CHAPTER 8

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AKA, the chapter where shit goes down. Enjoy.

Oh, and sorry I didn't upload last week. I had first trimester exams and stuff, and it wasn't fun. (Even though I only had to do two instead of the usual five! Being an upperclassman rocks!)

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SECOND EARTH

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I hope nothing goes wrong…

Mark finished the last line of the journal and put it down. He was shaking terribly, as though he had just caught sight of some terrible monster.

"Horrible, isn't it?" Courtney said.

"Y…yeah…"

"I still think we should do something,"

"Like what?"

"Well…we need to write back somehow." Courtney thought. "Ask him if there's anything he needs…"

"But Press said we can't mix the territories." Mark protested.

Courtney opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it again. "Right…" she finally muttered. "Well, we can at least write to him, right?"

"If we can figure out how to."

"Maybe…" Courtney thought. "Maybe Press would have something in that library of journals Bobby was telling us about."

"But you don't know how to get there, right?" Mark asked.

"One of Bobby's parties was held at Press' house." Courtney said. "Our only problem would be transportation. It's about a forty five minute drive by car. If we take a bus, it'll be a bit longer and we'd need money."

Mark dug into his left pocket and pulled out a crumpled five dollar bill. "I have this…but what will our parents say?"

"We'll tell them we're heading to the library." Courtney said. "And we'll be back before nightfall, that's for sure."

"Now?" Mark asked, shocked.

"Why not?"

He blinked. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Come on, geek. Let's go. I'll call my parents." She pulled out her phone and dialed home, leaving a quick message. "I have at least twenty bucks with me. We should have enough to get back…"

The two of them left the house and their bikes, planning to come back for them later. They walked up the street into town, where a decent number of people were milling around. They made it to a bus stop and waited.

"How long until this thing comes?" Mark asked.

"Fifteen minutes." Courtney responded.

The two sat on a bench, waiting for their method of transportation to arrive. Mark sighed and felt the ring on his hand begin to heat up.

"Uh oh…incoming journal…" He pulled the ring off and ran into an alley, tossing the ring between two dumpsters. The light and music sounded and faded, leaving another stack of paper. He retrieved it. "We can pass the time by reading this."

"Great." Courtney agreed.

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FIRST EARTH

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We spent a few months at the Mother Base, recovering and preparing ourselves mentally and physically for the challenges ahead. Snake was slowly but surely recovering, although he had a load of head pains in the first few weeks of returning to the Base. My bullet wound was healing, although a dull ache always remained in my shoulder. It hurt to stretch my arm and I had a discoloured patch of skin where scar tissue had grown. Paz said I had earned my first battle scar.

I was trained to use two types of sniper and a few assault rifles. I was taught how to use a blade and I excelled at hand-to-hand combat. I hoped that would come in handy a bit later on.

Lobster had been moved from the mess hall to join me in the combat unit. He was proving to be an excellent soldier, even recognized by Snake himself. We trained together for endless days. We were both getting stronger.

Paz and I went on another date, if you could even call it that. We sat outside on the landing pad, watching the water glisten in the fading sunlight. It turns out she had gone through some rough times before she had been picked up by the Mother Base. I asked her if I could put her story down into my journal and she shook her head. She said this was the last thing that no one had intruded upon and she would like to keep it that way. I respected her wishes. I told her what happened at Groznyj Grad and she cried. I think we both did. It was a terrible chapter in my life.

We were interrupted as Press walked onto the landing pad. "There you two are! Snake was looking for you, Mouse!"

Well, great. Thanks a lot, Press. This was a serious moment in my life.

We passed Huey in the hallway. He was currently getting used to using a wheelchair, but it didn't seem to bother him. He was mumbling about 'these old, decrepit arms' as we passed, though. Press couldn't hold back a smile.

"Where are we going?" I finally asked.

"Snake has another debriefing for us," Press said. "Before we head out to Groznyj Grad again. We aren't scheduled to go for another two weeks, but he wants this information to sink in with us. How are you doing, by the way?"

"Fine," I said. "And you?"

"I'm healing, at least." He stretched his arms in front of him and spread his fingers. "And I still have all my digits. So I'm doing fine."

I grinned and continued grinning as we stepped into Snake's quarters. Once again, Otacon was there, standing beside Snake's chair. The Mother Base leader was currently writing something down. He glanced up as we entered. His right eye was covered with a black eyepatch.

