April 18, 2004 – Liquid Compound – Holding Facility & Torture Chambers
-Kuroi Tori "A Kunoichi's Last Dance"
[This chapter lacks the motivation and drive I once had. ;_; sorry guys. I'll try harder on the next chapters.]
W-What?…… Ugh………Shit.
"Time to release you, Snake." A voice. A Gunmetal and Black suit stood before a large glass, watching Snake, as he stood strapped within the electrical contraption just as he was six years before. A hand moved to a switch and pulled it, enabling an automatic shut down of Snake's chamber. The suit stepped back, crossed his arms, and watched.
A whirring noise began to decrease around him. The noise drifted far away from his hearing and his eyes remained closed while his head hung low. He groaned lightly, turning his head slowly from left to right as his brows furrowed. His eyes began to open, unable to adjust to the bright lights or put into focus the objects of the room. The tassels of his bandana stayed unmoving and his brown hair lay frozen atop his head. Click! Click! Chling! Chling!
Snake crumbled forward with a groan onto the cold, tiled floor. He struggled to kneel, breathing heavily as he looked around the room. No one in sight. What the hell set him free?
The entrance door slid open and in walked the Gunmetal and Black suit. Snake withdrew from sight, backing into a corner wall. He peeked out, watching the cyborg slowly advance further into the room with his arms crossed and stance, elite. Snake narrowed his eyes.
"Snake." The cyborg said, stopping within the center of the room. Both arms became unfolded and fell to the sides of his body. He looked from left to right, searching. Snake watched, hesitating to move. "I know you're here, Snake. You don't have a lot of time."
Snake took in a sharp gasp. His vision doubled slightly, leaving him dizzy in an instant. He grasped the wall. His internal muscles tightened and he grasped his chest, feeling his heart slam against his rib cage. What the hell is happening to me? He staggered forward, capsizing a table of utensils similar to that of a doctor's, and collapsed onto the floor. The Cyborg noticed Snake as he layered the floor, grasping his chest and wheezing. He advanced. Two digits fell to Snake's neck, checking his pulse.
"They've already given him the dose." He muttered softly.
Gloved hands worked to pull Snake over to a table where he could be put to lie down. Snake struggled to open his eyes. A blurry image of the cyborg stood over him, checking his pulse, breaths, and temperature. The splashes of color began to come together into a form: slender, soft, and almost womanly. He could almost see the face behind the dark visor, if only it wasn't so dark. He tried to lift his head to get a better look but the cyborg pushed him back and commanded him not to move.
"Who are you?" He grumbled in a daze. He dropped his head back against the table and groaned. "Who…are you?"
Solid felt his mouth fly open and become flushed by a tart liquid. "Swallow" was the only reply he received. Snake flew up and onto his side, sputtering upon the nasty taste that overtook his mouth. Under the little hair that overlapped his bandana, he stared at the other. Heavily breathing he waited and the medicine started to take effect. His vision began to unravel from its watery state and produce his perfect 20/20 vision. WHAT?!
"You!" Snake staggered back against the table away from the other. He quickly searched for a useful tool to defend himself with, but there was nothing. Liquid left nothing. The other straightened before him, drawing out a USP Socom similar to that of the mercenary's. Snake froze, but not in fear, in caution. He watched the other with his face hidden beneath the shadow of the dark visor. The cyborg stood erect as he held his aim upon him. Outlined in Gunmetal and Black, the once womanly figure Snake imagined, became manly. Or maybe it was the suit that portrayed it so. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm getting you out." Snake listened, trying to depict whether it be a male or female behind the distorted voice and suit. He wasn't sure but gained a hunch. He glanced around.
"Getting me out? But you just—" He paused, drawing in a thought. The suit tilted his head in question. "My gear?"
"In the locker room on the upper floor."
Snake nodded then tossed his head in Cora's direction. "And her?"
"She is not in my objectives."
"But I am?"
"You're to be looked after. She must remain here."
"By who? The Patriots?"
"No. SNIPE."
"SNIPE? Is that your name?"
"No. Silent Negations and Infiltrations of Powerful Egomaniacs."
Snake gave a flat look. "You're joking…right?"
