Hello everyone. Wow, it's been quite some time since I last updated. I assure you I have not forgotten about this. There should be at least a few more updates coming, hopefully before I get busy again. Anyways, enough about that. Here's the next part you've all been waiting so patiently for. Thank you as always for sticking with it! Responses to questions, comments, and reviews are at the end as always. Enjoy!
Mother Base, Seychelles Waters
R&D Platform
Quiet gave a small nod of appreciation to Stone Hedgehog and he nodded back, moving aside to allow her to enter the door of the R&D building. Unlike many of the other Diamond Dog soldiers, he treated her as just another person rather than a freak or a prisoner, and she enjoyed the feeling of camaraderie with him. He was the main guard stationed at the entrance of her cell and had put a stop to the other soldiers harassing her ever since Ocelot had assigned him to the position. He also functioned as her chaperone, bringing her to the various platforms on the base. All things considered, he was courteous and respectful and she appreciated his manner.
It had been over a week since her first sortie with Big Boss, after which he had set aside a R&D development team for her equipment. The team had been working overtime to develop weapons and gadgets for her and today was scheduled as the reveal date for their work. Since then she had been forced to use the same strategies as she had in her first time back in the field - aiming shots just close enough to make them duck. Despite their best efforts to avoid casualties, there were times when it became unavoidable. It had been a difficult week, but she also knew Big Boss had begun to respect her more, trusting her to take more difficult shots and allowing her to cover him while devoted his full attention elsewhere.
"Welcome to our little operation!" Her blonde medic, Golden Badger, came up to greet her as she came through the door. All around the room, uniformed Diamond Dog soldiers hastily settled their various gadgets and weapons onto nearby desks for display, before standing at attention for her. Quiet felt a rush of excitement and pride as she surveyed the group. My team, she thought to herself in wonder. A team dedicated to anything I might ever need. Better than anything I've ever had, even in XOF. She noticed the soldiers watching her expectantly and she gave a small nod of approval, trying to ease the tension she perceived them to be suffering from. Her suspicions proved correct as some of the soldiers visibly relaxed a bit more.
Golden Badger led her to one of the Diamond Dogs, who extended a hand out to her hesitantly. "This is Biting Fox," she introduced. "He's the lead developer here and he'll be overseeing your entire development team. I'm just the one making sure that each item fits your abilities and limitations, but we figured you would like a familiar face here to greet you for the first time." She moved off to the side and Quiet shook Biting Fox's hand firmly, giving him a small nod. He seemed overly nervous standing so close by her but he quickly moved over to the nearest table to begin the demonstrations.
Sitting on the table was a smaller version of the iDroid she had received from Big Boss and, at Biting Fox's behest, she picked it up. Instantly, it felt like it fit more in her hand than the larger size. "Since Boss has given you an iDroid, we thought you might appreciate a smaller size to carry so that you aren't as hampered by the size and weight when you're on the move or laying down," he said. She nodded her approval, taking the new holster for it and attaching it to her belt. How kind of you to think of my comfort, she thought. She slid the iDroid in and locked it into place before looking back at Biting Fox. "We...uh...also upgraded the storage to hold more music for you," he said, throwing a quick uncertain glance behind her. "We were told you might appreciate that." Quiet favored him with a small smile, trying to make him more comfortable. Perfect! She glanced behind her, where Stone Hedgehog was standing by the door, and gave him a small nod of appreciation. Thanks for the notice.
Biting Fox nodded to himself, almost as though reassuring himself that she wasn't about to rip his limbs from him. Though it is very much physically possible, she mused to herself as they moved on to the next table. She knew making that particular comment would only serve to delay the showcase and increase Fox's nervousness, however, so she opted to remain silent. Not that it's my only reason. This table held an assortment of grenades and other miscellaneous items that she was used to carrying with her into the field. "We've got your various grenades here," he said, pointing to each one in quick succession. "Frags, flares, smokes, stuns, sleeps, incendiaries. Anything you'll ever need out in the field." One caught her eye that Fox didn't mention, and she pointed at it. How about that one?
He glanced at the item in question and had to suppress a small laugh. "Oh that one? That's a bait bottle," he explained. "For...uh...animals." Like sheep, Quiet thought. "For example...sheep," Fox said. Quiet gave a short snuffle of laughter. More and more proof accumulates that Big Boss cuddles sheep. He gave her a look of confusion but she waved him on, still chuckling mentally about the legendary soldier and his secret sheep-cuddling tendencies.
