Chapter 24: Battle of the brothers

(Note to reader, chapter 24 was originally going to be the final chapter, but it got so long that I decided to break it up into smaller ones, so the transitions between chapters may be a little awkward from now on, just so you know.)

Jin: What… happened…?

Everyone began regaining consciousness. They are lying on the ground where they had last been standing. Albedo and KOS-MOS were now gone and so are all of the U-TIC employees.

Snake: Looks like we're the only ones here.

He says, as he becomes fully aware.

Ziggy: We should go to the Eldridge immediately.

Jr: Yeah. Let's board the Murian. MOMO, are you ready to take us there?

MOMO: Sure, Jr.

Chaos: No need.

As he says that, they begin to feel a rumbling in the atmosphere. They all look up to see what was causing the rumbling.

Jr: The Elsa!

Moments later, the Elsa lands and Otacon, Miyuki and Allen come out and approach the party.

Snake: Otacon! What happened? And how did you find us?

Otacon: We tracked you through your codec. We came here as soon as we could. I'm glad we weren't too late. As for us, we managed to escape from Vector and so did the Elsa and its crew.

Snake: Did you escape with them?

Otacon: No… there isn't much time to explain. So what happened? Did they take the Zohar?

Snake: Yeah, but we know where everything is going down. We have the coordinates to the Eldridge.

Miyuki: The Eldridge! So Vector really is involved…

Shion: I still can't believe it.

Allen: I guess we must… So what are we going to do?

Snake: We? You wanna tag along?

Allen: I've already come this far. There's no point in turning back. I know I'm of little use, but I still want to help any way I can.

Snake: I guess there was hope for you, kid.

Miyuki: I'm coming too!

Otacon: No. You can't. It's too dangerous. I can't let you.

Jr then whispers to Ziggy.

Jr: Sheesh, he's already playing the protective boyfriend.

Ziggy: Ha ha.

Jr: I at least let MOMO decide if she wants to come along or not.

Ziggy: What?

Jr: Oh uh, nothing.

His eyes shift side to side. He was still shy about people knowing he liked MOMO.

Miyuki: But… Well, okay. But promise me you'll come back.

Otacon: I promise.

Snake: Oh, brother.

He says as he rolls his eyes.

Snake: Are you two done yet? I want to get this over with. And I'm feeling even more confident than usual. I feel this power brewing inside me, stronger than before.

He says, as he looks at his hands as if looking at them for the first time. He clenches them into fists and looks up at the party.

Jr: Yeah, so do I…

Jin: Me too.

Chaos: I guess it was because of the Wave Existence.

Otacon: The Wave Existence?

Snake: We're wasting time. Let's talk inside on our way to the Eldridge.

Otacon: Yeah, okay.

They enter the Elsa and make their way into the bridge.

Tony: Hey guys. I though we wouldn't see you again.

Hammer: Yeah, am I glad you are all okay!

Captain Matthews: Yeah, so we can get paid.

Hammer: He tries to sound tough, but he's also happy to see you all.

Captain Matthews: Yeah, whatever. So where are we headed now?

Shion gives Tony the connection gear that Virgil had given them.

Shion: The coordinates should be in here. We should get there as soon as possible.

Captain Matthews: What do we do with your other ship? Do we take it with us?

Jr: The Murian? We've wasted enough time as it is. We should depart immediately.

Captain Matthews: Suit yourself. Alright ya morons! Let's get going!

Hammer/Tony: Aye aye, Captain!

On the way to the Eldridge, Snake and the others explain to Otacon, Miyuki and Allen about their experience with the Wave Existence. They didn't know what to make of it, but they believed the party. That just explains further why the U-TIC and Vector wanted the Zohar so badly. They also learned more about Chaos and came to understand him. They still trusted him like before, just like the rest. After they were done talking about the encounter with the Wave Existence, Otacon explained how the Kukai Foundation was forced to give up the emulators and how Otacon discovered that he, too, had been given abilities while being inside the Zohar. He explained it to them that he believed it worked like the teleportation of small items. But instead, he could do it with living things. He also needed a connection with the place to be able to teleport there. He had used the connection from his Codec to the Durandal to teleport himself, Miyuki and Allen there. Moments after they were done explaining everything to each other, they arrived at the Eldridge.

Allen: Is that the Eldridge?

Jr: It's enormous!

Tony: It looks like it's welcoming us in. Do I proceed?