"Oh, there you are." Snake finished the sentence he was working on and put the papers he was writing on away. "I was beginning to think you've gotten lost."

"Nah. I had to tear Bobby away from Paz, though," Press grinned.

"You did not!" I blushed.

Snake snickered. "Young love…"

I stared at the ground, feeling my cheeks burn. I wanted to make a comment about how much kissing he and EVA had been doing the last few weeks.

"We can discuss this later. As for now…we need to piece together what we know," Snake let the matter drop. He sat upright and folded his hands on the desk in front of him. "They thought they were interrogating us. I suppose they were, but I believe we fed them more lies than truth. They, on the other hand, felt as though they had nothing to lose. They told us some valuable information…like where the Peacewalker and Shagohad are currently being held."

I still wish I could have done more than be terrified and shot in that terrible place…

"They are both in Groznyj Grand," Press said.

Snake nodded. "And we know their plan. They want to bring peace to the world in twisted, evil ways. We lied about our base. They'll be bombing every mountainside for the next year, but we will remain undetected. We will strike them down before they knew what hit them. Press…did you learn anything while we were all separated?"

"I learned that both Metal Gear are heavily guarded." Press said. "And they are armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. Once they start on a rampage, it's impossible to stop them. The only one who knows the abort code is a man named Hot Coldman. He's an ugly, old bastard. He reminds me of some of the villains in old movies."

That old guy in the room at the Big Shell…that's who he had to be talking about. Press' description of the creep fit perfectly.

"I have something…" I spoke up. "It's not really information…but it was something I observed."

"What? Every little bit of info helps." Snake said.

"When we were dragged to the chamber with the pool in it…there was this old man in the corner. He just stood there, casting us all these looks. Ocelot couldn't see him…no one could. His…left eye cried blood and his glasses broke. He held up a sign that read, 'I am The Sorrow'. Who is this guy? Am I just going crazy?"

Snake shook his head. "I know exactly who you're talking about."

"Who is he?" I asked.

"He was The Boss' old partner in war. They were incredible in the battlefield…but The Sorrow was shot by The Boss in the dark. She believed he had betrayed her. She was right. I have seen him before…I had nearly drowned when I saw him in my dreams…He had shown me the souls I have killed. The number was too great to even describe." Snake stared at his desk. "Why he decided to show himself when he did for you, I don't know. I don't know if The Boss has ever laid eyes on him after his death."

I inhaled sharply. "Oh…"

"Don't worry about it, Bobby," Otacon said.

I nodded. "Ok…"

Snake drew a map out of a drawer and spread it on his desk, motioning for us to draw closer to look at it. "This is a crude outline of Groznyj Grad Lab drawn by Otacon as he did a fly-by." He pointed to the four quadrants. "There are several large buildings over here…" he circled the northeast portion with a finger. "And this is where I believe the Shagohad and Peacewalker are being stored. We will attack here in our raid."

"Unless we do a drop from the helicopter, we'd have to force our way through the southwest to get there. The north quadrants don't have entryways." Otacon added. "And I don't believe we can risk dropping soldiers into the place by helicopter…not with the firepower they have."

"They'd also have time to pick us off by the time we'd make it to the northeast section…" Snake growled. He lifted a cigar from the corner of his desk and lit it. "If we're quick, we have to settle for the helicopter drop."

"We'll get the men into Groznyj Grad, no problem, with that tactic." Press joined in. "But what about the helicopter? They'll blow it out of the sky before it can make a getaway! And how would we escape? Just have another 'copter pick us all up? Just run to the exits? There's no way we can do this. It's a suicide mission."

"What if we use the sewers again?" I suggested. "We can get in undetected and have a protected way out."

"There'd be too many of us." Snake said. "I'm going to lead five squads of ten in and out. I'm not counting for any casualties."

"What if we had one squad from the sewers, one from a helicopter drop, and the rest from the south entries? I think that'll be enough to confuse them." I added.

"It's a risky move, kid," Snake sighed and exhaled smoke. "Too risky."

"But it may be the best one we have." I protested.

"How do you plan we pull them out if things take a turn for the worst?" Otacon asked.

I hesitated. "I'm not sure…"

"Then that's our main problem," he said. "We can get them in undetected if we're stealthy enough. But what about getting everyone out, after they know we're there?"

Press sighed. "I know you're not going to like this answer, but it's all we have at the moment."

"Let's hear it." Snake grunted.

