Chapter 5: Two roads unite.

Everyone had left the area near Old Miltia. The Elsa was headed towards the Durandal and Simeon was headed towards Pleroma. With U-DO surrounding the Zohar, none of them could do anything to retrieve it.

While the Elsa headed towards the Durandal, everyone was on the Elsa's bar, getting acquainted with Snake and Otacon.

Shion: So, uh, Snake is it? How did you guys appear, or what's your story?

Snake: I have no idea how the hell we got here.

Otacon: It's as if we traveled forward in time… What year is it?

Ziggy: T.C. 4767.

Snake: T.C.? Great, they started counting again and it's already been over 4000 years.

Shion: I guess we should get to know each other before we share our stories. I'm Shion Uzuki. Pleased to meet you!

Snake: I'm called Solid Snake.

Otacon: I'm Hal Emmerich, but you can call me Otacon.

Ziggy: Ziggurat 8, otherwise known as Ziggy.

Otacon: You have a number in your name?

Ziggy: It is my model number.

Shion: I guess you guys wouldn't know. He's a cyborg. When he died 100 years ago, during the years of the Life Recycling Act, humans where brought back to life and turned into cyborgs.

Snake: This just keeps getting better and better.

MOMO: I'm MOMO. I'm a 100-Series Observational Realian.

Otacon: Ah… I don't mean to be rude, but what is that?

MOMO: A type of Realian meant to seek out Gnosis.

Snake: That just brings up more questions. Let's take them one at a time. What's a Realian?

Shion: I'll answer this one. They're basically human, just composed of synthetic components. They are just like humans. The only difference is how they are born.

Snake: Ah, so that's it…

In Snake's mind: Please, someone, wake me up!

Otacon: Next question. What is a Gnosis?

Shion: They are an alien race that we are in constant fear of. There isn't much known about them, really.

Snake: Great. Aliens. That's all we need.

KOS-MOS: I am an Anti-Gnosis Humanoid Fighting System, serial number 00-00-00-00-1.

Development name KP-X. Abbreviated name, KOS-MOS.

Shion: That's enough, KOS-MOS. She's an android, basically.

Snake: So we've got cyborgs, Realians, and androids. Anything else before I ask you to explain the differences?

Shion: No, actually. Cyborgs used to be human, but have mechanical parts. Realians where man made, but are living beings, just like humans. An android is a machine, controlled by A.I.

Otacon: You mean artificial intelligence, right?

He was beginning to enjoy being in the future. All this knew technology for him to explore.

Snake: Are any of you human?

Shion/Jin/Allen/Captain Matthews/Tony/Hammer: I'm a human.

They all said in unison.

Shion: Chaos, you didn't say anything.

Chaos: Oh, yes. I'm human too… I'm Chaos by the way.

Otacon: What about you, little guy?

Jr: I'm no little guy! I'm 26 six years old! The name's Jr.

Both Snake and Otacon look at the others to verify if what Jr. had said was true. Their looks told them yes.

Snake: Wow. Let me recap. We have a cyborg, a battle android, a Realian, some alien race, and a 26-year-old boy. What's next?

Otacon: Snake, your being rude.

Snake: Ergh…

Otacon: So, huh, Jr?

He began speaking to him as if he were a child, but quickly changed his tone.

Otacon: You didn't say you were human.

Jr: I'm a U.R.T.V.

Snake: Did you just call Otacon a TV?

Jr: No! It stands for U-DO Retro Virus. We're basically human clones, specifically created for the eradication of U-DO.

Otacon: We're? Does that mean there are more of you?

Jr: Yes. Albedo is one of them, in fact.

Snake: That maniac who's head grew back on, back there at… what was it called?

Shion: Old Miltia?

Snake. Yeah.

Jr: Yeah, that's him.

Snake: You said eradicate U-DO. Is that what this Albedo character was talking about back there?

Jr: Yeah. That thing consumed Old Miltia.

Snake: I guess you guys haven't done your jobs. Heh heh.

Otacon slaps him in the arm.

