Author's Note: Now I am back for another chapter! Now I am doing a 2-parter of Mukuro's second mission. However, I'm also introducing some new characters here yet one of them is still shrouded in mystery. Not only that, this is the first appearance of Skull Face in my story. Anyhow, here's the first part of Chapter 5.

I don't own Danganronpa and Metal Gear Solid.

Chapter 5: Phoenix in the Mist Part I

Two days later

Onboard Pequod

950 miles west from Da Smasei Laman

Northern Kabul, Afghanistan

5:50 in the afternoon

*Mukuro's POV*

The preparations are set after a 2-day travel to Afghanistan. Of course, that includes all of my needed weapons and other equipment. As the chopper is three hundred miles until we reach the LZ, the chopper received a transmission from Commander Miller.

"Fenrir, the details of your mission were given to you by Shadow Rabbit, or you've known him as Yuto. Now here's a summary: locate the young Hamid girl and rescue her. The prisoner is somewhere inside Da Smasei Laman, which it became a designated Soviet outpost. In addition, there is a possibility that the Boss is on his way there to get the 'Honey Bee', so RV-ing with him is a plus. Find the prisoner and take her to Mother Base. We're counting on you."

Transmission ended.

I opened the door of the chopper, just a few miles from the LZ. Once we made it, I dropped off.

"Be careful down there, kid!" Pequod said as the chopper fly away.

I took a deep breath to clear myself and to maintain focus. But what I'm feeling right now... is this suit I am currently wearing. And it really fits me well.

The famed Sneaking Suit.

"So, how's your Sneaking Suit, Ikusaba?" I heard Yuto's voice on my radio.

"Well, it's nice and dry. It's fitting, though. It seems I am now getting used to this." I replied while clenching my right hand into a fist, marvelling on the suit's flexibility.

"On point." the former SHSL Secret Agent chuckled. "Actually, it was made of high-strength aramid fibers and has sound absorbing boots. That means it eliminates footsteps, even if you're running."

"Hm, I like the sound of that." I said when I stressed the word 'sound'. "Hey, no pun taken."

"Well, moving on... the Sneaking Suit is much useful for night missions, so that means that it can perfectly blend in any environment as long as you're on night time. To put it, as long as you're in the dark." Yuto explained.

He continued as I went up to my D-Horse. "However, there is one flaw and I should remind you about it."

"What is it?" I asked as I mount up.

"There's a high chance that you'll get easily spotted during daytime. So if I were you, you need to be very careful. But when it's rainy or you often use a cardboard box to stay hidden, you'll have a good advantage."

"Got it." I nodded but something entered my mind. "Hey, there's not even an inch of rain here in Afghanistan, right?"

"Yeah, only sandstorms; your vision will blur a bit when you're in a middle of it. However, you can use it as an advantage if you want to say hidden or to sneak past enemies."

Then I suddenly remember the time Snake rescued me back at Wakh Sind: when we made our escape the whole area was engulfed by a sandstorm, and by his orders, I followed him until we made it past from the barracks.

"Alright, thanks." I said.

"Yeah, good luck, Fenrir." Yuto ended the transmission. And I began to ride forward to my destination, which is marked on the map.

I still keep on galloping but I slowed down when I saw two soldiers walking, seems they're on patrol. The two Soviet troopers have their own radio equipment. So it seems they'll call their CP if they saw something suspicious.

So all I need to do is to sneak past on them... while on horseback. I hid on the right side as I go past them; I keep myself hidden until I was far away. Then I started to ride forward once again.

"Fenrir, Rabbit has put an alternate route to Smasei Fort. Check on your map." Ocelot said through the radio.

As I slowed down and I checked the map; and the instructor was right: there is an alternate route. So I sprint my way into it. However, I slowed down once again because I saw a flying vehicle in the sky with its lights on.

It's an enemy helicopter. And it looks like it's on patrol.

"That's an enemy gunship. A single burst from its machine gun can tear anyone in half. Tread carefully, kid." Ocelot advised me thru radio.

