Chapter 5
Solid Snake's eyes shot open. For the first time in days he'd felt alive. Just as he stood, Trinity entered his quarters.
"C'mon, Snake. We've got work to do."
Snake rubbed his hand over the stubble on his head and followed her. She lead him into the command room and guided him to a chair.
"Are you ready to learn kung fu?"
Snake snorted in return, "I don't need kung fu. Just start the damned training exercises."
He lay back in the chair and the jack slid into his neck sending his mind into the virtual construct.
- - -
Instantaneously, Snake was in a Japanese dojo, wearing his sneaking suit. Across from him was the man known as Morpheus wearing a karate gi.
"Snake, this, is a sparring program. It in itself is a simulation of the Matrix. Laws of gravity and physics apply here; just like in the real world—just like in the Matrix. Snake, I need you to show me something. Show me…"
Morpheus began walking toward Snake.
Snake's battle instinct took over. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his body. He could sense his own body tightening up to attack and parry.
"…what you can do!"
Morpheus leapt in with a furious combo. Leading with a trio of right back-fists and following with a smashing elbow, he forced Snake back. Snake gathered himself and brought himself into a fighting stance, the best one he could mimic. He was never the most skilled at hand-to-hand combat, but he always managed to get the job done in the end. Only this time was different. He didn't know what it was he had to do. All he could do was fight, and that's what he did.
Snake threw a left punch, then a right punch, and then followed with a jumping, spinning back kick that caught Morpheus in the jaw.
Morpheus smiled as he rubbed his jaw gently.
"Good, Snake. Now really show me what you've got."
Morpheus walked in and took his fighting stance. He feinted both kicks and punches, forcing Snake to reinforce his defensive tactics. In his mind, Snake saw himself fighting the ghost of Grey Fox back on Shadow Moses. Now, like then, he was facing an opponent with greater mobility, greater strength and who was more skilled. But like then, Snake was going to find a way to win.
Morpheus feinted a kick, then followed through with a devastating uppercut, dropping Snake to the ground. Suddenly, Morpheus leapt into the air like a crane, arms spread and knees curled in under him. Snake rolled out of the way just in time, as Morpheus crashed down into the mat with his knee. Snake stood in the ready, waiting for Morpheus to attack. He knew that if he timed it right, Snake could take the upper hand in the fight.
- - -
"Trinity, look at the neural output readings. Snake is off the scale. As fast as I was."
Trinity looked at Snake's monitor and was in shock at what she saw.
"Neo," she paused, "he's faster."
Neither of them was ready for what was about to transpire next.
- - -
Morpheus and Snake traded blows back and forth, a primitive, yet graceful ballet of strike and parry, evade and maneuver. Morpheus leaned in with a powerful right hand thrust. With lightning quickness, Snake took Morpheus hand and channeled his momentum to propel him forward and down to the ground, all the while maintaining a grip on his hand. When Morpheus stood, Snake was nowhere in sight. Then he could feel the presence of the man known as Snake. It was too late.
Snake appeared suddenly behind Morpheus and grabbed his neck. One squeeze, two squeezes, three squeezes, four squeezes. Snake could feel Morpheus' neck growing weaker. A few more squeezes, and Snake would break his neck. Morpheus, dropped to his knees and smashed his head backwards into Snake's jaw, forcing Snake to release him.
Morpheus rested on one knee, struggling to catch his breath.
Snake sat on his wallet.
"You," Morpheus started in between gasps, "you are as good as they say."
Before Snake could spit a reply, Morpheus stood and shouted.
"Start the jump program."
In an instant, the background changed from a dojo to the rooftop of a sky scraper.
"What the hell?"
"It's simple, Snake. Make it to the other side."
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"
Morpheus brought to fingers up and tapped his temple, "Free your mind."
Then Morpheus turned, broke into a sprint for a mere second, then leapt high in the air. He landed on the second tower.
Snake's eyes narrowed.
"Some VR."
Then he broke into a full sprint.
- - -
"He's not going to make it."
"Trinity, there's something about him I can't put my finger on. He might do it."
"No one ever makes the first jump, Neo."
"I know, Trinity. He might."
Their eyes were glued to the monitor as they could see Snake break into a sprint.
- - -
Snake let out a grunt as he leapt into the air with all his might. The only thing going through his mind was making it to the other side; especially if that would help him complete his mission, whatever that was. Snake never failed a mission. It looked as if Snake were going to plummet, when he reached out and grabbed the edge of the rooftop. With every ounce of strength, Snake pulled himself up on to the rooftop and stood tall. His bandana flowed in the wind. He'd cleared the gaping expanse between the two sky scrapers.
- - -
Trinity looked at Neo in horrific surprise. Then they looked at each other and exchanged glances that said the same thing: "He is the One."