San Hieronymo, 1971
The intercom crackled to life, its metallic voice announcing the presence of an intruder.
"Intruder detected. Releasing Perfect Soldier. Number Null, take him into custody."
The restraints around me were suddenly released, and I emerged from the shadows, revealing my pale-skinned face concealed by a ninja mask.
Naked Snake, the intruder, gazed at me with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "So, this is Null... The Perfect Soldier."
Without hesitation, Snake unleashed a barrage of bullets in my direction, but my reflexes were honed to perfection. With swift and calculated movements, I deflected each projectile with my machete. There was no trace of emotion on my face, only a cold determination.
Snake's astonishment was palpable as I effortlessly flipped over him, slashing with precision in front of his face. Landing on the other side, I maintained my guard.
"What is this guy...?!" Snake's voice was tinged with disbelief as he struggled to comprehend the enigma standing before him.
Our confrontation continued, both of us poised with weapons at the ready. Panting heavily, I spoke with a hint of cynicism, "Why? Why do you still live?"
Snake's confusion was evident in his response. "What the hell's he talking about?"
I persisted, my voice devoid of emotions. "No man can meet the Perfect Soldier in battle and survive. But you won't die. Why!?"
Driven by determination, I lunged towards Snake, slashing at him with calculated precision. He managed to dodge my attacks, evading my lethal strikes.
"These moves... I know these moves... It was in...Mozambique!" Snake's realisation cut through the air.
I placed my hands on my head, an excruciating pain surged through my being. In that moment, a floodgate of memories, long forgotten and deliberately erased, came crashing back with overwhelming force. I couldn't contain the sheer intensity of emotions and experiences that engulfed me.
A scream tore through my lips, a raw expression of the turmoil within. It was the anguish of reliving fragments of a past that had been deliberately hidden from me. Images flashed before my eyes, vivid and fragmented, like shattered glass reflecting the fragments of a life I was never meant to remember.
Cunningham's voice commanded attention. "Stay right where you are, Snake. Hey, you've been quite a handful, I'll give you that."
Seizing the opportunity, Cunningham swiftly struck Snake with the butt of his rifle, rendering him unconscious. Snake lay motionless on the ground.
Cunningham's attention shifted to me, acknowledging my efficiency. "Good work, Perfect Soldier. Your mission is complete."
Standing hesitantly over the fallen intruder, I remained silent, my weapon lowered. Cunningham's words resonated with finality. "Your mission is over, Null. At ease."
A sense of detachment settled within me as I absorbed Cunningham's words. The realisation of my purpose sank deeper, the emptiness and cynicism intensifying. The memories of the encounter would fade, but the truth of my existence remained—an instrument, a puppet in a grander scheme.
Gene's voice resonated through the phone as he immediately recognized the caller on the other end. "It's me. Somehow I knew it would be you," he remarked. The success of their negotiations with the Kremlin was relayed, with assurance that they wouldn't interfere with the impending events. Gene expressed his sincere gratitude for the assistance rendered. The trajectory data for Metal Gear had evidently convinced them of the seriousness of the situation, leaving the CIA in a state of panic. It seemed that everything was unfolding according to plan. However, Gene couldn't help but wonder about the origins of the acquired data, questioning if the caller had acted alone or if there was someone backing them. Before delving further into that matter, Gene concluded the conversation, already having a fairly good idea of who was involved. "We'll meet again... in a new world, one of my own creation. Until then, my friend... Ocelot."
The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted Gene's thoughts as two soldiers barged into the room. Eager to find out what had happened, he asked, "What is it? What's happened?" The soldiers stammered, struggling to speak. Finally, one managed to blurt out, "P-pardon us, sir! But the Perfect Soldier... He's...!" The soldier's sentence was cut short as Null burst into the room, swiftly slicing through both soldiers with deadly precision.
Ursula, taken aback by Null's entrance, whispered his name with a mixture of concern and recognition. Gene, now face-to-face with Null, demanded an explanation. "What's the meaning of this?" he inquired. Null, his eyes filled with determination, replied, "I must complete my mission."
Gene, attempting to assert his authority, commanded Null to stand down. "Stand down, Null," he ordered. But Null remained resolute, stating, "Not yet. He lives. I have not completed my mission." Snake's capture was still an obstacle that needed to be overcome. "You mean Snake? He's been captured. Your mission is complete. Stand down, Null," Gene insisted. Null's response was laced with frustration and an unwavering determination. "No. Why won't you die, Snake!?" he exclaimed.
Ignoring all restraint, Null lashed out at more surrounding soldiers, his movements swift and lethal. Ursula moved forward, attempting to intervene, but Gene halted her with a firm grip on her arm. Stepping forward himself, he confronted Null, ready to confront the Perfect Soldier. "Out of my way," Null snarled, driven by his uncontrollable desire to kill Snake. "I'll kill him! I must kill him... I must... kill!"
Null's blade struck out towards Gene, but to everyone's astonishment, Gene evaded the attack with impossible agility. In a calculated move, he unleashed a flurry of knives, piercing Null's hands and knees. The pain was evident on Null's face as he was sent flying through the air, unable to overcome Gene's formidable skill.
Echoing through the room, Gene's voice carried an air of command and authority. "You will follow my orders, Perfect Soldier. I am your commander," he declared. With a sense of finality, he directed the soldiers to take Null to the preparation chamber.