"Right." I said as I stay low while riding my D-Horse, trying to gallop past on while hiding from the enemy chopper. I decided to stay hidden until the enemy gunship flies away. As that happened, I galloped forward until I saw an outpost. Crap, another thing I should take care of.

So I mount off from my D-Horse and began to walk into the outpost a few miles from it while staying low. I marked/analyzed the guards, two of them, and afterwards I brought my own tranquilizer gun.

I close my distance a bit and I carefully aim on the Soviet guard's head. I fired and suddenly the guard knocked out.

And of course, I took down the last guard with a tranquilizer gun. Well, the guard post is captured. And then...

I saw a boombox, which is placed on the ground. And I heard some music playing. I walked towards the boombox and got a cassette tape. As I inspect it, I looked at the description:

"Rock the Casbah."

"A music tape?" I raised an eyebrow. "Oh well, better to keep it." And I put the music tape in my pocket.

I proceeded to go to the sleeping Soviet guard near the lightshade and I woke him up and point my tranquilizer gun on him.

("Don't move!")

The helpless Soviet soldier puts his hands on his head. Alright, time to interrogate him.

("Now, talk!")

("Y-You'll find a highly-skilled soldier here...")

"Oh, seems you've found a highly-skilled soldier. Why don't you try to extract that guy and brought him here? Just my advice." Rabbit said on the radio

"Sounds like isn't a bad idea." I noted and I took out the Fulton recovery device from my pack and place it on the downed guard to extract him. And then pop goes the balloon. The Soviet guard was pulled up.

"You're going to extract him?"

That's Commander Miller speaking to me. I began to run forward, following the path that was depicted on my map.

*Mukuro's POV*

And yes, seems it is night time. Perfect. So this is the 'shortcut', huh? It's more like a mountainous pathway so I went through it. A few minutes later I reached a cliff where a plant; a large flower with blue petals, was located nearby. This is it.

However, as I began to duck and walk I picked up the said plant.

"You picked up a Golden Crescent." Yuto noted. "That was used to strengthen your tranquilizer rounds."

Walking a few meters... and there it is.

They were right: Da Smasei Laman is a now a Soviet base. Time to use my Int-Scope to scan the area; then I received a radio call from none other than Yuto.

"You're now in Da Smasei Laman. Now rescue the Hamid girl."

There are a number of guards patrolling the area and there are also lights in the vicinity; of course, it's evening. Gun emplacements, mortars, drums used as torches, a watchtower, and a tent, and... There are two somewhat prison cells with some satellite dish each: one on the right and the other near the tents.

"All done." I remarked as I've done 'marking' the guards.

Suddenly, my radio ringed.

"Hey, kid. How's it going?" I widened my eyes. It was Snake. It's been a long week last time he dropped off somewhere.

"Boss? B-But... how long have you've been here in Kabul? It's been so long..."

"Hmm, like more of a week..."

"Woah, you're really tough. No wonder why they call you 'Boss'." I said.

"Don't mention it. Anyhow, I'm near into a shortcut to the fort entrance. Where's your location?"

"I'm up here, in the cliff." However, as I looked down while surveying, I saw a man in a desert camo darb, staying down low. When I saw his prosthetic arm, I realized it was Snake.

"I see you from up here." I told him through my radio.

Then a few moments, Snake looked up to me, still holding his earpiece. "So do I."

Then he continued. "I'm going inside to get that weapon. You go with your objective. Be careful, Ikusaba."

"Same to you, Boss." I said as I ended the call.

As I saw Snake sneaking his way inside, I looked down on the whole area. Time to do my job; however, I received another call.

"So the Boss is here as well..." Commander Miller said through my radio. "Still, you have your own objective. Plus, Shadow Rabbit pinpoint the location of the Hamid girl. It's on your map. Open up your iDroid."

Hearing what the XO said, I opened up my iDroid. I saw a green mark on it. XO Miller was right: the Hamid girl was located on a cell, just near one of the tents. However, I want to call someone first; and I mean Yuto.

"Hey, Yuto. Just one question..."

"Um, what is it...?"

