Chapter 4: New friends from a distant world.
They finally reached Old Miltia. They came out of warp space in the same area as Albedo. Since the U.M.N. headquarters was located on Second Miltia, Helmer easily pulled some strings to get the information, which is usually kept private inside the U.M.N. database.
Ziggy: This is just like when we took the Encephalon dive.
He says, looking out the bridge's window. He was talking about the planet they had arrived at. It was Old Miltia, and it looked like the war-torn planet from the Encephalon dive. The only difference was that it was a lot quieter. No sighs of life, due to the 14 years of time that passed.
MOMO: That's the building daddy fell from…
MOMO said, as it came into view.
Jr: Damn it! Look! It's Albedo!
Albedo could be seen inside of his Simeon, floating in mid-air in front of the building MOMO was talking about. Suddenly, a large amount of energy gathers in Simeon's hands and he unleashes it onto the building. The entire building is then vaporized.
Jr: What power… Damn it! Blast him!
Tony: Are you sure, what if he does the same to us?
Captain Matthews: Ya moron! Get 'em now that he's off guard. Besides, Jr's our boss, remember?
Tony: Okay…
Tony fires the Elsa's guns at Albedo who was waiting for all the dust he created to settle down. He is caught off guard and is shot down to the ground.
Jr: Damn it! He's already starting to get up. Hurry and land the Elsa.
Tony: Where? There's rubble everywhere.
Jr: Anywhere! Just land it near Albedo. We're finishing this here and now!
After Tony found a clearing and landed, everyone, excluding the Elsa's crew, exited and ran towards the area Albedo had landed on. He was outside of his Simeon and apparently waiting for them.
Albedo: Ahh, Rubedo. I'm glad you could join the party.
Jr: Damn it, Albedo! What are you trying to do?
Albedo: See for yourself.
He points to his right, where the building was just a few minutes ago. The dust had mostly cleared away. Everyone turns to face it and are shocked at what they see.
Shion: The Zohar!
Ziggy: It looks different than the others.
Albedo: That's because it's the original. (Picture the one from the intro of Xenosaga, or the one Abel sees in Xenogears. It has a green-blue 'eye' where the emulators have the marks.) Thanks to ma belle pêche, it is now ours!
Jr: Ours? You're with the U-TIC, aren't you-.
Jr is suddenly interrupted by a bright light that engulfs them all.
Albedo: What is this?
KOS-MOS: There is a high-energy reading emitting from the Zohar, similar to that of a gate-out.
After the brightness subsides, a beam of light shoots out from the 'eye' of the Zohar, and a giant metal object materializes near Shion's party. Another, even bigger, metal object materializes near Albedo. It looked similar to an A.G.W.S. unit, only like none other any of them had seen. It had more of a 'creature' look to it.
Suddenly, two men emerge from the first object that came out. The object appeared to be some type of helicopter.
: Snake, what happened?
The man seemed groggy, as if waking up after being unconscious for a long time.
Snake: I don't know. Are you okay, Otacon?
This man appeared to be more aware. He was quickly becoming alert.
: Snaaaake! What the hell did you do!
Another man emerged from the second object that appeared to come from the Zohar.
Snake: Liquid!
Shion: Who… are they?
Ziggy: From what they've said, the man with the glasses appears to be 'Otacon'. The other man with him appears to be 'Snake'. And the man that appeared from that strange A.G.W.S. unit appears to be called 'Liquid'.
Jin: Strange names.
Chaos: They dress funny, too.
Albedo: Well, things have gotten a lot livelier.
Liquid: Who the hell are you?
Albedo: I ask you the same. Nice clothes by the way. Mwhaa haha haa!
Liquid: How dare you laugh at me! I am… Big Boss! I'll show you!
He grabs one of Ocelot's guns and tries to spin it like him, but drops it.
Liquid: Damn. I may not be as good as this traitor, but I'll still dispose of you!
He grabs the other gun and shoots Albedo in the head. His entire head is blown off.
Liquid: Didn't think this gun was that powerful…
An instant later, Albedo's head regenerates back to normal. Liquid is taken aback.
Liquid: Wha-!
Snake: The hell…!
Otacon: What just happened!
Albedo: Huah ha ha ha haa! Liked my little trick? It appeared to be as unexpected to you, as your arrival to us. We were about to have a little party. Would you like to join us?
Snake turns to face Shion's group.
Snake: Where are we? What the hell is going on here!
Shion: We- we're on Old Miltia. How did you get here?
Snake: Old Miltia? Where in the world is that!
Ziggy: You seem to be confused. This 'world' is Old Miltia.
Otacon: I'm dreaming.
He said it as if becoming convinced of it.
Snake: You're saying we're not on Earth anymore…? This really is a dream.
Chaos: Earth!
Shion: Do you know what he's talking about?
Chaos: Ah, well… a little.
Albedo: Well, enough chit chat. Let's get this party started.
As Albedo prepared himself to fight Shion's group, the ground began to tremble violently.
Snake: Damn, not again!
Albedo: Ahh, U-DO. So you're not letting us have it? What's that? You are refusing me? So be it.
Otacon: First he regenerates his head and now he's communicating with this… trembling somehow. This is crazier than my Japanese Animes!
Snake: Otacon, I don't know what's going on, but I'm not taking a chance of this being a dream.
Albedo: Well, everybody. This place is gonna take another beating. Guess we'll have to finish our little party some other time. Heh Hehh.
He turns around to face Liquid, who was still in shock.
Albedo: You want to stay here and fry, or come with me?
Liquid: I'm not going anywhere with you, you freak!
Albedo: Then stay here and die. This entire planet will be engulfed in minutes. U-Do is awakening.
Shion turns over to face Snake and Otacon.
Shion: Do you guys have a ship to leave in? It doesn't look like that thing you came out of could travel in space. You could come with us.
Otacon/Jr: Are you sure we can trust them?
They each said to their comrades.
Shion: We can't leave them here to die.
Snake: I don't think we have a choice. Damn, the shaking is getting stronger! We don't think we have much time. Let's go.
They both run over to Shion's party. Shion nods to them and says,
Shion: Alright. Let's go, guys.
They all begin to run back to the Elsa, Shion leading the way. When it comes into view, Otacon stops in his tracks.
Otacon: That's amazing… Can that really travel is space?
Snake: There's no time, Otacon. We'll see and find out.
They all enter the ship, and moments later, the Elsa takes off. Meanwhile, Albedo was still talking to Liquid.
Albedo: Well, they're gone. Are you sure you want to stay here and die?
Liquid: Why do you even care?
Albedo: I want to find out why you emerged from the Zohar. The shaking is getting more violent. There's little time.
Liquid: Damn it! Fine, let's go. Where's your 'ship'?
Albedo: Right there.
He said, motioning to his Simeon.
Liquid: You can go into space with that!
Albedo: Yours can't?
Liquid: No. It can't even fly at all. But it can cruise under water.
Albedo: Whoop-tee-doo. Hop into my Simeon. Take the back seat.
They both board Simeon, and as they are about to blast off, Liquid stops Albedo.
Liquid: What are you doing? Don't leave Metal Gear behind!
Albedo: Why do you even want that inferior machine? Fine, I'll take it with us.
Albedo walks over to Metal Gear and grabs it by its tail.
Liquid: Hey! Be careful with it!
Albedo: Quit being so picky.
Simeon could be seen blasting off Old Miltia with Metal Gear Ray by its tail. Behind them could be seen Old Miltia being consumed by U-DO. (Picture the scene where Ariadne is destroyed.) But then, another 'planet' seemed to take its place. Only this was the being known as U-DO in its physical form.