They moved on to the next table, where she could finally see firearms. Here's where the fun begins, she proclaimed, impatiently peering at the weapons on the table. Biting Fox pulled a handgun out of the holster. "This right here is the Arms Material Delta-114," he said, pulling out the magazine and handing it to her. "With .45 caliber ammunition, this guy will punch a hole through a hostile at minimal range. Solid. Dependable. Deadly. The perfect sidearm for a sniper like you who might get into some close-range engagements here and there." He offered her the unloaded pistol and she took it, marveling at the low weight of it. "Go ahead and try it out," he said, gesturing towards the small target range further down the lab.
Quiet moved over to the barrier and glanced at the targets in the distance. She glanced back at the gathered team standing behind her watching expectantly, then turned back to the targets. With a click, she slid the magazine home, then racked back the slide to chamber a round. Raising the pistol, she fired twice, hitting center mass of the closest target, then switched to a single-hand grip with her right hand, and fired twice more at the next one. Both hit center mass again, and she switched to her left hand and fired at the next target, barely pausing to aim and emptying the magazine. The slide locked back and she lowered the pistol, nodding to herself as she appreciated the comforting, almost-familiar weight of the pistol. I like it, she said in her head as she returned to the group, pulling the magazine from the pistol and racking the slide multiple times to ensure the pistol was clear. What's next?
It took a second for Biting Fox to close his gaping mouth and rearrange his facial expression back from one of utter shock, but he quickly picked up the next weapon on the table. "Over here we've got your very impressively modified RENOV-ICKVX. Five-round magazine. Bolt-action. This was your original configuration, chambered for the classic 7.62mm sniper rounds." He put that one down and picked up another one. "But this one, modified exactly the same, fires our tranquilizer rounds. Keep in mind these won't penetrate quite as much as a bullet, so we recommend a headshot for instant knock, or multiple body shots. Helmets might pose a bit of an issue, but if you can knock it off, then you should be perfectly fine."
Quiet took the offered rifle, feeling the smoothness of the chassis. It felt almost too new to her, although it had been modified exactly to her specifications. Nothing a little sand and dirt won't fix, she thought. She slid a magazine in, sliding the bolt back to put a new dart into the chamber. Just like home, though. In a smooth motion, she aimed at a far target and fired, sending the tranquilizer dart straight through, embedded in the head of the target practice dummy. Smirking inside, she gave the rifle back to Biting Fox. I have to hand it to you...you do some good stuff.
"Unfortunately I'm afraid that's all we have for you for now," Fox said, putting down the rifle and wringing his hands. "We're still working on giving you breathable fatigues so unfortunately you'll need to continue as you are…" Ah so that's why he's nervous. Quiet gave a small smile and nod, making sure the soldier knew it wasn't an issue. Biting Fox responded with a smile himself. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call on us, ma'am. We'll continue to work on developing more resources for your use in the field." He turned back to the rest of the team, and they all saluted her before dispersing back to their various duties tinkering and designing.
Stone Hedgehog opened the door for her and she walked out of the grayscale R&D building and into the clear, sunny day that basked the platforms of Mother Base in warmth and cool breezes. She couldn't help with stretch in the sunlight as Hedgehog fell in behind her, strolling leisurely. A nice day for a shower, she thought as she imagined standing under the cool spray in her cell. A new arsenal, a dedicated team, and a sunny day. Nothing could make it any bett—is that a dog?
Quiet stopped in her tracks, staring at the large furry animal lying directly in front of the entrance to her cell. She peered at it, taking in the gray, shaggy coat. Or a wolf? Hedgehog stopped beside her, chuckling. "Ah yes, meet the most fearsome field operative on in Mother Base, next to The Boss of course," he said with a grand gesture. "The Boss took him in as a pup and trained him to be the ultimate attack dog. We call him 'DD'."
'DD', huh? Not a such a little pup anymore. The big dog stood up and approached her slowly and she bent down to meet it. Hi there, she said mentally as she squatted down and let DD sniff her before she gently ran her fingers through his fur. Good boy. DD leaned in closer, rubbing against her. Aww look at you! You've got your own little eyepatch. Just like your human counterpart.