"Do you see me smiling?" Obviously enough, Snake couldn't see anything past the getup. He frowned and the cyborg shrugged, flexing its muscles in the process. Snake could almost hear the cyborg sigh. "I was sent here to give support. You're lucky I didn't kill you. That too is in my objectives."
"How do I know you're not some spy sent by the patriots to take me out or just some guy in a suit playing Shinobi? I need a name."
The cyborg paused and remained quiet for quite some time. Snake rolled his eyes and began to turn away. When he did speak, Snake returned to him, his attention.
"Call me…Silver."
"Silver…?" Snake scoffed, recalling the list of names the ninja have given him through his missions. Deepthroat was the most memorable, Gray Fox, then came the nameless comrade, and Mr. X. Now it was Silver.
"…Uh-huh… Thanks, but no thanks. I can take care of myself. I don't need some katana-wielding cunt following me." He paused thinking about the 3 Kunoichi that assisted him within the short period of time. He passed a hand along his mouth, still hating the taste he'd consumed, then stepped down from the table and walked toward Cora. "I don't need another."
By the way the cyborg lowered his head, you'd have to assume that he was most likely glaring, resenting his comment. The cyborg turn its grip on the Socom, fitting the barrel into his palm and offering Snake the butt. He accepted.
"I'm returning this even though I resent what you just said. I hope the passion for your friend is stronger than that of your attitude." Said the cyborg nodding in Cora's direction. Snake feigned a sigh, turning back to Cora.
"I need one thing from you," He said, holstering the Socom in the only place he could, his boxers. The cyborg lifted its head a bit, listening. "Get my gear and see if you can find something for her."
With a bit of hesitation, the cyborg nodded, pivoting on his heel and starting toward the door. Snake turned toward Cora.
The light buzzing that engulfed Cora's tank was still flowing and she remained unmoving. He straightened, quickly making his way over to a lever, pulling it to disarm her chamber.
"Cora?" He watched and waited until the bubbles and liquid died down. Inside, she remained unmoving. Simmering almost, within the liquidation. He pressed a hand against the tank and stared at her. The abrasions, sizzling burn marks that crossed her face and the slow-paced breaths she wheezed through her mask. His face contorted to that of sympathy. Slowly, the water began to drain through the bottom holes below her feet. The mask mounted to her face fell away and slowly nestled at the bottom of the tank with bubbles still escaping from it. Still, she didn't move.
Her eyes remained closed as well as her mouth, although the tiniest of air bubbles were able to escape the corners of it. He pulled another switch and looked back to the tank. The thick glass doors slid aside and around, leaving him within arms length of touching her. He stepped forward, extending his arms to wrap around her body and lifted her from the chains. Into his arms she fell, choking up the chemical liquid in which she was swimming in, and shivered against him.
"S-snake." she whispered, shuddering a breath into his ear. He looked down on her and she dug her face into his chest hoping to find warmth. She did, but not without the presence of sweat. She felt uncomfortable, knowing deeply that this was a rare move even for her, but she didn't care and neither did he. He knew her too well. At this moment, she needed him—which was something she rarely needed at all—and at this moment, he would assist. "W-where are we, S-snake?"
"We're going to get you cleaned up. Then find some gear." He replied softly. He thought to himself that he needed to get dressed also or else he'd be subjected to hypothermia—like that could ever happen. She didn't reply as he near the corner table. Her body felt limp in his arms and he saw that her head dipped back, bouncing like a yo-yo. Lightly shaking her, he found that she had faded away into unconsciousness. He laid her down.
"Humph." Sounded from the gunmetal and black ninja posted behind a wall of flat screens. His hand lowered from his chin to the side where he would then pivot on one heel and turn in the direction of an exit. An index arose and hit the switch against the wall, while the other held an olive green suit. The room became enveloped in darkness like it had been before the Cyborg's arrival.
--
Liquid stared at the doorway as it slid open then closed. He idly ran a hand against his light-shaven face as he stared at the figure who approached. He nodded, acknowledging the cyborg strolling in.
"Back so soon?"
"Yes."
"How are they?"
"On the verge of termination."