As the soldiers carried Null away, Ursula followed closely behind, leaving Gene to contemplate the extraordinary emotions that Null had developed after just a single skirmish. Despite the Perfect Soldier's memories being reset after each mission, Snake had managed to leave an indelible mark on Null's psyche. Gene, his voice echoing, spoke his final words. "The Perfect Soldier has his memory reset after every mission. And yet, after a single skirmish, you managed to instill such strong emotions in him. Snake..."
"I didn't hear anything about using the Perfect Soldier, did you!?" one of the soldiers exclaimed, his voice filled with confusion and disbelief.
"He's supposed to be undergoing readjustments!" another soldier added, clearly caught off guard by my presence.
With the enemies vanquished, I demanded answers. "Where is he? Where is that man?" My voice held a hint of desperation, a longing to confront the one who had eluded me for so long.
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me, and I turned to face Snake, his eye locked with mine. There was an intensity in his gaze, a silent understanding that this battle was inevitable.
"I found you," I declared, my voice tinged with a mix of determination and frustration. "Tell me. Why are you still alive? I used to get dreams... About my comrades... They'd come save me with strong arms and laughing voices. When I woke up, I had nothing. No joy, no sorrow, no hatred... No memory. When I wake up from the darkness, all I see are the bodies of men I've killed, lying in front of me. My memory is riddled with corpses. I know. Everybody dies. Crime, disease, accidents, war... No matter how noble a person you are, no matter how good a soldier. There are no exceptions. Even if I don't kill them, they die. This world is full of death. And yet you won't be killed. Why? Why do you still live? What do you hope to accomplish by living?"
As the words left my lips, I launched myself at Snake, my blade slashing through the air with deadly precision. Our clash was fierce, a dance of blades and skill. I fought with every ounce of strength within me, determined to prove my worth and fulfill my purpose.
Snake, however, had his own agenda. Amidst our battle, he spoke, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I know your name."
His words caught me off guard, momentarily distracting me from our fight. "Name..." I murmured, my mind racing to grasp the significance of his revelation.
He continued, recounting a memory from our shared past. "It was four years ago, in Mozambique. There was a child soldier fighting with a guerrilla group in the struggle for independence. He killed dozens of government soldiers with just a single knife. He'd throw the enemy off guard with the innocent frankness of a young boy. Then he'd prey on them with the cold cruelty of a hunter. He spoke a little German so his enemies called him 'Frank Jaeger,' the frank hunter."
The memories flooded back, and a mix of emotions washed over me. "Frank Jaeger... ...my name..." I whispered, a hint of recognition dawning upon me.
Snake's voice was filled with urgency as he pleaded, "Don't do this. The strong arms... ...allies who will help you are somewhere else."
But I resisted, clinging to the identity I had forged for myself. "No. I am the Perfect Soldier. Where I exist, there are no other soldiers. So I don't need a name. I am Null. And when you're dead, I can go back to being null!"
Our battle raged on, our movements a symphony of violence and skill. But in the end, it was Snake who emerged as the victor. Defeated, I knelt before him, my mask removed to reveal the face that had long been hidden.
"I remember now... Big Boss... Even then, you were the one who stopped me," I confessed, my voice filled with a mix of gratitude and regret.
Snake's voice softened as he spoke, a tinge of remorse in his words. "I'm sorry. I thought you'd have been safe at the rehab facility... I had no idea they'd subject you to this. It had to be the Philosophers..."
I accepted his apology, a sense of solace filling the void within me. "It's okay, Big Boss. You help me fill the void inside. You're always there to save me."
With a shared understanding, we resolved to escape this place together. "Let's get going. It's time to blow this place," Snake declared, and we left, united in our purpose and bound by our shared history.
The blaring intercom jolted me awake, tearing me from the clutches of sleep. My heart raced as I struggled to regain my bearings, disoriented and drenched in cold sweat. Haunting memories swirled in my mind, refusing to loosen their grip.
"Intruder detected. Releasing Perfect Soldier. Number Null, take him into custody," the intercom's message echoed, sending a shiver down my spine. It was a chilling reminder of a past I had desperately tried to leave behind. The memories surged forth, vivid and unyielding, tearing down the barriers I had erected to shield myself.
As the haze of sleep lifted, the reality of my surroundings in the Beacon Academy dormitory emerged. The pale moonlight seeped through the window, casting an ethereal glow that both comforted and intensified the weight of my past. My trembling hand ran through my damp hair, the remnants of those fateful encounters still lingering within me.
I sat up, grappling with the surge of emotions that flooded my senses. The memories had yanked me back to a time I had fought so hard to escape, resurrecting the pain, violence, and loss that defined that chapter of my life. The fragments of the past wove together, enveloping me in a tapestry of unease, a stark reminder that the scars, though faded, still bore their mark on my soul.
My gaze drifted to the familiar objects and personal mementos in my dorm room, seeking solace in their tangible presence. Yet, the weight of the memories persisted, a haunting reminder of the person I once was and the choices I made. The line between past and present blurred, and the confines of my room transformed into a fragile sanctuary, suspended between two worlds.
Drawing a deep breath, I settled back onto my pillow, closing my eyes. Determined to quiet the storm raging within, I focused on the rhythm of my breath, embracing the tranquility that sleep offered. Gradually, the memories receded, fading into the recesses of my mind. I surrendered to the embrace of slumber, the silvery moonlight bathing my room, casting a soothing glow that whispered of peace and the promise of a new day yet to unfold.
Authors note: This is basically a filler chapter for those who don't know Grey Fox's backstory.
I'm currently wrapping up in college at the moment so the next chapter might not be for a while .
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.