"I think he likes you," Hedgehog said, chuckling. "Took us a while to even get DD to come near us. Especially that one guy who wanted to touch his paw pads…" Quiet gave a weird look. Paw pads? Hedgehog shrugged. "That's what we told him, too." DD butted against her again, and she resumed her petting. I guess Big Boss left you behind, huh? That's alright, you can stay with me for a while. She stood and flashed Hedgehog a thumbs up and he stood at attention as she headed down the stairs to her cell, DD padding along behind her.
Quiet hummed gently with the soft music playing from her boombox. She had turned the volume far down and played the most relaxing music she could find in her collection. From above her, she heard booted feet clanking on the platform, followed by a soft "Sir!" and ruffling of clothing as Stone Hedgehog stood at attention. The booted feet continued and met metal as the owner began to descend the stairs down to her cell.
She glanced up, watching the spurs on the boots coming down the stairs. Ocelot. The cowboy seemed worried as he thumped his way heavily down the stairs slowly. "Have you seen a big, grey—oh." Quiet raised a finger to her lips, silently shushing him. Careful, he's sleeping. DD chose that moment to snuggle deeper into her lap, still fast asleep. He's had a long day. Ocelot glanced around her cell, noticing the scattered dog toys laying around.
"Well uh...I guess you have things handled here," he said, voiced lowered and the worry gone from his face. "Thanks Quiet." She nodded back at him and he turned to go back the way he came, making sure to place his feet a little more gently on the metal stairs. With a yawn, she settled back against the wall and closed her eyes, still gently running her fingers through DD's soft fur. Everyone needs a little rest and relaxation. Even an attack dog.
I've always wanted Quiet and DD to meet and this just seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce them to each other. For those wondering, I do intend to write a part with Big Boss, Quiet, and DD all together out in the field, just for the fun dynamics. Anyways, thanks for continuing to read and review. While I haven't been writing, I've still been reading your comments and reviews (and feeling the heartbreak as I haven't been able to write to respond). Now for the dozens of comments since the last edit (sorry, this will be long).
MAURO-251: "started reading it a few days ago, i have to say, its awesome, very well done, please keep it up, great job with the characters, i get that it must be hard to write a character who doesnt talk, but you are doing a great job. again, awesome wokr of fiction!"
-Thank you very much! It can be difficult sometimes, since there's really nothing to go off of. Hopefully you can continue to enjoy the way I portray Quiet. I've always thought her to be a very quiet (ha!), yet expressive person inside.
insaneemaelstorm: "I seriously love how you portray quiet. I can easily imagine quiet thinking all this while I am playing as big boss. It does make me wish that we had an option for quiet to fire warning shots. I do wish you go an alternate route to canon, as everyone already knows the canon route. Can't wait to read more"
-Warning shots...exactly why I enjoy writing. I can do anything! :P Lol.
Infinity Comes To A End: "I recently rebought The Phantom Pain on Pc and now your depiction really helps to flesh out Quiet as I play. I have nothing but high praise for your: syntax, grammar, detailed imagery, and framing of the plot. Keep churning out these chapters and I'll keep reviewing!"
-Much thanks! I do my best to keep my writing at a high level, though sometimes the quality slips by me at times for whatever reason.
Guest: "Thanks for the new chapter. It was quite good. I'm curious to see tho how she responds to seeing her former colleagues tho. I feel like at some point there should have been a XOF spy in diamond dogs to test Quiet's integrity and to see where her loyalties lie it would justify Millers' paranoia that cipher is trying destroy them from the inside. I felt that they could have shown her transition from cold hearted killer to someone who wants to sacrifice herself to protect not only Miller but other diamond dogs who treated her bad as well as venom snake :P"
-That's a great idea actually...written down and possibly planned for the future. Thanks! Look forward to possibly seeing it in a future chapter. :)
ShadowRav: "I just spent my one hour lunch break reading this story and eating my bread in office haha Been a fan of MGS for a long time and I gonna say this was my second favourite of the series, after MGS3. I recently bought this game during steam winter sales and been playing it every weekend, just finished mission 30 yesterday actually. Seriously loving this two together.. and DD too of course, how can we forgot about that cute pup that turned badass. Would want to see the three of them at the same time but it's impossible in game I guess. Really love your way of writing, as I read, I can imagine the scenes you wrote, it was as if playing as Quiet herself. If I have to say anything bad about this story, well... it's.. uhhh...I can't say any cause it's great! P/S I don't review often but I read and write often. But I just have to leave a review today cause I'm really loving this story."
