Title: Metal Gear Solid: Elements of Destruction- Chapter 13: Stowaway
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 (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 13: Stowaway
"Beautiful…" came the almost whispered word in Russian. Otacon took in a full survey of everything around him. Even in the pitch black of the Antarctic winter, the sights were impressive. The Aurora Australis could be seen, glowing eerily from above, it's light illuminating the endless snowdrifts and glaciers.
The base, Molodezhnaya itself, was rather small, consisting of only a few buildings and a few small observatories spread over a 100 square kilometer radius. People were walking about, wrapped up in their layers and layers of clothing, carrying instruments and computer equipment. For such a small base, there was a lot of activity going on.
"Dr. Emmerson!" called a voice from behind.
Otacon turned to see Dr. Yadik strolling up to him.
"Good Afternoon, Doctor," Hal greeted the man.
"Good Afternoon to you, Dr. Emmerson," he replied. "So, what do you think of the base?"
"It's very nice. I think I'll enjoy my time here."
"Splendid," Yadik said. "Now, I wanted to let you know that I'll be away for a week or so on a survey expedition with some of my team members. While I'm gone, I'll be leaving Dr. Kovich in charge. If there's anything you or the others will be needing, please ask him."
"Thank you," "Richard Emmerson" returned, holding out his hand.
"No thanks are needed, Doctor. It's my pleasure," the RART scientist said, shaking his hand firmly. "And I'm sorry about Dr. Ming Lei taking ill. Perhaps she could join you on another stay."
Hal nodded, "Yes. I'm sure she'd like that."
"Good. Then I'll be seeing you later," he told him, as he walked off to help load the truck for his expedition.
Hal's eyes followed him. He stood for a moment, staring at the vehicle. Then, it dawned upon him.
***
Both Snake's and Raiden's codecs rang in their ears. They answered the call.
"Snake? Raiden?" came Hal's voice.
"Yeah, we're here, Otacon," Snake replied, "What's going on?"
"Where exactly are you two?"
"On the submarine, still getting our things together," Raiden answered him. "We're almost done."
"Well, you guys better come take a look at this."
Snake and Raiden grabbed their packs and went outside of the "L'yednik". They found Otacon near the main building, waiting patiently for them.
"Look over there with your scope," the engineer instructed, pointing out into the distance.
Snake pulled out his scope and focused in on the vehicle. "It's a modified Russian ATV cargo hauler, military issue."
Raiden scratched the back of his head, "Military issue?"
The mercenary grunted his affirmative, then scanned to the activity surrounding the truck. "That's our ride, isn't it?"
Otacon readjusted his glasses. "Precisely. That also means that our friend over there, Dr. Yadik, if that even is his name, is a member of the RNF."
A bit surprised by this revelation, Jack's head turned quickly to look at the engineer. "Do you think he suspects anything?"
"I'm not sure," Hal answered with a sigh.
Snake let out a low growl. "I don't like this at all. It's just too damned convenient." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his cigarettes. Lighting one up, Dave drew in the much needed, nicotine-saturated smoke.
"So, what do you suggest we do?" the younger of the three asked.
Otacon paused for a moment, giving things careful consideration. He then touched a spot behind his ear, activating his codec.
"Hello Otacon!" Mei's voice said. "How was your trip?"
"Tiring," he replied. "Listen, I need you to establish a link with the RARC's central network."
"Already done, boss," she said cheerfully, "I implemented those new techniques you taught me on remote control access of a secure network."
"Good job, Mei," the engineer praised her. "Now, I need some info."
"Sure."
Otacon shifted his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I need to know if Dr. Yadik had any files on a survey expedition."
"Ok, I'm checking now. It'll be a few minutes since I've got to crack his password."
Otacon sighed. "Okay. Just let me know if you find out the expedition route."
Mei Ling seemed a bit eager with her next question. "Is Jack there?"
"Yes he is," Hal answered. He got Raiden's attention, gesturing for him to switch on his codec.
"Hi, Princess!" Jack said, making kissing noises, "Miss me?"
"Terribly," the woman returned. "You'd better come back to me."
"You have my word."
"Remember: A man is only as good as his word, Jack," she said, sounding a bit less upbeat than her usual self.
"I mean it, Mei. I'll be back," Jack assured her. "We have so much more to discover about each other. I can't wait to see where it takes us."
"I can't either," she told him.
