glanced back up at him, almost hopeful. "I don't see a problem with it," the cowboy said, glancing at Big Boss. "As long as she's with you." He looked back at Quiet and she stood a little straighter, watching him. "She's a crack shot...a damn fine scout. Well suited for a clandestine op." He tossed a sideways glance at the legendary soldier. "Which is more than I can say for the others," he finished with near-derision.

"There's nothing "damn fine" about this…..thing," Miller interrupted, thumping his crutch against the platform as he turned back to her. Quiet felt the anger rising up in her again and she clenched her fists, doing her very best to refrain from tossing the crippled man off the platform, tossing him up into the rotating chopper blades, or ripping his limbs off his torso herself right then and there on the platform. You might want to watch who you're calling a 'thing'.

A flicker of motion brought her attention back to Ocelot as he pulled his pistol out of the holster, spinning it and flipping it around in his hand before finally offering it to her. Quiet took it, eyes narrowing in confusion and suspicion. The weight was comforting in her hand and she had no doubt it was loaded, though she also had no idea why the cowboy had just given her a lethal weapon. You want me to...shoot him? Obviously Miller had the same idea, as he turned to Ocelot to offer an indignant "Hey!".

"Blades," Ocelot said as he glanced up to point at the rotating chopper blades, and Quiet suddenly realized what he was getting at. Ah. She looked up, bringing the heavy pistol to bear. It was a six-shooter and she was completely sure she could make all six shots through without damaging the rotors. She placed her finger to the trigger, ready to begin, when Miller suddenly stepped forward and Ocelot had to place an arm on him to restrain him.

"Hey wait a minute, that thing costs a lot of money!" Miller seemed almost panicked and Quiet lowered the pistol, glancing at him. Ocelot gave her a nod and she took that as the go-ahead, giving Miller one last look before bringing the weapon back to bear on the spinning rotors. She glanced at Miller again, who was watching with both fury and anxiety. An idea came to mind and she withdrew one arm, holding it against her chest so that she only held the pistol with one hand. Almost instantly, she felt Miller's anxiety spike and she smirked to herself. Watch and learn.

Quiet pulled the trigger three times, sending three separate bullets cleanly between the chopper blades. She switched hands, holding her right to her chest and firing three times before letting go of the grip and allowing the pistol to slip out of her grasp, held up only by her finger in the trigger guard. She offered it back the cowboy, who slid it back into the holster. Ocelot glanced over at Miller, who merely shook his head in disgust and refused to look up. Quiet allowed herself a small, proud smirk, placing her hands on her hips. You were saying?

"She can see each individual blade," Ocelot emphasized with a nod of approval. "And her depth perception…" He made a gesture of grudging respect. Big Boss himself stepped towards her, expression as unreadable as ever. "You want in?" he asked gruffly.

"This is ridiculous!" Miller cut in, stepping between her and Big Boss. "She doesn't talk! How could you possibly stay in communication?" Quiet made a small noise of frustration, eyes flicking to Big Boss before looking down in defeat. He's got me there…

"Right," Big Boss said, watching her, and Quiet knew she had lost again. "I like working solo anyway." She turned away, refusing to look at him as she began the long, lonely walk back to her cell. It was worth a try, I guess. The chopper took off and she made one look back, watching the soldier departing on another mission without her. She could sense he was still watching her even as the chopper flew away, and she wondered if perhaps he might have been convinced. I guess time will tell.

And now we wait for the action to begin. As always, thanks for your patience and for reading! Feel free to review. I always enjoy seeing a new review.

Guest: "Thanks for this chapter it was really good, her feelings and emotions are more organic and natural instead of forced or in one chapter she already falls in love with him. So thank you for this. And as always I can't wait for the next chapter"

-Why thank you! I do try to slow things down and make things more organic, as you say. It can certainly be difficult at times, because I like to rush through some parts. For me, the setup is always the hardest part, while the action is the easiest the write. I'm glad it seems I'm improving at the setup, though!

The Dude Strikes Back: "Wow I got to be honest I was not expecting frequent updates to a low traffic section of fanfiction ( I mean the Metal Gear page as a whole not your story) and the quality is through the roof for something coming out so quick. I love that you had Quiet interact with members of Diamond Dogs (Without violence) that's one thing MGS V should have totally done from the get go I look forward to how you handle later scenes and how different members react/grow to Quiet."

-Hello again! Thanks for keeping with this. I really appreciate it. I've been trying to update as much as I can, though life always has its way of butting in. I'm glad I was able to get this chapter in today, though. I can't promise to get another chapter in before next weekend, though I will surely try my hardest. For now, it looks like weekend updates are the way to go. I do hope the quality is good. I used to run stories through a beta in the past, but seeing as this fandom doesn't really have much traffic, I figured it would be faster to write, reread, edit, and then send it out, instead of waiting for a beta.

As for Quiet's interactions with other members of Diamond Dogs, I've come to see her as a new addition to the sort of family that Diamond Dogs is. Initially, there's some tension and rough moments, but I couldn't believe that she wouldn't have any other friends among the other soldiers, so that's definitely a part I really wanted to tackle with this fic. So often, I've seen other fics focusing on Quiet's relationship with Big Boss, but never really any other soldiers or characters. In real life, there are always the dynamics between different people and it's never focused on a single relationship. Each person has a connection and interaction with each other, so I definitely wanted to flesh that out for Quiet, whose relationship with Big Boss, Ocelot, and Miller are simplified to love, respect, and hate, respectively, in the game.

As always, thanks for all the support and anticipation. See you all for the next chapter!