Snake: Uh, sorry. There's a lot more to explain, but let's continue with the presentations first.

Jin: I'm Jin Uzuki, Shion's brother.

Allen: I'm Allen Ridgeley. I work with Shion.

Matthews: I'm Captain Matthews, the captain of this here ship.

Hammer: I'm Hammer. I take care of navigation.

Tony: I'm Tony, the pilot.

Snake: That takes care of everyone. Any other new age wonder that we need to know about?

Chaos: Ether, right?

Otacon: Ether?

Snake: I can't wait to hear this.

Matthews: You guys don't know what Ether is! You're in for a surprise.

Jin: Ether is the name given to the special abilities Uber humans have. It can take many forms. Allow me to demonstrate.

Jin takes out his sword and swings it. Flames engulf the blade and then disappear.

Otacon: Whoa! That was cool! Man, no offence but you are REALLY like a character in one of my Japanese Animes!

Snake: Nice trick, kid. Special blade?

Jin: No. This is a regular sword. I use my own energy to give extra power to my swing. Being able to use Ether is part of being an Uber human.

Snake: What are Uber humans?

Jin: We are advancements in science, let's just say.

Snake: Sounds familiar…

Jin: Others use technology to manipulate Ether, like my sister. She has abilities due to her nanomachines.

Shion: I have healing abilities. If you guys would like, I could use one on you.

Snake: Do it on Otacon.

Shion: Okay.

Otacon: Wait-

It was too late. Shion casts Medica on Otacon.

Otacon: Oh, wow. That feels great! I don't feel nearly as tired anymore. Thank you!

Snake: Really? I guess I'll try it out. Miss Uzuki?

Shion: Call me Shion. Here we go.

She casts the spell again on Snake.

Snake: Ooh. That's nice. And I thought my world was weird. Mantis, Vamp, the Patriots…

Otacon: Don't forget Fortune.

Shion: What?

Snake: Forget about it.

Jr: Let's start with that man that also came out of the Zohar. Who was it? He had two Colt Single Action Army guns. Wish I had them.

Snake: How do you know what they are? Those guns are old, even to me!

Jr: I read a lot. And I'm into antique weaponry. Check this out.

Jr grabs both his guns and spins them forward, then back and holsters them with great precision.

Otacon: Oh, wow. Mini Ocelot.

Snake: Ahh ha ha haa! Oh, man! That was funny!

Allen: Oh, wow. You hadn't even given us a smile yet, and now you're cracking up.

Snake: I'm sorry. That was just hilarious. Well, anyway, that man was my twin brother, from what I hear.

Shion: Your twin brother? He doesn't look at all like you, and he appears to be far older than you.

Snake: Ah, yes. Well, you see, the man you saw was Revolver Ocelot.

Shion: I remember you called him Liquid.

Snake: Liquid Snake, but that wasn't the body of my brother. That man, Revolver Ocelot, got his hand sliced off. Apparently, he got my dead brother's arm as a replacement. From there, it appears he takes over the body of Ocelot. I don't know how, but the man that was in control back there was Liquid.

Ziggy: What about this 'Ocelot' person? Does this mean he's dead?

Snake: I don't think so. They seem to fight over control, but it seems Liquid is the one who decides. He seems to force himself in and Ocelot cannot stop him.

Chaos: So how did you all get inside the Zohar? That appears to have been what happened.

Snake/Otacon: Well.

Snake: Go ahead.

Otacon: We were pursuing Liquid in our Kasatka.

Everyone made a questioning face.

Otacon: That was the machine Snake and I came out of.

They then all make an 'oh' face.

Otacon: Snake managed to place a transmitter on Metal Gear.

Again, they make a questioning face.

Otacon: That was the machine Liquid came out of.

Again, they all make an 'oh' face.

Otacon: I guess it's too long of a story to explain why, but during the pursuit, we followed Liquid to a large lake. Suddenly, everything began to tremble, and that 'Zohar' thing, as you call it, surfaced from the water. It shot a beam of light into the sky and we were caught in it. Everything went white. Next thing we know, we appeared in Old Miltia along with Liquid. We have no idea how we all got here.

