Chapter IV: Like Carrion Birds
Hey guys, sorry for the major delay. I've been going through a very hard break up, and work has been killing me at the same time. Don't even have time for my band. Anyway, hope you enjoy! I'll have chapter 5 up in a few days, just proofreading left for that one. And it stars a certain turian sniper. ;) - AThousandSuns
The bulkhead shut from behind, and sealed them away from safety and into risk; critical. Ahead of them two guards stood atop a barricade.
"Don't shoot, they're cleared to move in." One of them said, rising from behind the wall as he watched Big Boss and his companions walk through the sector gate.
Big Boss and his team proceeded through, their weapons, locked and loaded. They passed into the next area where a turian guard by another door hit the lock, and the bulkhead slid open.
"Good luck, Blue Suns and Vorcha are shooting anything that moves in there." He warned.
"Thanks." Jacob said as they traveled through.
Zaeed followed Big Boss—who took point—and brought up the rear of the group. "Blue Suns, eh? It's gonna be a good day." He said enthusiastically behind his M-76 Revenant.
Further into the sector, Snake stopped in his tracks with a raised hand. He motioned for the others to between the archways of the walls.
"Tangos down the line, 20 meters out." Jacob said.
Miranda peeked from behind Jacob. "Quick and easy." She suggested.
Snake nodded and motioned for Zaeed to take aim with him, as they had the longest ranged weapons.
"Headshots." He said, going prone and aiming his M-96 Mattock.
"Roger that." Zaeed moved closer to the wall and took a knee. They aimed down their scopes until their targets were in sight.
"On three."
They breathed in synchronicity.
Snake whispered. "1—2—3." He fired one round first, his aim true as his bullet pounded through the man's unprotected skull while Zaeed's went through the others.
Their bodies fell limp and hit the ground with dead thuds.
"Jacob, take point." Big Boss said, standing from his prone position.
Zaeed patted his shoulder and moved in with Jacob into the next area.
Miranda tapped him next and he followed the three, bringing up the rear.
Zaeed groaned as he saw the flames in the middle of the street, bodies burned, pervading the air with a disgusting odour. "Plague control at its most basic: pile the bodies in the street and burn 'em."
Big Boss looked into the flame. His heart felt suddenly heavy.
Thick in despair as coffins lined and flagged, waiting for their inferno. He remembered the smell of death around him; grotesque and putrid. He trudged through bloody corridors. His steps slipped with each footfall against the thick red. They died then, and so did a part of him.
"Boss?" Miranda's voice ushered him back to reality.
He shook his head. "Let's go."
They moved to the right where a batarian lay on ground, holding his throat in agony.
He looked up at Big Boss, his face weak and angry. "Human... Should have guessed..." He coughed a sickly cough, his breaths thick and hazy.
"Bad enough you infect us with this plague... Now you lack the decency to even wait until I die before you come to rob me..." He huffed, harshly.
Miranda gestured the opposite. "Humans didn't create this plague."
The batarian spat. "Lies drip from your mouth like the blood from my sores... the proof is there for all to see. Your species is the only one that does not succumb to the virus... Yours, and the wretched vorcha..."
Big Boss glanced at Jacob.
"Alien, volatile and very aggressive." He informed.
Snake turned back to the batarian. "We're looking for a salarian, Mordin Solus." He said.
The batarian gagged. "… Humans looking for the human sympathizer. I hope the vorcha burn Mordin and his clinic to the ground..." He spat grimly.
He began to cough violently, gripping his chest and throat. "D... Damn you! Can't—"
"Miranda." Snake said and she stepped forward.
"Right."
She dropped to a knee and applied a dose of medigel to the open sores of his throat.
His coughs of pain slowed and he breathed a little easier with each breath. He reclined back against the wall, his voice a gurgle in his throat. "You... why?"
"Mordin Solus, where is he?" Big Boss asked.
The batarian swallowed, the lump in his throat clearing. "He... has a clinic on the far side of the district. He's taking in refugees, offering help to those infected with the plague." He whispered.