The sound of Mei Ling's fingernails clacking against the keys of the keyboard as she typed could be heard over the codec. "Ah, here it is!" she exclaimed. "I'm in Yadik's personal files now. Otacon?"
"Yeah, I'm here," he answered her.
"Okay. Yadik's survey expedition is supposed to go from the base and make an elliptical path southward, then back to the base again. Guess where it passes through?"
"Somewhere 400 kilometers SSE of here?" Otacon said dryly.
"Affirmative. The estimated position of the RNF's base."
"Alright. Thanks, Mei," the scientist said, closing his codec.
"Bye, Jack. Remember your promise."
Raiden smiled, "I will. Bye, Princess," the blond haired man returned.
Snake leaned against the wall of the building, finishing the last few drags on his cigarette. "So, we're hitching a ride?" he asked, jerking his head in the general direction of the truck.
"Mhmm," Otacon confirmed. He pulled out the little brown box that was his stealth camo, and clipped it on his belt underneath his RART clothes. "Will we be using the usual method?"
Snake's brow furrowed a bit, "I think that would be the best way, but we'll have to modify it a bit.
Intrigued, Hal pushed up his glasses with his index finger. "So, what did you have in mind?"
***
Rose finished directing the last of her team members to get the rest of the equipment loaded onto the cargo hauler. She was shivering, despite her efforts to pile on layers of clothing. Her long, gray scarf was wrapped around her face several times, the remainder hanging down her back.
"Damn this God forsaken place," she mumbled with her gloved hands in her coat pockets.
"I like it here," Yadik said in slightly accented English. "It's so peaceful."
"Did you deliver the message?" she asked him.
The middle-aged man nodded. "Yes. I'm sure they'll figure it out."
Rose let out a heavy sigh. "I hope so. Otherwise, I'll have Genesis breathing down my neck."
"Don't worry," Dr. Yadik told her, waving a hand, "I've already made the proper arrangements."
***
Cloaked in his stealth camo, Otacon made his way carefully over to the loading area. He stilled his nerve-induced heavy breathing as best as he could so as not to be heard. Luckily for Hal, he weighed next to nothing, so even though he had no clue about how to silently sneak around, his footsteps were naturally light and almost undetectable.
He leaned his back against a large crate and looked around. There were two people standing by the front of the ATV cargo hauler. One of them was Yadik, and the other he didn't know. They seemed to be engaged in conversation, so he took the moment of opportunity to search the large crate that he was leaning against. It was mostly empty, save for a few computer components and packing materials. Hal did a few quick calculations to determine the structural integrity of the crate after adding the masses of two human beings.
***
"Alright. Seal us up and keep watch," Snake ordered his partner, his voice at a low whisper. He and Raiden were inside the large crate, lying side by side. They were going to be there for a long while, so this was the most comfortable position.
Otacon closed and latched the box shut, then quickly made his way inside the hold of the cargo hauler. He sat down behind some boxes in the far corner, keeping and eye back outside.
The truck's engines started up, and the cloaked man could hear doors shutting as people got in. He nervously began to sweat. They hadn't loaded the crate with Dave and Jack yet, and it was too late for him to get off. An RNF soldier, disguised as one of the RART scientists, got into the back of the cargo hauler and sat down on one of the smaller wooden boxes by the door. Even with his stealth camo, if he tried to sneak past him, he'd be caught for sure.
Relief then washed over him as he saw four RART disguised RNF soldiers lugging the heavy crate over towards the truck. They grunted and groaned as they struggled with the weight of their haul. Two others came to assist them. They all finally managed to lift it up and into the hold, dropping it with a thud. Hal winced, thinking about how Dave must've been cursing silently to himself right now.
The doors shut, and the hold went dark. The only light illuminating the space was a small red indicator light on a control panel on the wall across from where Hal was sitting.
The invisible man looked at the soldier that was over by the doors. He was sitting, leaning back with his eyes closed, and Hal could almost hear a snore escape his mouth every few seconds.
Turning his attention elsewhere, Otacon looked at the crate. There was not a single hint of movement coming from there. It would stay that way for the next six hours as the ATV cargo hauler started its bumpy journey across the frozen wasteland of Antarctica.
Author's Notes:
The "Aurora Australis" is what they call the phenomena in the southern hemisphere. The generic term for both would be "Aurora Polaris".
I had to add a "box" reference in here somewhere. It just wouldn't be Metal Gear without Snake in a box!