"I'm just wondering; how do you work so fast?"

"Aww, that hurts." Yuto replied in a sarcastic tone. "Are you trying to underestimate us Intel guys, Mukuro?

"Nah, just curious." I giggled. "But you know; thanks. You're a great help."

"Hey, don't mention it. Just doing my job; now, go get the Hamid prisoner."

The call ended. Now, back to business.

I slide down from the cliff until I reached into one of the quarters. Still staying down low, moved until I saw a guard on the watchtower near the drum torch; of course, I put him to sleep with my tranquilizer gun.

I still decided to go to the watchtower because I saw some resources to pick up, which I did. And about reaching that prison cell on the other side, I could not just go straight there or I'm risking myself to be spotted. How can I get out of this?

I hatched an idea... and I decided to put it into action.

I sneaked in until I reached the entrance to the fort; while trying to keep myself hidden by staying down low and without being detected by the lampshade; good thing that one Soviet guard was a bit far away from me. Before going to the other side, I'm thinking of how I can get through it without risking myself being spotted when the lights are on. The best way to do it is through go discreet while staying away from the lightshade.

Still, I discreetly made my way on the other side while staying low; good thing that most of the guards are far away now I took that advantage. Now I am crawling my way into the said tent where the three guards are standing on patrol. Staying low, I fired my tranquilizer gun and fired at the two guards, at the head each. However, the remaining guard saw his two comrades down and if he was surprised.

("W-What? What's going on?!")

The said guard exclaimed. I'm very sure that he'll wake up those two. So in order to make a diversion...

I suddenly took a dive into the prison cell. And as the looks of it, it seems I caught the guard's attention. So I decided to press myself on the wall and wait as I heard some footsteps; meaning that he is coming to me.

I'm preparing myself for the inevitable...

When I saw the guard inches from me I grabbed him quickly, dragged him and made a throw manoeuvre, knocking him down.

I looked down at the knocked-out Soviet guard and I mumbled, "Stay down."

I immediately went to the door of the cell; as I tried to open it.

It was locked. So I used a lock pick and a few moments, I unlocked the door and opened it.

And there she is: the same prisoner I tried to save back then. As I check on her, seems that she suffered from a lot of beatings; those bruises are a proof of it. I also checked on her pulse; she's still alive. Thank goodness.

I tried to wake her up. "Hey, you alright?"

No response.

"Homa, wake up. Hey!" I tried again.

The Hamid girl known as 'Homa' stirred and opened her eyes and saw me.

"Huh? I-it's you from before... but why?" she spoke to me.

"No time for that." I told her. "I'm gonna get you out of here."

"No... j-just let me die here..." she said with a weak voice.

"Huh?"

"My comrades... my people... they're all dead..." 'Homa' told me.

"What?"

"They told me... that my people were killed... by a plague. I escaped... when that happened as they told me... to run away. Until I got back here after you try to rescue me... and put me in this filthy cell..."

What's some crap I heard about this time? However, I shrugged and decided to pick her up.

"H-huh? W-What are you doing?" the Hamid girl stuttered as I carry her.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to save you." I said.

"But-"

"No buts." I interjected. "We'll save that for later when we get out of here." With this, I cut off the ropes from her hands and carry her. As I made back through the door and opened it –

I saw something... unusual. It's foggy around here.

"It's mist..." I heard Yuto on the radio.

"What?" I asked.

Then XO Miller added. "I had a bad feeling about this..."

Shit. That means danger. I can't even risk her to get her out... or she'll be dead.

"Stay here." I told the girl as I drop her down. However, I saw something in her eyes:

Fear.

"I-it's 'them'!"

"Who?" I asked her.

"I-It's 'them'! The 'plague'!" she said as if she was afraid, which it shows that she's trembling with fear.

"Alright, just stay here." I calmly replied. And she nodded.

I made out from the cell and went through. Crap, seems the whole area is covered by the mist. I took out my rifle in case someone is attack me. While walking and scanning the area for possible threats, I duck and hid in one of the walls to not only see what's going on but in order to hide myself as much as possible.