"I was afraid to go to him before. He's... dangerous, but... perhaps he can help."
Snake nodded and gestured for the others to move out. He paused in front of the batarian and said, "We'll tell him you're here. Hold on til then." And he followed after the others.
"Thank you... human." The batarian crowed.
The group continued to traverse through the district with caution, stepping over dead bodies, toppled carts and fiery machinery.
Miranda's voice was an echo in the corridor as they passed through. "I have to say Boss, you're adapting fairly well to seeing aliens everywhere, even going as to help them." She said with a tone of seriousness and genuine surprise.
He was inclined to agree, but what was he supposed to say or do when he saw them? Scream? Shoot them? Stare dumbfounded? They spoke English in his ear, and their voices and expressions carried emotion. If he shut his eyes, they would look just like people to him, he would never tell the difference.
And beneath all the alloy and steel—beneath the vastness of space and development in technology… The galaxy seemed the same as the world he remembered.
People got sick, They fell in love, they danced to music and drank. They were greedy and vain—it did not matter what your species was—the poor suffered, the rich taxed them. Soldiers fought, were discarded, and died all the same, just as in his time. The only difference was the way everyone looked.
He did not say anything in response, only tapped Jacob on the shoulder and took point of the group.
They treaded on 'til they came to an exposed center plaza, loud hissing and bickering voices echoed against the walls.
Snake raised a hand, his team halted and ducked low. He observed the plaza—from the open floor, to the tight corners hugging the tall walls and skyline ceilings. The dimness of the light would work to their benefit. There was enough cover for a firefight, but also enough for them to execute this quietly.
The group of vorcha stood bored and lazy, unguided and undisciplined.
Big Boss ordered the others into position. "Go quiet. Miranda with me. Jacob, Zaeed go right." He said and broke off with Miranda in tow.
They moved with operative precision, their footfalls silent and unheard, not even an echo in their wake.
They approached the corner and he peeked around to see three of the vorcha; one of them smoked a cigarette and leaned against the railing nearest Snake. The other used his omni-tool frustratingly, cursing at the screen. The third disappeared around the far corner.
Miranda whispered into her radio. "How should we act?"
Big Boss answered her by knocking against the wall with his bionic hand, echoing a hollow rapping.
The closest vorcha turned, dropping his cigarette.
"Huh? What that sound?" The other asked aloud, dropping his omni-tool and raising his shotgun.
"We check." He snapped, stomping to the corner with the other vorcha in tow.
Snake gestured for him to take the closest and Miranda take the other.
As the vorcha rounded the corner, Big Boss poised and lunged out like a snake. He maneuvered behind the alien and looped an arm over his mouth, and squeezed 'til the vorcha kicked and struggled no more.
Miranda stabbed her omni-blade into the others throat, his body convulsed and seized when it hit the ground with a thump. Snake heaved both bodies behind the corner and they tiptoed forward, their forms tight and small.
Jacob and Zaeed appeared across from them, in the shadows of the far wall. They converged on the entrance to the left of them and covered from both sides.
Snake stole a look around the edge to see a corridor that led up via a flight of steps. A vorcha and an unfamiliar race to Big Boss walked up the steps; it was massive, its back humped hugely beneath its blooded armor.
"We'll have to light 'em up. We're aren't gonna drop that krogan quietly." Zaeed whispered over the radio.
Snake agreed, and the four of them took position with sights up and down.
"… Fire." He whispered. The team shot downrange, taking down the vorcha first and then the krogan as he spun around, his shields depleted quicker than he could pull up his shotgun, only managing a cry in rage.
"Target down." Jacob said as the krogan fell back and rolled down the alloy steps. He took point again and led the group up the stairs.
Big Boss felt a twitch in the back of his neck. "Wait!" He shouted as three more vorcha rounded the corner, heavy gunfire rained down on them like acid rain. Jacob back stepped, his shields taking the brunt of the bullets as he dived behind the wall again—just in time for as shields gave out in that instant.