Jr: Is everyone ready?

Everybody nods. Jr then nods to Tony, signaling him to proceed. Tony flies the Elsa towards the Eldridge. It was an enormous ship. It looked like a giant airplane. It had enormous wings and was many kilometers long. A section covering the top of it was glass, allowing visibility within. There seemed to me much going on inside. Most of the employees probably didn't know exactly what was going on. They were only told to prepare for a long journey. Most of them were only there to help run the massive ship. The Elsa soon enters the Eldridge where designated. They exit into a large and empty room, leaving behind Miyuki and the Elsa's crew.

Allen: This feels like a trap.

Jr: Are you chickening out?

Allen: No, just saying.

Snake: Yeah. This is definitely a trap to get Shion. I'm not too sure if you should even come along.

He says, turning to face Shion.

Shion: I have to. I want to know more about what we're in the middle of and why. And I want to get KOS-MOS back.

Snake: Why do you care for the thing so much?

Shion: She's not a thing! She is my life's work. I've put my all into creating her. I can't just let her be swallowed up by Wilhelm's ambitions. And to think that I used to work for him…

Allen: I guess all we can do to fix things is to set things right. Right Chief?

Snake: Huh? Since when did you become a man?

Allen: He- hey! I've always been a man. I just… needed a bit of a push. Although kicking me where it hurts most…

Otacon: Heh heh.

Allen: …was a little extreme, it has helped me realize the annoyance that I can be. I was the fist to panic when Vector turned on us. I had to rely on Otacon to hot-tail us out of there. That was pretty cool, by the way.

Otacon: Thank you.

Allen: But now I'm done with that. I must become a man. Or else, I'll never be able to say… uhm…

He is looking at Shion as he stumbles with words. He wants to tell her something, but can't.

Shion: Yes, Allen?

Jr: Heh heh. Look at 'em Ziggy.

He whispers to Ziggy.

Jr: He's sweating!

Ziggy: This guy's hilarious.

Jin: Is he trying to hit on my sister?

Allen: Uhm… Let's leave it for later. Let's go through that door. It's the only one open.

Snake: They're leading us in.

Jr: Let 'em. This time we're packing more heat!

He brings his right fist to his left palm, unleashing a few flames.

Jr: I can take out Albedo on my own, now!

They begin walking over to the open door. They soon find themselves in another large and fairly empty room. There they see Liquid, Albedo and Margulis.

Albedo: You guys look rested. Had a nice nap?

Jr: Yes we did. Now I'm ready to take you down myself!

Albedo: Oooohh! Such confidence.

Liquid: This is going to be one hell of a party, as you say, Albedo.

Albedo: I'm looking forward to it.

Margulis: Shion, it is time to fulfill your purpose. To revolt against us is to deny your entire existence. Just come quietly and embrace your purpose. Embrace the light.

Shion: I have yet to find a true purpose to my life. But I have the right to choose. I'm not letting you decide for me!

Margulis: Then we will have to force your destiny upon you.

Albedo: And we're going to have tons of fun doing it, aren't we Rubedo.

Jr: I'll show you fun!

Jr braces himself to fight, but Albedo just stands there.

Albedo: I prefer to see a fight before getting started myself. Let's do it like last time, shall we? Liquid?

Liquid: Way ahead of you.

He says, as he begins walking towards the center of the room.

Liquid: Here we go again, eh brother?

Snake: You just don't get tired, do you Liquid?

Liquid: I won't stop until you lay battered and broken in front of me.

Snake: That's not going to happen. I'm too powerful now. Why don't you just leave and try to live a normal life? Well, as normal as it can get in this world, I guess.

Liquid: Ha! I don't need your mercy.

Snake: You've made your entire life's purpose killing me. Don't you find it pathetic?

Liquid: Not at all. It is my pride as a true warrior!

Snake: Just an excuse to kill.

Liquid: As if you didn't!

Snake: I kill for the sake of others, not for pleasure!

Liquid: And who are you to decide who lives and dies, eh Snake?

Snake: …

Liquid: At a loss for words, Snake?

Snake: I fight for what I believe is right. For what I believe in. If someone gets in my way, they get removed. It's that simple.

Liquid: I see. So you're going to 'simply' remove me then?

Snake: If you get in my way, yes. But I would rather not.

Liquid: And why's that?