However, what I saw is an unusual sight, which I widened my eyes.

It was Snake... turned upside down. And he was caught by... a big mechanical hand. Is that... a robot?

And then the giant mechanical hand lifted up Snake away, while making an animalistic noise. Wait, is that coming from the machine? I don't know what's going on, but he's in danger!

"Snake!" I tried to hurry to help him yet I stopped a bit when I turned to my left... and I saw another figure.

Staying down low and took out my Int-Scope (good thing this has a directional microphone that helps me listen to conversations). My eyes widened as I look closely...

It was a man clad in a black trench coat wearing a ten-gallon hat, walking towards the Boss' direction. And under that domino mask is a scarred yet hideous face. However, this man has... charm. But above that, his face is so scarred and hideous that made it look like a skull.

More like a 'skull face'.

Currently, I am listening to a conversation. And that hideous man spoke first.

"You look well-rested, 'Big Boss'... My, my, how you've changed."

Venom Snake tried to get out of this mess. He successfully had the 'Honey Bee' and when he tried to get out of the fort, this happened.

Unfortunately, he was trapped. And it was under the clutches of a mechanical hand. Yet, he heard footsteps, as if an unknown figure approached him.

The unknown figure again spoke. "You became a demon for such little weapons as that?" Then he continued as he is inches into the somewhat helpless eye patched merc, "Hmph. Well, I'm sure you'll see the bigger picture eventually."

'Bigger picture...? What is he talking about?' Snake pondered on his thoughts.

And then, the scarred hideous man is now face to face with him. Still, Snake was stuck on the hand of a mechanical juggernaut. Yet the scarred man made a hideous grin.

And then he snickered, "If you get out of here alive."

Then Snake heard gunshots and shouts and as he turned to his left, the Soviet soldiers are firing against another hostile group, but the difference is that they're not human.

'It's 'them' again...' he cursed inwardly. And he looked back at the scarred man where the latter made a sinister smirk.

"Rest in peace this time... along with the girl over there." when the scarred made said it, Snake turned to his right and from a distance, he saw Mukuro, staying down low while she is holding her binoculars.

'Crap! Ikusaba!' Snake hesitantly tried to get out of here! Despite the kid being a promising soldier, he needs to be there for her!

However, the scarred man called out someone while he gets past the captive soldier. "'Vöröses Szőke', you know what to do."

Then moments later, Snake heard another set of footsteps. Appearing from the mist is another figure; a young woman wearing a red-clad military uniform, tactical gloves and a black vest and black brassard on the left arm

From a distance, Mukuro saw the womanly figure approaching the scarred man. When she looked closely, she was stuttered as if she saw a ghost.

"I-It can't be..." Mukuro was speechless about what she saw. The face, the hair.

The young woman had red, crimson hair and her right eye is also red. Mukuro took a closer look and as she noticed she was shocked at what she saw.

While the right eye is red, the left eye is colored blue and on the left side of her long ponytailed hair had streaks of strawberry blonde. And the freckled girl knew who had that hair color. It was someone she knew. Who have been so close to her, verbally abusing her and the other horrible things that done into her. And that woman even took a fake identity for an experiment, which in turn, that it totally became a twisted game. Yet, Mukuro knew the one who is behind and capable of doing this.

Her twin sister.

However, the mysterious woman took out a device with two buttons: one red and the other green. It's similar to a transmitter. Then she pressed the green button.

"All is set, sir." the woman told the scarred man.

"Good." The latter turned to the female operative. "That will buy us some time. Let's go!"

"I'll see you in hell, 'Boss'!" and the scarred man takes his leave... along with the red-clad female soldier. The mechanical hand dropped Snake and stood up and took out his rifle, pointing at the two hostiles.

*Mukuro's POV*

Despite of the unexpected turn of events, including those two people and the one that looked like my sister, I rushed into Snake's side.

"Boss! You okay?" I called him out and he turned to me.

"I'm all in one piece." he replied. "But I have no idea about these two... and that giant thing over there."