Zaeed aimed over the wall and double tapped one vorcha in the chest, forcing his feet out from under him.
Miranda lifted the closest with her biotics as Big Boss hammered him with ammunition.
Jacob aimed his shotgun at the last and blew his head clean off.
"Clear." Big Boss said as no more appeared. The others fell at ease, and Jacob stood with a shake of his head and an irritated look.
"Too close, I'll be more careful next time." He said with humiliation.
Zaeed scoffed. "You'd better, would be pretty embarrassing to tell people you got killed by a vercha."
Jacob kept a straight face, but the slouch in his shoulders said he was seething.
Snake began to feel that the soldier didn't much like the mercenary. He sighed internally and took point this time.
"On me." He said, ending any further discussion.
They continued through the maze of the district, slipping through alleyways and tight streets, passing under bridges and balconies. Resistance was contained in short and small firefights between vorcha and Blue Suns.
Snake's rifle smoked at the barrel as he plugged the last krogan between the eyes, its body gone lifeless.
He took a moment to look at his face, all leathery and orange; death-filled eyes of fiery red stared to the ceiling of the station.
"All tangos down. Grouping on Big Boss." Jacob chattered over the radio as the group met together in the center of the open Square.
"It seems we've crossed into vorcha territory." Miranda said, drawing her Predator M-7, as her M-12 Locust depleted.
"Blue Suns have given up a lot of ground." She added.
"Just what I like to see." Zaeed said as they began to clear past the square, toward the exit on the far side.
"Not a fan of Blue Suns, huh?" Jacob asked.
Zaeed casted him a callous glare. "It ain't any of your goddamn business if I am or not." He spat venomously.
Miranda interrupted and pointed at the door. "Look. There's the clinic."
"Double time." Snake ordered and led them to the clinic.
They hustled to the heavy door and it slid open with a creak. Down a flight of stairs, they entered the clinic with their weapons drawn.
The man at the front desk shook his head. "No funny business once you're inside, unless you wanna deal with those mechs." He said, gesturing to the mechs behind him.
Snake assured him by setting his weapon away on his back, motioning for the others to do the same.
The man behind the counter waved with his head for them to go on in.
When they entered the main waiting area of the clinic, they were greeted by a diverse group of species scattered about. Their bodies lay in cots, and some stood crowded together together and talked among themselves. Some huddled, afraid and anxious.
Miranda stepped up to the nurse behind the counter to their left. "We're looking for Mordin Solus."
The woman didn't look up from her datapad as she spoke, "Down that hall on the right."
Big Boss led them down the hall and passed more aliens who cast looks of heavy disdain, of clear annoyance, or that of pure fear.
A voice sounded from beyond the wall. "Professor—we're running low on cipoxidin."
The other voice was quick, articulate and precise. "Use Malanarin. Plenty on hand. Almost as good. Causes cramping in batarians. Supplement with Butemorol."
The group rounded the corner where they saw the salarian—the tallest Big Boss had seen thus far—stand over precious lap equipment, his nurse nodded and exited the room quickly.
Snake watched as he worked, his fingers against the interface quickly.
"Cenozine is the catalyst. Bonds to genetic markers. Hard to find. Expensive to mass produce. Why not heplacore? Too unstable. Inconsistent results. Demozane better option. No-no-no. Demozane toxic to humans. Not an option. Not an option."
Jacob cleared his throat. "Professor Mordin Solus?" The salarian snapped his attention to the team and moved to them on quick feet. His omni-tool was bright as he guided it over them. When it blinked green, he nodded to himself.
He then stared at Big Boss with an inquisitive gaze, his eyes darted between them all. "Hmm. Don't recognize you from area. Too well-armed to be refugees. No mercenary uniform. Quarantine still in effect." He stepped over to another console and began tapping away.
"Here for something else. Vorcha? Crew to clean them out? Unlikely. Vorcha a symptom, not a cause. The plague? Investigating possible use as bio-weapon? No... No-no. Too many guns, not enough data equipment. Soldiers, not scientists. Yes-yes-yes." He turned back to Big Boss, and stood a mere foot away.