Ziggy: Perhaps that beam of light drew you into the Zohar.

Snake: That seems the most likely explanation, but that still doesn't explain how Liquid got here.

Otacon: He probably got too close.

Snake: In any case, there is no point in trying to figure it out. The thing is that, we have been taken 4000 years in the future, and it doesn't seem like we can ever go back.

Shion: How do you know?

Otacon: It seems like we were frozen in time inside that thing, not like we were warped here or anything. But wait! This is 4000 years in the future. Is time travel possible?

Shion: I'm sorry to inform you, but it has been proven for time travel to be an impossibility.

Snake: Great. So we are stuck. We might as well accept it now. I don't think this is a dream anymore, either.

Otacon: Well, Snake. There wasn't that much that we lost. All we had was Philanthropy. We can still form it here.

Snake: There aren't any Metal Gears for us to get rid of here.

Otacon: Well, that machine that Albedo person had looked kinda like a Metal Gear.

Jr: If you're talking about giant robots, we call them A.G.W.S. units.

Snake: Eggs?

Shion: A, g, w, s. It stands for Anti-Gnosis Weapon System. There are many different kinds. Those 'robots' are just downscaled versions.

Snake: Are those things a problem? I think I'm experienced in taking down those kinds of things.

He breathes on his nails, and wipes them on his chest. There was a satisfied look on his face, but he was merely joking. He was a modest person, despite his incredible skills.

Shion: Actually, we use them too. We use them to combat the Gnosis. I guess we should tell you guys everything that has happened. It's quite a long story.

Snake: Don't worry. We're not busy.

Shion and the others begin to tell Snake and Otacon everything that had happened. How they all ended up together. Up to when they met up with them on Old Miltia.

Snake: And I thought I had a story to tell. It had everything. Drama…

He looks at MOMO and Shion. They divert their eyes from his.

Snake: …comedy…

He looks at Allen.

Allen: Hey!

Snake: …and adventure.

He looks at Jr.

Jr: Damn straight!

He grabs one of his guns and begins spinning it. A voice over the loudspeaker interrupted him.

Female Computer Voice: Attention all personnel. Approaching gate-out. Repeat. Approaching gate-out.

Tony: Well guys. We're almost at the Durandal. I'm going to the bridge.

After he leaves, Snake says,

Snake: Well, if everything they said is true, they have a lot of battle experience. I guess they can join Philanthropy.

Allen: What! Hey, you're the guys who are joining us. If we let you, that is.

Snake: What the hell are you talking about! From all I've heard, all you did was moan and complain.

Allen: Hey! That was…

Shion: Well, Allen did have some uses. Like helping me maintenance KOS-MOS.

Allen: Thank you, Chief.

Shion: But then again, I could have done it all by myself. Would have been easier than putting up with all you're complaining, too.

Allen: Chi- Chiieeef!

Shion: Oh, I'm just joking Allen. Don't take it so seriously.

Snake: Well, at least he hasn't pissed himself.

Otacon: He- Hey! That was a shot at me!

Snake: Ha haa! Don't worry. Look at the man you've become. Maybe there's hope for this guy after all. Well, anyway, I was joking about you guys joining us. I guess we'll join you guys. That okay with you, Otacon?

Otacon: Yeah, sure. There's probably a lot I'll learn on this trip anyway. So I'm looking forward to it.

Snake: How about you guys? Would you mind if we join you?

Jr: Not at all. We'll appreciate all the help we can get.

Tony's voice then came over the speaker.

Tony: Mr. Snake and Otacon, would you guys like to come to the bridge and see the Kukai Foundation.

Jr: Oh yeah! You guys gotta see it from the outside. Let's go!

They all go to the bridge as the Elsa prepares to enter the Durandal, which was still stationed at the Kukai Foundation.

Otacon: Wow! That's amazing!

Snake: And here I was, impressed by the Elsa.

Matthews: Hey!

Snake: I'm joking.

Matthews: Oh, right. I gotta watch out for you.

He said, as they continue approaching the Foundation.