And then I looked forward as the two figures were caught by that hand. But to be clear, I even saw two mechanical legs. It was one giant mecha.

But, before the hand took them, the mysterious woman looked back at me and smirked. I narrowed my eyes, looking on her. My feelings right now are mixed with confusion, bewilderment. I don't even know if this is true or not...

"What the hell was that thing?! It was huge...!" I heard Commander Miller on the radio.

"I had the same reaction as you are, XO." Shadow Rabbit added while I still lost on my thoughts. "But I believe one 'Ultimate Fanfic Creator' would jizz on his pants when he sees this."

"H-Hey, snap out of it, Yuto!" I snapped back on him, which in turn I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Why? Just wanna help you get out of your bad mood..." he said back.

"It's not like that!" I shot back and sighed. "We'll deal with that later." And then Snake turned on me.

"Something wrong, kid?" he asked me.

"Err, better to tell you everything after we go back to Mother Base." I told him. "And also bring the Hamid girl."

"Alright." He nodded as he aimed on his rifle. "Just keep your eyes open." I nodded in response as I put out my rifle. Both of us looked at the lone Soviet soldier who stood there but... something's weird just happened to him. More like... he needs help. Then an unusual gas had engulfed him as like it enters his body.

The helpless Soviet soldier dropped into the ground. And far from a distance, I saw an odd bald man wearing a different advanced suit and his eyes are glowing blue. However, something or better yet, someone, landed in front of us after he jumped high from the air past from the first one; his appearance is the same as the odd bald man and followed by two more, one on the left and the other on the right.

Then suddenly, the recently downed Soviet soldier rose up yet his appearance is now a bit creepy. The soldier has deathly pale skin, whitened pupils, blackening around their eyes and mouths, slight sores near the neck, enlarged veins, and several small blue orbs emitting from their head. Shit, this was like it was taken from a zombie movie.

Yet the zombie-like Soviet soldier got past by the first bald man... and it gave me a clear look: he actually wears an odd suit, had blue glowing eyes, equipped with headphones just like the rest of his kind. Moreover, they're wearing masks.

"It's the Mist Unit... the Skulls!" XO Miller said on the radio.

"Skulls?" I repeated the word, asking.

"They're acting like zombie-esque freaks, but more." Yuto spoke on the radio. "They're fast, strong and dangerous. More like super-soldiers in a horror movie."

"But the question is... what's he doing to that soldier?" XO Miller wondered.

"I have no idea..." I muttered. During my whole life since I was a kid and as a soldier, I killed a lot of people. I even faced Hajime Hinata back then, when he was in his Izuru Kamakura persona, the so-called 'Ultimate Hope'. Yeah, I was easily defeated by that long-haired man, due to his superhuman strength.

But about these so-called 'Skulls', I don't know. This is the first time I encountered this group of freakish super soldiers. No matter, I'm no stranger to danger, anyway. So I can take this!

"Here they come! Get ready!" Snake called out.

"Right!" I nodded.

The Skulls finally made their move. And, crap, they move fast! Two Skulls appeared in front of us and they took out their guns... from out of nowhere.

However, we made the first move as me and Snake fired at those two creeps. However, even the two Skulls were taken hits from our bullets; they still managed to evade them due to their superhuman reflexes.

"Damn it, they're everywhere...!" XO Miller cursed.

However, one Skull using his agility appeared beside the other two and motioned his arms like he is summoning something. Then gas surrounded us. However,

"Kid, split up!" Snake called out to me when we're surrounded by the gas. And using our instincts, we separate by diving away from where we stand, as an odd rock formation appeared. I can't even tell if it is rock or metal, but it seems dangerous.

Then suddenly, I saw another Skull, while in the air, trying to attack me using his machete but I immediately evaded by rolling away, firing my rifle against that creep. I quickly get up in a ducking position. While trying to aim my rifle, I noticed that the Skull is just walking in front yet he's starting to go near me using his supernatural speed. And all of a sudden, the Skull appeared on my right. Holding his machete, he tried to attack me for the second time. But I managed to block his attack with my rifle and quickly hit him with my right elbow. Seeing the machete slowly falling off from his hand and using my reflexes, I finally caught it, holding the machete in reverse grip, and stabbed the Skull through the chest. I jumped back and began to fire, until I shot him in the head, neutralizing the freak.