"Hired guns, maybe? Looking for someone? Yes-yes! But who? Someone important. Valuable. Someone with secrets. Someone like... me." He took a step back and pulled up his omni-tool again.
"Me. Looking for me. Why? Who are you and what do you want?" He asked suspiciously.
"We're from Cerberus, and we need you to come with us." Miranda said, leaning on one leg.
Mordin raised a brow. "Go with you? No-no-no, too busy. Clinic understaffed. Plague spreading too fast. Cerberus you said? Unexpected."
Big Boss watched the salarian's hand slip an inch to the Carnifex on the lab table.
"Look, Cerberus might not have the best reputation, but we need your help." Jacob said.
Mordin's finger tapped against the table before he stood in front of Big Boss again.
"Why request salarian aid?" He asked.
"The Collectors are kidnapping entire human populations. We're going to find out why and stop them." Miranda informed.
Mordin hummed, crossing his arms in thought. "Collectors? Interesting. Plague hitting slums is engineered. Collectors one of few groups with technology to design it. Our goals may be similar."
He shook his head. "But must stop plague first. Already have a cure. Need to distribute it at environmental control center. Vorcha guarding it. Need to kill them." He said, turning back to another monitor.
Big Boss spoke this time. "We'll get in and deal with the vorcha." He said. As if on cue, a loud sound of systems powering down filled the room above them. "What the fuck was that." Zaeed asked, seeing that the vents failed to produce oxygen.
Mordin called up his omni-tool, tapping away at it. "Vorcha have shut down environmental systems. Trying to kill everyone. Need to get power back on before district suffocates. Here." He handed Big Boss a small vial with a bluish liquid inside.
"Take plague cure, upload into ventilation. One more thing. Daniel. One of my assistants. Went into vorcha territory. Looking for victims. Hasn't come back."
Snake nodded, slipping the vial into his pack and Mordin sighed in relief.
"Thank you. Told him not to go. But he's smart. Bright future. I hope."
Snake turned to leave but stopped and looked back to Mordin. "We found a plague victim near the entrance of the neighbourhood. He needs help."
Mordin approved. "Risky. Blue Suns, vorcha still battling. District not secure. See what I can do. Please hurry."
Big Boss joined the others near the exit that led to the environmental control centre and Miranda restocked herself with thermal clips from a table nearby.
"We should do this quick." She said.
Jacob nodded. "It'll only be a few hours till the air is all gone in the district. And the less amount of air, the more folks'll breathe."
"Let's get this over with." Snake said, drawing his Mattock and led the group up a flight of stairs into the next area.
Almost immediately they encountered heavy resistance from vorcha, their numbers greater than any encountered thus far. With mild difficulty the team had taken them out, and once they were defeated, Big Boss led them through another sector of the district.
They were about to pass by a door when they heard the voice of a pleading man.
"...vials contain a cure! Please... you have to believe me!"
Snake signaled for Jacob to take point and the rest of the group covered either side of the entrance. Jacob hammered his hand against the green holo screen and the doors open to reveal a group batarians, strong arming a human in medical fatigues.
Zaeed and Big Boss entered from the right side, weapons poised.
One of the batarians shouted, "Look out!" and aimed his handgun at the door.
The other batarians did the same.
Big Boss dropped to a knee as Zaeed fired his rifle. Jacob and Miranda did the same, shooting at the batarians while Big Boss double tapped the one who strong armed the medic twice in the chest.
Their bodies fell like flies in poison and the medic stood, his hands covering his ears, in a state of shock.
Big Boss rose to his feet and lowered his rifle. "Daniel?" He asked.
The young man stared at him hard and long, nodding anxiously. "Y...y-y-you killed them." He said, his hands now over his eyes.
Zaeed leaned on one foot and rested his rifle on his shoulder. "Take a breath kid." Daniel's hands quivered and his lips trembled. He stepped away from the corpses, he dropped his hands from his face and wore a terrified expression.
"Did... did Mordin send you?" He asked clearly shaken.