"We don't need five squads of ten. We just need five people…maybe less. It'll result in less casualties and those five can sabotage the Metal Gear without being detected." Press said. "Plus it'll be easier to regroup and take cover."

"I'm going with this guy's idea." Snake pointed with the lit end of the cigar at my uncle. "You're pretty smart, Press. I think I'll nominate you as leader of the Mother Base. I need a break."

"One more thing to take into consideration…" Otacon said. "Who would those five people be?"

"Our five best." Snake replied without hesitation. "Press, EVA, myself, Raiden and Bobby,"

"What? Me? I'm far from the best!" I sputtered.

"You show promise." Snake fixed me in a stare. "You're already among some of my top soldiers. You've been training hard. You're ready for this. You are a Traveler. You are one of the best."

"…Are you sure?" I asked. "I nearly broke down at Groznyj Grad! I nearly died because of a bullet to the shoulder! You were beaten and shot and shocked! I'm nothing compared to you!"

"I wasn't comparing myself to you." Snake stated. "Mouse, you are going to sabotage those Metal Gear. That is an order."

Press gave my arm a playful punch. "It'll be fun."

"Fun?!" I nearly spat.

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The next few weeks passed uneventfully. I trained more and surpassed a few men in my combat unit even though I was at least ten years younger than they were. I think I made some enemies that day, but I can't be sure.

Paz and I hung out a lot along with this twelve year old kid named Chico, who was Amanda's little brother. He was a lot of fun and acted older than he was. It was hard to remember he was still so young.

I think my best memory of First Earth will always be Paz, Chico, Press and I playing cards in the mess hall. Chico won everything we bet, which wasn't a lot. I bet an old coin I had found in the hallway.

Those days passed with a blink of an eye. I eventually found myself back in Snake's quarters with Press, EVA and Raiden. Snake was instructing us on what to do…where to go…what to sabotage first. Snake and EVA would take out the Shagohad while Press, Raiden and I would target the Peacewalker. We would both engage and neutralize anyone who got in our way. Nothing could possibly go wrong…

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Before I knew it, I was sitting in the helicopter for the two day ride to our destination.

This time, the endless hours seemed to pass with a blink of an eye. I was returning to the one place on First Earth I never wanted to be back at. My fear made the two days pass. We landed where we had the first time…in the small clearing in the woods. Press, EVA, Raiden, Snake and I jumped from the helicopter and retrieved our weapons; a AK-47 with 30 rounds. A pack we each had contained enough ammo for at least 300 rounds. We were also given our trusty EZs and M1911A1s. I fitted my AK in a strap holster that hung over my back and drew both my handguns.

We began our trek, Snake explaining to me where I needed to hit the Metal Gear to damage it the most. EVA dug through her pack and handed me a stick of clay and what appeared to be some mini radios.

"This is C3, a powerful explosive," she said. "Don't go messing with it, like I did." She held up a heart-shaped glob and grinned slyly in Snake's direction. "There's a special pouch on the inside of your pack. It'll neutralize the C3 until needed."

The FOXHOUND leader rolled his eye. "The explosives can be planted next to the C3 with a set to a countdown. After the time is up, the timed explosives will detonate, taking the C3 with it. You want to be far away from the Metal Gear when this happens."

"Got it." I said.

We reviewed our strategy again on getting inside the lab's security. We would take the sewer route again and then make our way to the large storage sheds as stealthily as we could. Our biggest problem would be snipers; partly concealed on the rooftops. That is, if they had any.

Our sewer entrance had not been barricaded. They still had no idea how we had gotten past the security walls…good. That was a minor miracle on our part. We slowly and quietly made our way up the sewer, until patches of light began filtering down into the pipe.

We exited where we had the first time, near a few metal boxes. Snake made sure the coast was clear…and we continued on.

"Don't move!" Press hissed. He slowly pointed up ahead, where a man was half-hidden between two of the boxes. I saw his leg move slightly as he tried to shift into a better sitting position.

Snake downed the man with a shot from the EZ. We waited, holding our breath…waiting for someone to walk around the crates and discover us…

"It's safe." Raiden eventually muttered. "Let's hurry…"

We made it to the doorway connected the southwest to the northwest. EVA pulled it open and we rushed in, weapons at the ready.

A guard spotted us. He visibly jumped and put a hand to his earpiece, shouting, "Hostiles! I need back—"

He didn't get to finish as I put a dart into his chest. He crumpled to the ground as a spotlight fixed on us in a ray of blinding light. A siren similar to a tornado warning blared.