Snake: You and I were born to kill. That was our curse since birth. I tried to run away from it, but I kept getting dragged back in. I couldn't escape it. All I can do is try to justify it. But you merely take pleasure from it. That is how you escape the torment of existing for the sole purpose of killing.

Liquid: …

Snake: I want this to end. You and I have been enemies since we've met. Perhaps we were destined for it since birth. But we share this curse and I don't want to be consumed by it. If you walk away from it all now, then perhaps, I one day can too.

Liquid: Nice little speech, Snake. But you're not sweet-talking yourself outta this. It's too late for me, and I'm bringing you down with me!

Liquid charges at Snake, who was still standing next to the team. Snake raises his right palm and unleashes a powerful bolt of lightning at Liquid. Liquid forms a shield of energy in front of himself my forming a cross with his arms. Snake's power was now too great and the bolt goes through Liquid's shield and blasts him all the way back to where Albedo and Margulis were standing. He lands on his back, almost at their feet, smoke coming out of his body. His left leg twitches as he becomes motionless.

Albedo: That was fast.

He says, as he stares down at Liquid's motionless body.

Chaos: Wow.

Jr: Is he dead?

Snake: I don't know. Didn't think I had gained that much more power from the Wave Existence.

Liquid: Arrghh!

He says, as he sits up. There is a flustered look in his face.

Snake: Oh, I forgot. He never dies.

Liquid: How- wha- what did you do!

Snake: Blasted you.

Liquid: How did you get so powerful!

Snake: Exercise and a healthy diet.

Liquid: Damn you…

He says as he stands up.

Snake: So, are you ready to give up yet?

Liquid: …Never…

Snake: You just saw that you don't stand a chance. You cannot beat me. We shouldn't fight.

Liquid: We must. One last time. It will be the only thing that could satisfy me.

Snake: You'll never be satisfied.

Liquid: Fight me hand-to-hand! None of this 'power' crap that we got somehow. Just like on top of Metal Gear Rex.

Snake: You had Meryl strapped with a time-bomb…

Liquid: Well, none of that now.

Snake: You won't stop pestering us until I do, will you?

Liquid: My powers may not be as great as yours are now, but I'll find a way to get in your way.

Snake: Will get in my way, huh? Fine. This will be our final confrontation then.

Liquid: Let's make it a good one.

Albedo: After all that talking, this better be good.

He says, as Liquid and Snake walk towards the center of the room to face each other.

Margulis: Yeah. Oh, uh, I mean, I don't care. …Ah screw it. This should be a good fight.

Albedo: Finally joined the party, eh? Ha ha haa!

Snake and Liquid reach the center of the room and bring up their fists in preparation for their final battle.

Snake: Have at you, Liquid!

Liquid: Hey! That's my line-

Snake gives him a quick right jab to the face.

Liquid: You damn cheater!

Snake: Heh heh.

Jr: They sound like kid brothers fighting.

Ziggy: I guess they never had a chance to have a fight as kids, so here they are. Maybe you and Albedo will do that too. Ha haa!

Jr: Screw that guy! He's not my brother! (Note to reader, between putting up the last chapter and going over this one, I finally played XS2 and realize that they are brothers, not just clones of the same man. But I don't feel like changing it so let's just leave it as is. Same with a bunch of other stuff, like Margulis being Jin's master, okay?)

Liquid: Arrgh!

Liquid shoots out his right leg at Snake's left side. He blocks it with his left arm, but Liquid quickly pulls back his leg and around Snake's arm very quickly. He then stretches it out and kicks Snake in the face with a snapping forward motion. This pushes Snake back a bit, but he quickly regains himself. Liquid throws a left punch, but Snake grabs his hand and twists it at the wrist. Snake then kicks Liquid behind his left knee, making him loose his balance. Snake then grabs Liquid by the shoulder and pulls him down, slamming him to the ground.

Snake: You got CQC'd.

(Note to reader, remember when I said you could forget MGS3? Well, you can remember CQC and another little thing I will make reference to in a little while. :p)

Liquid gets up. He looked like he was in pain.

Liquid: That's not fair, daddy never though me CQC… Bah, I don't need it!

They both jump forward a step simultaneously and throw a low kick. Both their shins connect and they quickly do a high kick that has the same result. This was done very fast.

Ziggy: That was cool.

Liquid: Arrrght! Not… now…!

Liquid grabs at his head in pain. He then begins speaking in a different voice.