Title: Metal Gear Solid: Elements of Destruction- Chapter 12: Journey
Author: The Ice Goddess (FrozenBlueIce)
Fandom: Metal Gear Solid
Feedback: All feedback is welcome, whether it be negative or positive. I'm trying to improve on my writing so, please be honest: frozenblueice@yahoo.com
Pairing: The main pairing of this story is Snake/Otacon, which is obvious to anyone who knows of my fondness for Hal Emmerich, so therefore alright to disclose. There are others, but if I told you what they were, it'd ruin the story.
Series: No. There may be sequels in the future, but right now that is looking unlikely due to time constraints.
Rating: PG-13 for suggestive dialogue (this chapter only)
Disclaimer: All characters appearing in previous Metal Gear Solid video games are the property of Konami Computer Entertainment of Japan, and of their creator, Mr. Hideo Kojima. All new characters are the property of The Ice Goddess. This is a work of fanfiction, and in no way, shape, or form will I receive any monetary compensation for it. It is for entertainment purposes only.
Type: Action/Shounen-ai
Summary: This story takes place one year after the events of "The Big Shell." New information found by Otacon sends Snake back into action. (That's all I'm revealing!)
Chapter 12: Journey
After 5 days of traveling, the low hum of the "L'yednik's" engines began to drone into Otacon's ears, making him drowsy. Alert as usual, Snake sat beside him on the bunk, keeping himself occupied by tossing a pack of cigarettes into the air and catching them repeatedly. Since smoking was not permitted on the submarine, Snake was beginning to go through terrible withdrawal. Though inwardly, he was going crazy, he appeared cool, calm and collective as he always did. This was something that Otacon admired about him. Snake was a master of deception, his emotions hidden from the world by a face, whose expressions were readable only by his closest friend and partner. Now, if only Hal could master that art, he'd have it made.
Hal struggled to keep his eyes open. He gave his arm a quick pinch to wake himself up. Dave took notice to this and frowned a bit.
"You'd better catch up on your sleep now," he told the engineer. "There'll be no time for napping later."
"I know," Hal said. "I'm kind of afraid to though. You know, with all of the RNF secretly running around this place."
Snake stopped tossing his cigarettes for a moment to stretch out his shoulders. "Well, I'm up. I'll keep watch. Will you be able to rest then?"
Otacon shrugged. "I suppose."
Raiden was lounging on his bunk across the sleeping quarters. "I'm up too, so you'll have both of us on guard."
"See?" Snake said, getting up from Otacon's bed, "Now get some damned sleep, will ya?"
The slender man didn't argue. He was tired, and they were close to their destination. This would be his last opportunity to rest up before the mission. He crawled under the covers, laying his glasses on the night table. Hal fell quickly asleep.
The room got really quiet after that, save for the soft breathing of the scientist and the sound of the "L'yednik's" engines. Snake jumped into his own bunk, returning to tossing his pack of cigarettes.
The silence made Jack uneasy. He knew that the mercenary was not one for small talk, but he had to do something. Whenever things were quiet, Jack's mind would wander, and thoughts of things he didn't want to think about always seemed to creep up on him.
"Hey, Snake?"
"Hmm?" he grunted in reply.
"You nervous?"
Raiden mentally kicked himself. "That was a dumb question. Of course he's not nervous. He's 'Solid Snake'." It was too late now, and even if it was stupid, it was conversation.
Dave looked over at Jack, still tossing the pack into the air. "Eh, maybe a bit."
The kid was surprised by the man's answer. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah." Snake answered. "I suppose though, that it's more of an uneasy gut feeling that we're getting in way over our heads. I haven't had pre-battle jitters in years." The mercenary pointed his finger at Raiden. "My instincts are usually correct. I hope you know you've gotten yourself into some dangerous shit."
Jack nodded, "Yeah. I figured as much. Well, if anything goes wrong, I can at least say I got something good out of this whole deal."
"What's that?" Snake inquired.
"I was introduced to an amazing woman," Raiden said with an almost girl-like, dreamy sigh.
Snake just burst out laughing. "Yeah. From the sound of it, you two were really hitting it off the other night."
Raiden's face flushed. "You heard?"
"Kid, my ears have been trained to listen for any hint of a sneaking enemy. You think I wouldn't have heard the two of you panting wildly like dogs in heat?"
"Umm… well…"
"Relax kid," Snake reassured him, "It wasn't like I was trying to listen in." He smiled wryly. "Though I must commend you on a job well done. I haven't heard a girl scream like that in a long time."
"Snake!"
The mercenary just chuckled to himself, then turned his head back to watch the pack of cigarettes go up and down.
***
"So Jack is with them?" the voice said into Rose's ear.
"Yes. He is. So then it was Otacon that contacted him at my apartment a few days ago?" she asked for confirmation.
"Affirmative," came the reply. "I was able to discern the frequency, even though I wasn't able to decrypt the message."
Rose nodded in acknowledgement. "So, what are my orders then?"
"Make sure the proper channels are opened to them for safe passage. I need the one alive," the voice commanded.
"What about the other two?"
"I'll make use of them, or I'll kill them. I haven't decided yet. I at least would like to try to incorporate Jack into the 'E. Weapon Project'." Strange soft chuckling followed the statement. "Frost will be pleasantly surprised."
Rose cocked her eyebrow. "Frost knows Jack?"
"Anyways, Rosemary, just do your job and get them here. I've been antsy for the past few days."
"We should arrive in Molodezhnaya tomorrow, and be at the base by the morning after."
The voice sighed in relief. "Good. Just be sure to stay out of sight."
"Understood, Genesis."
***
After the codec transmission ended, Rose turned back to look at herself in the mirror. Her amber colored contacts had been removed to reveal her true eye color. They were a light, stormy gray with tiny flecks of blue in them. She glanced down at the brown mass of hair that lay in the sink. It sure felt good to finally be rid of all of that hair. After all, she had only grown it as part of her assignment to Jack. It was now cropped just above her shoulders, curled under and layered throughout. She touched it thoughtfully as she gazed back at her reflection.
"Welcome back, Rosemary," she said.
***
Otacon looked around at his companions as they fastened up their sneaking suits, then looked down at himself. He was considerably skinnier than they were, and the tight fit of the sneaking suit only accentuated that fact. The only thing redeeming him was the bulk of the shoulder, elbow, and knee guards.
Hal jumped as a firm hand came crashing down on his rear.
"Looks good," Snake told him, laughing.
"Snake!" the scientist whined indignantly.
Raiden ran his hands over the rubbery, yet soft material of his suit. "Wow, Otacon. This is much more comfortable than my skull suit. You tailored it perfectly."
The scientist's chest broadened a bit with pride. "Thanks."
Otacon put on his RART issued clothes, coat and gloves over his sneaking suit, tucking the headpiece away in the coat's inner pocket. Fully dressed, he turned to face the others.
"Okay. Now we're in this together. No matter what happens, we must find and rescue those scientists and destroy whatever weapons they have created," he said, putting out his hand. Raiden and Snake laid their hands down on top of his. "And I'm behind you all the way," Hal said, looking directly at Snake.
The mercenary saw the strength of determination burning in his partner's eyes. He acknowledged his friend's statement with an almost indiscernible nod.
The three stood there, hands joined, for what seemed like an eternity. The sound of the "L'yednik's" engines changed in pitch, indicating it was ascending to the surface. They had arrived, though neither one knew what was waiting to greet them.
Author's Notes:
Yet more "Kojima-ness". The reference to "Frost knowing Jack"… Jack Frost… Get it? LOL!