"You took down one of the Skulls...? Wow, you made me impressed." Commander Miller remarked on the radio.

"Heh, she wasn't called the Super High School Level Soldier for nothing." I heard Yuto speak up.

"Haha, small wolf with a heart of a lion; show them what you got, kid!" Ocelot also remarked as well.

"Alright, you go help the Boss take 'em down." Miller ended the transmission.

"Roger that." I affirmed as I began to ran toward where the 'Boss' is. I'm sure he's busy taking down those freaks. However...

I heard a noise. More like a hiss...

"Ikusabaaaaaaa..."

"Huh?" Someone's calling my name. Still armed, I'm trying to find where it came from. Moments later, I heard footsteps.

I looked everywhere, with adrenaline rushing and desperation. Damnit, where is he!?

"Here."

While still looking, I felt that I bumped someone. When I turned to find out where it is, I pointed my gun and...

There's no one here, yet...

All of a sudden, a figure appeared in front of me. And he was tall!

"At last... we meet again..." Shit, he speaks!

How can I describe his appearance...? The guy in front of me is a large man with a long, slender body, with a resemblance to a snake stretching upwards. He had very pale skin, his face resembling a white mask. He had pitch-black hair dropping down to his shoulders. And his long hair is braided. And what's odd about this guy?

He had a somewhat high-tech visor, where his eyes are glowing red.

And he wears a similar suit like those Skulls. But his... is more advanced. It has a little bit of armor from the chest and the shoulders, as well as his arms. And he is surrounded by blueish mist.

When I look at his face closely, he even let out his tongue, which it moves like a tongue of a snake. Wait... that sounds familiar.

No! It can't be!

Long hair, large body, a snake-like tongue; shit, I knew this guy! And he's supposed to be dead! I widened my eyes when something on my mind had hit me. And then I stared at him.

"Isshiki Madarai, the 'Ultimate Bodyguard'..." I muttered. "You're supposed to be dead..."

But the figure, who is known as Madarai, laughed.

"Correction: people call me... Python." he said while he made a sinister chuckle. "I still... remember... about what you did... to me... and to my brothers! And I… am… the only one… left." Veering against me, he continued. "You... will... PAY!" He growled at me as he prepares his fighting stance.

"Now... DIE!" The former Ultimate Bodyguard-turned Skull leaped into the air as he prepares for the punch.

Point my rifle at him; this will be a tough fight. The recent events that happened made my mind jumbled a bit. But I am a soldier, and I was made to fight.

As always, I am prepared for the worst.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: This is the end of the first part of chapter 5.

Upon writing this story, I read about the Madarai brothers, who are featured in Danganronpa Zero, including Isshiki. He is a cautious and vigilant person and he, along with his brothers, is very vengeful, cruel and eager to harm his "prey", with a relentless personality akin to a predator. I am thinking of adding him to the story because I realized that one of the themes of Metal Gear Solid V is "revenge"; it is also the title of the first chapter of the said game. Kazuhira Miller wants revenge against Cipher, and so does the "Man on Fire", who wants revenge against Venom Snake. Here, I decided to include Isshiki due to the theme and his thirst for vengeance is on Mukuro.

However, Mukuro is a different case. She wants to start a new life as finds her way on living in this new world. And inside 'Outer Heaven', she will become not just a soldier but also a warrior; not only she protects those who are dear to her, but she also fights for herself. Back then, she was an excellent soldier yet she was easily manipulated and verbally abused by Junko. Good thing there's Danganronpa IF.

And about the new character who was with Skull Face? Seems you guess who it is, but she's a bit... different. We'll find out in the later chapters about how and why.

And finally, I was thinking to write another Danganronpa crossover. This time, it's Metal Gear Rising. I am still gathering ideas, though.

So readers, thank you so much and please read and review!