Snake nodded.
Daniel tried to calm himself by taking deep breaths and tried to wipe the scene he just saw away from his memory.
"… Yeah, okay... okay, I'll go right away. Thank... you." He stuttered.
He grabbed his bag over on the table with vials of the plague cure in it and rushed out the door.
Zaeed loaded in a fresh thermal clip. "He isn't going to forget that anytime soon, poor bastard." He said sympathetically.
Snake inhaled deeply, he was right, Daniel would remember this vividly… for the rest of his life most likely. He could not help but think that they might have acted too soon. He left the bloodstained room and leaving the bodies scattered about behind them.
The others followed and they entered the next area, just outside the environmental control center.
They engaged a number of vorcha before clearing the massive entrance with lethal proficiency.
Big Boss rose from his concealment as his shields recharged fully, the battle over.
Warfare remained fundamentally the same as back in his time; if but for a few more luxuries compared to what he had to work with in the 90's.
Such as his armour; it offered greater mobility than his old sneaking suits, but granted more protection without adding more weight. It also offered him additional strength, and even adapted to the temperature around him so that he was never cold, nor overheated. The perfect suit, really.
Then there were thermal clips; universal and very easy to manage by picking them up off the ground after battles. They chambered like batteries in the loader of the gun. Not to mention shields lended much more room for riskier maneuvers, and he found himself exposing his position more often when he saw a sure shot.
He reloaded his Mattock with a thermal clip he pulled from one of the dead vorcha's belts.
"We're close to the environmental controls. Let's get that cure in, then hit the fans." Jacob said.
Big Boss moved his head for the three of them to get behind him. He led them through a barren hallway, stepping past discarded crates and tools. They proceeded up a flight of stairs 'til they found the doors leading to the control centre.
"Expect heavy resistance." Miranda said, prepping her Locust. The group readied themselves and on a count of three, Big Boss led them into the facility.
The room was enormous, large fans stretched every wall and a set of controls sat at the far side of the hall. Vorcha surrounded them all over with overwhelming numbers. One of them ran forward, a hiss echoed in the hall.
"You no come here! We shut down machines, break fans! Everyone choke and die! Then Collectors make us strong!" It spat at them.
"What do the Collectors want?" Miranda probed.
The group edged themselves to the nearest cover, ready for the worst. The vorcha hissed viciously.
"Collectors want plague! You work for doctor! Turn on machines, put cure in air. Aaaugh, we kill you first!" It shouted, drawing its shotgun from its back.
Snake was the first to open fire, letting loose a chain of rounds in the vorcha who finished speaking. There was an onslaught exchange between them as chaos erupted. The foursome operated carefully, and pushed the vorcha back carefully.
Once the exchange grew quiet, Big Boss led them to the console in the back where Miranda stepped forward, holstering her Locust.
"Let me." She said.
Big Boss handed her the cure and she inserted it into a slot in the heavy machine by the console.
A loud whir began as machines that blinked red, turned green and sprang to life.
"Now we just need to turn the fans on. There's two consoles that operate the different areas of the district, I'll take point." She said, redrawing her weapon.
Snake nodded and got behind her, giving her a tap on the shoulder.
More vorcha appeared, and the group began another heated exchange. They fought their way to the left side.
They arrived at the first console and Miranda flipped a switch. "One more." The fans overhead jolted to life, a warm breeze filling the air. They trudged their way to the other side of the facility as more resistance appeared. Their numbers decreased and their rage made them slower and less smart.
Soon after, the only sound was the fans raging overhead, the strong breeze enveloped the room in blowing warmth. Miranda entered the room first and flipped the switch, the second set of fans whirred to life.
The group breathed easy, and lowered their weapons.
"Fans are up. That should be it." Miranda said, looking over her omni-tool to confirm.
"Come on, let's go tell Mordin." Jacob said.
"Environmental systems engaged. Airborne viral levels dropping. Patients improving. Vorcha retreating. Well done, Big Boss. Thank you." Mordin said, a bow of his head as he looked up from his terminal.