"Shit!" Snake growled.

"Over here!" Press waved us toward some small storage sheds. We ducked past the small, creaking door just as a bullet pierced the side of the building, narrowly missing my face. We pressed ourselves to crates of food, waiting for the Groznyj Grad soldiers to make a move.

EVA took one of the timed explosives and activated it. It began to beep, a tiny green light flashing. She took a tiny ball of the moldable C3 and stuck it to the side of the crates we were smashed against, sticking the timed explosive against it. "This will buy us some time," she said. "When we get out. I hope this storage unit has some important items in it."

Snake smirked. "This is going to be fun."

"Fun…?!" Raiden and I hissed.

"Lighten up," Press ruffled my hair.

"We've got five minutes." EVA reported.

Snake lay flat on the storage shed's floor and crawled to the door, warily peeking around the side. "They're surrounding our temporary hideout." He grinned. "Not a problem, though." He drew a grenade from a pocket and pulled the pin.

I heard a few soldiers scream. The grenade exploded, the blast shaking our hideout. I prayed the C3 wouldn't go off early. Snake stood and began firing with both the EZ and the M1911A1, picking off soldiers surrounding us.

"I think this is a good time to go." Press said.

I glanced at the timed explosive, which was now flashing yellow and beeping a bit faster. "Me too," I agreed.

"Let's go!" Raiden ran out into the fray, guns blazing as Snake reloaded his pistol.

I followed, quickly taking down a few Groznyj Grad soldiers as they ran to backup their fellow men. Press was right behind me, picking off anyone I missed.

"We've got one minute left!" EVA shouted.

"Start moving to my left! The door to the northeast section is there!" Snake holstered his M1911A1 and turned to the AK-47. He fired upon a group of oncoming soldiers. I saw them fall as bullets pierced their heads…

"Let's go!" Pres pushed me in the indicated direction.

I stumbled but ran, keeping a wary eye out for any more guards.

Raiden caught up to us, covering our backs. "Any second now…" he muttered. "That explosive is going to go!"

I glanced back to see Snake start running after us, EVA on his tail. A group of soldiers were beginning to follow them just as the shed exploded into a fiery ball, sending pieces of wood and bits of metal showering over the entire area. I covered the back of my neck and stumbled, falling to the ground as burning rubble dug into my flesh. Something shot over me in a blazing trail of fire and exploded a few feet from my right shoulder in a green-blue blast. I blinked. Fireworks…? They had fireworks stored in the shed?

EVA roughly pulled me to my feet. Her face was smeared with soot and her tan jumpsuit was singed. "Are you ok?" She demanded.

"I'm fine…! Just stunned!" I reported, happy to find my legs still worked. I ran after my uncle and the FOXHOUND agents, EVA beside me. I was surprised I still had a grip on my EZ Gun.

We made it to the gate. Snake hurriedly went over instructions one last time. As we ducked in.

"EVA and I will target the Shagohad! Press, Bobby and Raiden will take out the Peacewalker! We will rendezvous in the clearing we were dropped off in!" He shouted as a few more soldiers that were trying to get the upper hand on us. I jumped each time the AK spat out bullets. It was such a terrible sound…the sound of death.

Press nodded. "Got it! Come on, Bobby!"

We headed to the larger of the two storage warehouses, where we suspected the giant Metal Gear of death would be stored. Soldiers were firing at us, so we had to drop and take cover behind various tanks that were lining the lot. Press stuck a charge to the underside of one, giving me a wink. "Just in case."

Raiden went to work picking off the soldiers around the rear of the tank while Press and I covered the front. Many of them dropped, unconscious, and a few fled. I assumed they couldn't tell the difference from 'knocked out' and 'dead' in the heat of battle. It gave us the upper hand.

Only a few guards remained at the entrance of the warehouse. Raiden threw a flash grenade, instructing us to cover our eyes and ears. Even with my eyes squeezed shut and my hands pressed over my ears…the light and bang was blinding and deafening, respectively. The soldiers we had taken by surprise were staggering blindly, one even shooting wildly and striking down two of his companions. Press downed him with a single shot.

"Let's go!" Raiden muttered. He kicked the door down and we entered into the warehouse-like storage shed.