"Good." He removed his feet from the corner of his desk and let them fall to the floor. Leaning forward, he propped his chin against his folded hands "Now see to it that their bodies are disposed of. Burn them if you have to."
The cyborg paused, lowering his head as if looking to the floor.
"Something wrong with what I asked?" asked Liquid, watching him. The Cyborg straightened.
"No." He paused. "But one question?"
"Make it quick." Said Liquid, leaning back in his swivel chair. The cyborg nodded.
"Why do you hate him so?"
"Who?"
"Snake, of course." Liquid gave a flat look as if to say 'why must you go there?' He then nodded seeing that it was okay for him to answer such a question. He brought a hand to his chin and directed his eyes toward the ceiling to collect his thoughts and he began.
"He wasn't my favorite kind of brother. Big Boss favored the cunt more so I never had a chance to develop a relationship with my oh-so-loving father. I was shipped off to wars as a child to build a strong character while the loving hardships escaped both, Solid Snake & Solidus." With that, he nodded, feeling that it was all he could give without alluding him of his personal vendetta of Snake having the better genes, or the better sense of style that he lacked. Liquid could pass with a grade C if put to a test in comparison with his brothers. But he would continue to blame Solid for his many flaws. And Solidus for…whatever it was that he had.
"Then why aren't you as angry with Solidus as you are with Snake?" The cyborg hesitated to ask. He knew it wasn't right, but a chance at knowledge was always at hand. Liquid didn't answer.
"I think it's time you returned to Snake."
With no further questioning, he nodded, turning swiftly to face the door and advance to it. The cyborg gave a light shrug and chuckle beneath the shield as he disappeared through the doorway.
"The wrong damn uniform." A voice grumbled. Dog tags snatched from a neck, fell away from gloved hands and clunked against the wall, collecting along the floor.
A set of double doors flew open, letting in a .357 Desert Eagle followed by the rest of the carrier's body. She moved against the wall, just barely touching it as she held the desert eagle up and slowly peered around the next corner. He stood there, a sentry, on guard, intently searching around with his eyes. He was alone and it made her job a little easier. She kneeled down in place and peered farther out into the hall, aiming her infrared-beamed handgun toward the sentry. She let her weight lean her farther to the left, giving him clear view of her position if and only if the fool had been looking. He wasn't. She cocked back the hammer, let the beam settle against his throat then moved an index to the trigger. Time elapsed as she waited for the right moment. The moment when he'd once again awaken, stretch, and yawn. She watched as he just stood there loosely clutching the AK-109 in his hands as he rocked slightly back and forth with sleep. The deep snores that washed through the hall and into her ears played repeatedly. She froze. Her eyes spotted something ominous and froze on the object. Whirring with noise, the security camera stopped in her direction and halted, watching her every move. The sentry snored himself awake, shaken by the noise he had conjured in his sleep. She immediately pulled back, placing her back flat against the wall.
"Damn it." She whispered. She leaned out, peeking with one eye around the corner. The camera had turned away and the sentry had fallen asleep again. She looked around. To her left was a thin layer of wall with a small space for her to stand. According to its location and position, she would be cleared of the camera's view, but left with no other alternative for sneaking past the sentry. She'd need a way past him if she were to move on. She looked around once more. There, a ventilation shaft above a stack of boxes behind the space she first saw. She peered around the corner.
The camera was turned now in the opposite direction, but the sentry had started to walk. In her direction! She fell back against the wall and drew in a deep breath. She lowered a bit, waiting for him to turn the corner. And he did.
The guard yelped as he was pulled aside by his arm and held against the wall by his neck. She told him to strip and he started to shake. She snatched the AK from his hands and pointed it at him, once again commanding him to remove his garments and hand them over. And he did. He hopped with one leg out of the pants and worked to remove his top. He handed them to her then moved to his socks and boots, untying the strings and shuffling out of them. He handed them to her. She looked him over, then snatched the dog tags from his neck and pulled the beret from his head. She nodded to her right and told him to move to her desired location. A locker.
"Get in!" She said watching the trembling guard step into rectangular box. She kicked shut the door and lowered her gun. She turned to grab some boxes of porno magazines and mail clippings and stacked them on top of each other in front of the locker. "Make any noise and I'll come back to kill you. Got that?"