Snake raised a surprised brow, he looked back at Miranda who had the same face.
The salarian shared a haughty smile. "Had a free moment. Scanned your DNA diagnostics. Security and facial recognition in declassified human files. Used STG contacts to grant access to some 'not so classified' files."
He breathed. "Cryogenic stasis. Archaic design—though not surprised, given human technological history. No doubt dead upon retrieval and thaw process. Cerberus recovered you. Rebuilt you from ground up. Brought you back to life. Remarkable."
Snake shifted on his feet before asking. "So you'll help us then?"
"Yes. Unexpected to be working with Cerberus. Many surprises. Just need to finish up here at the clinic. Leaving Daniel in charge. Good kid. Bit naive." Mordin breathed.
"Says you executed the batarians threatening him. Would have done same. Meet you on your ship. Looking forward to working with you, Big Boss." Mordin said, returning to the terminal he tapped away on.
Snake nodded and gestured for the others to follow him back to the ship.
It was an hour after their return when Mordin walked onto the ship led by Jacob.
"Welcome to the Normandy, Professor. It's an honour to have you on board." The soldier said, standing tall beside Snake with arms crossed over his chest. Joker spun around in his seat to see the salarian with mild interest.
The scientist inspected the ship inquisitively and appreciatively. "Yes. Very exciting. Cerberus working with aliens—Unexpected. Illusive Man branching out, maybe? Not so human-centric?"
Joker scoffed. "You know the Illusive Man? I only heard about him when three agents raided my apartment while I was in the middle of—... other activities."
Mordin continued to inspect everything he could see. "Yes. Salarian government well connected. Espionage experts. Had top level clearance once. Retired now. Still hear things. Informed of name only. No knowledge of man behind it. Anti-alien reputation listed as—problematic."
Snake shook his head for Jacob to inform him of the situation.
"The Collectors have been abducting colonists from the fringes of the Terminus Systems. No distress signals are sent out. No signs of attack. There's virtually no evidence that anything unusual happened at all... except that every man, woman, and child is gone."
Mordin raised a finger to his chin in thought. "Gas, maybe? No. Too slow. Airborne virus? No. Slower than gas. Drugged water supply? No. Effects not simultaneous. Hm…"
"Can you help us stop them?" Snake asked.
Mordin nodded. "Yes. Can and will. Going to need lab. And samples, if recovered any."
EDI's voice sounded over the ships intercom. "There is a fully equipped lab on the combat deck, Professor Solus. If you find anything lacking, please place a requisition order."
Mordin tried to find the source of the voice. "Who's that? Pilot? No. Synthesized voice. Simulated emotional inflections. Could it be... no-no-no... Maybe. Have to ask. Is that an AI?" He asked intriguingly.
Jacob nodded.
The salarian's eyes widened with wonderment. "An AI on board? Non-human crew members and mercenaries from one hundred and eighty-nine years in the past? Cerberus more desperate than I thought."
"The Collectors have taken tens of thousands of colonists. We'll do whatever we have to do to find and stop them." Jacob said.
Mordin agreed. "Yes. Of course. Can't risk being captured like colonists. Need to identify, neutralize technology. Need samples. Which way to lab?"
Jacob gestured for the man to follow him. "Follow me, Professor."
Mordin followed the soldier out, but not before turning to face Snake. "When you have moment. Come see me. Will give you detailed checkup."
He leaned closer and whispered. "See if Cerberus did everything up to satisfactory. No surprises." He spun and left, disappearing into the science lab.
Snake returned to his quarters and sat at the desk in the center of the room and sighed tiredly. They had decided to rest for a few hours before heading out and looking for Archangel.
The terminal made an audible beep, and he looked to the screen as it informed him that there were new messages waiting for him. He shifted, and struggled about to open the message.
It had been from the Illusive Man, it contained a series of dossiers and attachments.
All it read was "As promised. — Illusive Man"
The first of the dossiers was one headlined 'Operation Intrude N313'
And so, he read. He read for hours he could not keep track of, and when he reached the end—the last line, his head sunk low.