-Well well well, guess this is your lucky chapter then, huh? :) Look forward to the trio hitting the ground running...soon. And thanks for the high praise and review. I really appreciate it.
Cave Beast: "Really enjoying the story so far, glad you're still continuing it. I always thought Quiet was an interesting character but since she didn't talk her character and backstory wasn't really fleshed out. The dialogue of Quiets thinking is very natural and just works so props to you again there m8. One of the other reviews also mentioned something about how she'd deal with other XOF agents, and I also think that would be an interesting source of conflict to see how she feels fighting her old colleagues. But it's ultimately up to you and I have faith in your creative vision so cheers. Such a lust for the next chapter..."
-Thank you! Yup, I do think the other XOF agent idea would be pretty interesting to explore. Hope this chapter was to your enjoyment.
Guest: "Wow, I really like your story. I was sad when Quiet left.. if only that old guy could help her out in the game..."
-Hmmmmmm...
MisterHalt: "I'm really liking all the little things you're adding to make this story your own, like Ocelot and the other soldiers interacting with Quiet. One minor thing I spotted: In the previous chapter, Boss first said 'her' and 'she', referring to the VIP, then said they were male. By the way, when's Quiet going to meet DD? I want to see her reaction to a dog with a badass eyepatch."
-Thanks! I really thought there should be more interaction. I really didn't find it believable that everyone would be avoiding her and besides, it makes for good story. :) And whoops! Good catch of the my editing lol. And there's your DD as well!
SOBANRED: "keep up the chapters love the story."
-Thank you!
Reza Novaria: "I'm glad I found this. I have a few fandoms I sift through, but they've been dry recently, thought I'd take a peek at others. Came upon this with my current MGSV playthrough, and it's been an enjoyable read. I was curious to see how you have a mute character give voice to their personality, and you've done it nicely. Still. . . tranq and subdue Venom? Almost gives my conscience a twinge reading this, as I just go for the biggest sniper rifle I have and aim for the noggin."
-Haha I wanted to go with the least violent route as I could. Makes it a little more interesting for me to write. Glad you still enjoy it though!
Guest: "Really lovin this so far! Keep up the good work!"
-Thank you!
anoyak111: "Wow read all the chapters and so far this is amazing. I honestly hope you break from canon. We all know her fate. So might as well reboot that sequence also wish you can update this faster it's so amazing"
-Sorry about the long wait but thanks for sticking with it!
Artoriasninja: "I READ ALL 7 CHAPTERS JUST NOW; I LOVE IT! It really is nice to SOMEONE ELSE on the Mgs fandom, and I can't wait for the next chapter! NEVER GIVE UP WRITING! 10/10, now I got to go extract some sheps... Shep screams as its lifted off by Extraction.*"
-Aaaaaah nothing better than launching sheep, amiright? Thanks for the positivity!
Australian Dealer: "Pretty damn good first chapter But you did it wrong Boss beated Quiet by calling in supply drops on her Pretty good so far, I like it! I recently started re-playing MGS5 TPP and I remember all this kind of stuff"
-Thank you! And yes, I do believe supply drops will come in handy in the future...
Guest: "Hey I hope you continue this story -M"
-I do intend to!
MakkuroX: "Not to push or rush or even demand you...But it's April now...Sooo I hope you are going to update soon :3"
-Uh...whoops.
Artoriasninja: "I just thought of this idea last night. What if you did alternate versions of each chapter? Like one of boss killing, and stuff like that? I need more chapters Also..."
-That does sound like an interesting idea. Perhaps I could try it, if I find the time lol.
Yang Xiao Longer: "This is legit better than the actual plot of MGSV. Please, for the love of God, update soon!"
-Oh wow, thank you very much! And yes, update here!
Guest: "Hey...kinda late to start reading, but I loved the fanfic! Just wanted to show that there is still people at this web page..."
-You know, I really appreciate that. Reviews show me there's still people interested and that's what pushes me to keep writing it. Hear that y'all? Review! :)
Guest: "Woah... this is a master piece! It represents perfectly quiet's feelings, and the other character's points of view! Really hope you continue. P.S. You shouldn't keep people waiting. And yeah, I know this joke is quite old."
-Thank you very much! I'll try to get another update very soon.
GlazTheSniperr: "Great story. Keep up the great work"
-Thank you!
As always, thank you so much for sticking with this, and I will hopefully have another chapter up soon this month.