The sentry remained silent.
The clothes were carefully put on in a blind spot of both, the camera and locker. The B.D.Us were a perfect fit for yet a second time. Only this time, it was the correct uniform. The last was meant for the third sub level at the shift of the following day. She learned that when questioned by one of the sentries who thought the getup was suspicious. He replied by firing on her, without even interrogating whether her 'work schedule' was confused. She pulled the black ski mask over her head and tucked in the dark tresses, then moved to tie the strings of her boots. She straightened and grabbed up the AK-109 from beside the locker. She smirked, testing the sentry hidden inside by banging on the locker wall.
"You awake in there??"
The sentry gave a muffled yell sounding relatively close to 'get me out of here, please!'. She shook her head.
"Can't do that. You'll report to your friends. Hopefully someone will find you." She fired off two shots to the locker and stepped off toward the hall with the security camera. She was undetected by the camera, and she liked that. She continued to walk. Meanwhile the locker began to leak a dark crimson liquid from the slits at the bottom. Creating a large puddle in the center of the floor.
"Snake!" Hal called. "Snake! Can you read me!? Snake!"
"Ot- ..-on…? I…ca-...-ear….yo-. …Tr-smi-n…bro-en. Can-…f-nc..-ion." replied snake. He tapped his ear and winced at the screeching feedback.
"Snake?! Damn!" Otacon peered from behind the tree. A sentry was close by still surveying the area. Otacon knew if he were spotted it'd all be over for him, Snake, the Kunoichi, and this mission. He leaned back and tapped in another frequency. It began to ring. Brrrt Brrrt!
"Kap, here."
"Kaplan, where's Snake?"
"I don't know. Where's Cora?"
"I don't know." He paused. "I can't get in touch with Snake. There seems to be some sort of interference in our transmission."
"Shit! " Otacon raised a brow at the woman's yell. A loud smack followed by a short sizzling sound occurred. He could hear a small clanking noise in the background followed by her strenuous grunts. The sound of a metal gate banged against the support holds and Kaplan chuckled lightly to herself. "As easy as cake."
"You okay over there? What's happening?"
"Yeah. Just freed myself."
"Where are you?"
"Leaving the holding facility." She whispered. A bang noise emits. "Ow!-damn things."
"Holding facility? Kaplan, I need you to find Snake."
"How much are you paying?"
"Uh….well-"
"Otacon, I'm kind of on a mission here. I'm sure Snake can handle himself. Isn't he supposedly a Legend? The way I see it, a little communication error between you and him isn't something to get worried about."
"Kaplan look,—"
"Can you patch through a heat sensor through my radar? I can't see a thi--Agh!" Otacon heard a loud crash followed by continuous thuds and grunts until a final smack ended the six-second noise. Kaplan fell silent.
"Hey! You okay? Kaplan?" Otacon's voice beamed in her ear.
"I'm… I'm okay. I'm okay. Just… tripped over some stairs." She felt around in the dark and held onto a firm surface, pulling herself up. She leaned against that surface and sighed, looking around at the dark. "I need a light source or something."
"I'm patching in the heat sensors. Snake may not be able to double back for me. Unless, of course,…you…"
"Unless I come and get you?"
"…Yeah, if you would."
Kaplan hesitated, drawing in the silence. Otacon waited, growing anxious because the sentry continued to step closer to his location. He was making his 5th round of patrolling and Otacon wasn't sure how much longer he could stay hidden.
"Fine. Where are you?"
"I'll send you the coordinates." Otacon began transmitting the data through codec using the nanomachine com-chip he installed with the sensor system. "There."
Kaplan grunted. "That's a bit out of my way."
Otacon fell to a whisper as the sentry neared his position. "But can you do it?"
"Of course. But this'll cost extra from Philanthropy."
"I'll pay you from my personal earnings."
Kaplan paused, considering the thought. "Fair enough."
"I'll be there in 15. Can you hold out that long?"
"Can you make it here in 5? I don't think I can wait 15 minutes."
Kaplan grunted. "Just wait there, I'll be around."
"Good. And hurry."
"Whatever."