The world Big Boss and Cypher left behind, was strewn with bodies. Bodies piled high as the sky. Bodies that crossed generations. Bodies of friends and faces that both men, had never met. Families dead due to their childish foolery.
If it had not been for Solid Snake… Human history would...
Venom could only assume this future he was in, would be very—very different.
The further he had read into the dossier, the more he grew to dislike Big Boss. The tactics he used in the end began to become deplorable, and a far cry from the man he believed in all those years ago. Even his friends became instruments in his war against Zero's Patriots. Venom Snake was a prime example.
And Kaz... Kaz was one of them, dying a death unworthy of such a warrior.
Though there was some retribution to be found.
Hal; Huey's son, formed the group Philanthropy, and helped save the world from the Patriots with Solid Snake.
Solid Snake… He could not help but feel an overwhelming pride in the boy—he could not fathom why, he was not his son after all, and he had only met him the one time, and in combat no less.
Still… He had felt the same when he first met Eli.
He had thought him brash, abrasive and sloppy. But the child carried conviction and determination like a double edged sword.
They were not his boys—Big Boss didn't even consider them his. Though… a part of Snake would have accepted them if they were.
In the documents, after the fall of the Patriots, Solid Snake died within the next few years of a genetic disease caused by the Les Enfant Terribles project, living the rest of his days with Hal Emmerich, and a child they had been protecting from the Patriots together.
The years that followed, thrust the world into a financial crisis that surpassed The Great Depression. With the war economy diminished to a near standstill, and governments owing massive amounts of monies to PMC contractors and arms dealers; technological advancements were slowed for nearly a decade while the world panicked economically.
It wasn't until 2024 that the economic situation; labelled The Years the World Stood Still, finally eased into recession, and back to a semblance of the way things were before.
Interest in space exploration and interplanetary mining became viable when an asteroid that crashed into international waters, carried billions of dollars in Platinum ore.
In 2069, NASA established a colony on the moon, labelled Armstrong Outpost, and in 2070, a young billionaire by the name of Victor Manswell privately funded his own expedition into space with the assistance of an aged Hal Emmerich and his adopted daughter, Sunny Emmerich. Within the next five years, they sent 300 colonists into outer space, to the Alpha Centauri system. Hal Emmerich lived two more years after, before he passed away in his sleep.
Big Boss couldn't bring himself to read anymore. When he looked at the time, it had been hours since he sat down, having been engrossed in the history, losing himself in a world shaped by zeroes and ones. Cyphers and Wills.
He stood and removed his armor slowly, his body sore, and achy as he did so. He removed his clothing and stepped into the bathroom. It took a moment for him to figure out how the to turn the water on. He removed his eyepatch, setting it on the sink nearby. He pulled out the tie that kept his long hair together and set it with the eyepatch before he stood beneath the cold water.
He preferred the water cold. Though... He recalled an unlocked memory, that he had once preferred them hot. For the soothing heat that had washed over sore muscles, felt serene. The way the warmth massaged his scalp, his back, his chest and stomach. How it melted away the harshness of the day, if only for a fleeting second.
Now, it reminded him of fire. It reminded him of an angel, falling back into the sky, before the sun exploded inside her. It shone on him, the heat that burned his skin, burned his eyebrows and lashes, his warm black hair and lips. It filled his heart and soul with bone and teeth of a Monarch he tried to save.
The icy shower was tolerable, it saved him from burning.
He stepped out from the wet and dressed in his fatigues, but forwent the shirt, wearing only the trousers. He sat at his desk, and relented to his heavy eyes as sleep took him over, and his dreams returned to the nightmares he could never shake.
Thanks for reading! And sorry if this is all over the place. I'll be explaining more of the history as we go. As for pacing, this story might be moving fast, but it's because I don't want this to be a hundred chapters. I would very much like to wrap this up under 40, so we can get to ME3, which I'm super excited for. :) Thanks again, I hope you enjoyed! - AThousandSuns