No one was around. The entire area had a cold feel to it…like some sort of air conditioning. Sound seemed to be muted except for our footsteps echoing around the massive space. Sitting in the middle of the shed, exactly where we assumed it to be, was the Peacewalker. It looked almost exactly like it had in the blueprints. The head was made up of a thick metal sphere with a dark gray stripe around the middle. Its legs were spaced evenly apart, powerful engines imbedded in the hip sockets to propel it. It was stamped with different designs along its body, one of being a white butterfly.

"Peacewalker." Raiden hissed. "So we meet at last."

"What do we do?" I asked Press.

"Start nailing that sphere with everything your AK has." Press said. "Damage it enough so a few charges can destroy it completely."

I holstered my EZ and unstrapped the AK from my back and took aim at its head. I had the Metal Gear in my sights and was about to fire upon the grey band when a voice crackled through the Codec's earpiece.

"I should congratulate you for getting this far."

I jumped, pulling the trigger briefly and missing the Peacewalker entirely. "What?! Who is this?" I shouted. I stared at Press and Raiden, both of them pressing a hand to their earpieces. They must have received a similar message.

"I told you…at the Big Shell…that we'd meet again, didn't I?" The voice continued.

"Who are you?" I shouted, lowering my weapon as I stared around the room.

"Look up here."

I did.

"Over here, you stupid child."

I glanced up at the Peacewalker. Standing on its head was an old man…a man with an extremely wrinkled face and white beard. His camouflage uniform was covered in leaves and he had a long sniper rifle over his shoulder.

"Who are you?" I shouted. Press had trained his weapon on him.

"I am The End," the old man said. He didn't hack our Codecs this time. "And I suppose I have to warn you."

"About what?" Raiden spat.

"About the ton of C3 planted in the Peacewalker's Mammal Pod. One shot is enough to ignite it all and kill everyone in this hanger. Sure, you'll be eliminating yourselves and me, as ancient as I am…But you will not fully destroy the Metal Gear."

"You're bluffing." Press growled.

"Respect your elders, Press." Came another voice. A second figure joined The End on the Peacewalker's head. This one I knew.

"Saint Dane…!" I hissed.

"And forgive The End. His memory isn't as it once was." The demon grinned madly. "He meant to tell you about the valuable information locked away in the Peacewalker's control center. The valuable information…and a hostage we have. There is no C3."

"A hostage?!" Raiden roared.

Saint Dane nodded.

"Let them go!" I shouted.

He laughed. "Now, why would I do that? I know I told you I picked a simple Territory for your first duties as Traveler, but that would be too easy."

"Easy?!" I nearly screamed.

"Bobby, calm down." Press warned.

"The End meant to warn you about the C3 planted around the building itself. I press this button…and the roof comes tumbling down onto the poor Travelers and Acolyte." Saint Dane raised a small remote into the air.

"Oh…That's right…" The End muttered gruffly.

"Stop this madness…or…or I'll shoot you!" I threatened, fixing my sights on the demon.

Saint Dane threw back his head and laughed hysterically. "Shoot me? Oh, that is foolproof! Now if only I weren't invincible…"

I hesitated.

"But have a go." Saint Dane spread his arms, giving me a clear shot at his chest. The smug grin didn't fade from his face.

I centered my sights not on him…but on The End. I pulled the trigger, and the old man tumbled off the Peacewalker, crashing into the concrete floor with a dull thud. A pool of blood began to form under his crumpled form. Saint Dane laughed again.

"Oh, you really surprised me there, Bobby! I didn't expect that of you! Shooting a defenseless, old man!"

I grit my teeth. "Don't get so excited. You're next."

"Wait, Bobby. He wants us to shoot." Press warned.

"Aren't you smart. Yes, I want you to shoot. Because if you do, you will miss me. And when you miss, the bullets will strike the Peacewalker, activating its self-defense mode. You see, you cannot destroy this Metal Gear. It is simply too powerful. And you cannot leave, as I will cave the roof in on you, killing you all and activating the Peacewalker anyway. Either way, I win."

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I can't tell if I despise Saint Dane, or I really like his character. I think I hate him.

Anyway, I had a load of trouble with this chapter, mostly because the first half was a filler. The ending was pretty ok, but it still drove me nuts.

And I kinda backed myself into a corner with this chapter as well. Saint Dane's right…if they do anything they'll activate the Peacewalker. Oh boy, this is going to be good…

Hasta la Vista, Readers!

Lordoftheghostking28