DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Metal Gear is created by Hideo Kojima and owned by Konami. Genshin Impact is owned by miHoYo.

METAL GEAR SHOGUN

Episode 9
HEART OF DARKNESS

/-\ Army of the Devil Base Camp /-\

"Happy birthday, Ripper."

Jacqueline stood in a dark room, George standing a short distance ahead of her. George revealed a brand-new combat knife to her, her reflection glaring off the polished blade.

"Here." George said to his daughter. "It's yours." Jacqueline took the knife, holding it in her hands and getting a feel for the weapon. "Now, blow out the candles." George motioned to a previously unseen section of the room, revealing a group of captive Liberian soldiers.

Ten of them. One for each year of her life on Earth. George called them Liberian terrorist scum. He told her they've killed innocent Americans, that they deserve to die.

She didn't care. Jacqueline only knew what she had to do. She lightly caressed the first man's neck with the edge of the blade, as though preparing for the first stroke of a shave. Feeling it out. Searching for just the right spot. Eventually, she found it, slicing the man's throat with elegance.

Ten.

"That's it, girl." George congratulated her. "Keep going…"

Nine.

"Blow them all out or you don't get your wish."

She didn't care.

Eight.

Her wishes never came true anyway.

"That's my little Jack the Ripper…"

George… her so-called "father." He seemed proud of her. She didn't care.

Seven.

After ten years on Earth, Jacqueline never cared about anything anymore.

Six.

"Halfway done, Jacqueline. Just five more to go."

Five.

The next man was terrified, having watched all who came before getting killed before his eyes. He tried to plead with Jacqueline, but she tuned his words out.

Four.

She didn't care. This was all she knew, and all she could ever know. If she resisted, she would be killed.

Three.

Jacqueline had always been hopeful that she would be liberated from this hell. That something would come and save her. But no matter how much she hoped or despaired, nothing changed. She saw no more reason to express herself anymore.

Two.

"Just one left, Jackie girl." George reminded her. "Go on. Make your wish."

Jacqueline didn't even bother. With one last slash of the knife, she cut through last man's neck, killing him.

One.

Looking down at all the dead bodies, Jacqueline realized how desensitized she had become to death and killing. She didn't care. This was her life now, and nothing could change that. George gave his daughter a round of applause.

"Congratulations, Jacqueline." He spoke. "Now, for another present. All the other child soldiers look up to you now. You've become somewhat like a leader to them after… what happened with Ryan."

Jacqueline remembered. Only a few months ago, George had killed Ryan in cold blood. She remembered how terrible she felt, witnessing his death before her very eyes. She was furious at George for the comrade he had taken from her.

She didn't care anymore.

"Anyways, considering your satisfactory kill record, I've decided to make it official." George announced. "From here on, you are now the platoon captain of the Small Boys' Unit. Now get to the mess for your party."

Jacqueline left the building she and George were in and headed over to the mess hall. Arriving with the other child soldiers, she was served once more. She was given a slightly larger portion of food this time. The amount of gunpowder mixed into it seemed consistent, but she had a larger meal to eat today.

She didn't care.

While she ate, another movie was being shown to the child soldiers. This time, it was "Terminator." A movie she remembered she liked once. Jacqueline once admired this story, that of a man travelling back in time from a post-apocalyptic future to save the one person capable of putting a stop to all the destruction that would come.

But now, she didn't care.

The movie eventually ended, and Jacqueline finished her meal. Walking over to the exit, she saw some of the adult soldiers glaring at her. She recognized one of them as the man whose candy she had stolen some months ago. He probably still held a grudge against her for that.

She didn't care.

Stationed at the outer perimeter, she held her AK in her hands and looked for any intruders who may be approaching. After half an hour of watching, she heard a distant voice.

"Help me…!" Looking to the distance, Jacqueline saw an African man in ragged clothing coming closer to the base. Most likely a refugee. She aimed her AK and let off a few warning shots. The man ducked down for a moment. However, after a few seconds passed, he got back up and continued desperately running over to the base.

Jacqueline wouldn't be giving another warning this time. Aiming true, she let off a shot that landed right between the man's eyes. He fell to the ground, dead. He had come here seeking shelter from the civil war all across Liberia, only for his life to be cut short anyway.

She didn't care.

"Hey." An adult's voice called to her. "Your papa wants to see you. Get over to him."

Jacqueline went to George's tent, visiting him for the second time today. She sat down at the chair in front of his desk.

"Hello again, Jacqueline." George spoke. "Do you know why you're here…?"

She nodded her head no.

"Well, Jackie girl… we've received news of a supply caravan heading over to an enemy base. If we can intercept the caravan, we'll be able to commandeer the vehicles and use them as a Trojan horse. We'll take them by surprise and wipe out their base in one fell swoop. I want you and the boys to intercept this caravan. Are you up to it?"

Jacqueline was silent for a moment. "I'll need weapons." She said silently. "And explosives."

George considered her request for a moment before speaking. "Of course." He agreed. "Take what you need from the armory before you go. Who are you bringing along for the trip?"

Jacqueline thought. "Carlos, Toby…" She began. "And Max."

"I see." George replied. "Then get to it, Ripper. Don't want to ruin the surprise."

BGM:

Devil May Cry 2 – Eye of the Wind (Lower Town)
By Masato Koda, Tetsuya Shibata, & Satoshi Ise

Jacqueline and Max were lying on top of a hill overlooking a road. Jacqueline was holding a sniper rifle in her hands and looking down its scope, watching the road ahead. The radio she brought along with her crackled, and she took it from her belt.

[Are you in position, Jacqueline?] Carlos' voice echoed through the radio.

"Yes, Carlos." She responded. "What about you and Toby?"

[We're here.] Carlos responded. [When's the caravan supposed to arrive?]

"Soon enough." Jacqueline answered.

Max tapped Jacqueline's shoulder. It seemed he was still anxious about this assignment.

"Jacqueline…?" He asked nervously. "Are we going to have to kill anyone…?"

Jacqueline thought for a moment. "If everything goes right, you won't have to." She answered.

She was somewhat right. If everyone manning the caravan died in their ambush, Max wouldn't have to kill anyone. Though, if there were men hiding in the caravan, it would be more problematic for them. However, George told her it was unlikely there would be any more than six soldiers in total.

"Carlos?" Jacqueline asked through her radio. "Is the trap ready?"

[Of course, Jacqueline.] He answered. [Toby has everything set up. They won't know what hit them.]

Lying in wait for several more minutes, Jacqueline noticed Max walking off from his position. She looked over to him.

"Max…?" She asked.

"What happened to you, Jacqueline…?" Max asked. "You used to be so nice, but now… you're just like Ryan… What happened?"

Jacqueline lowered her head. "It's not my fault…" She answered coldly. She still remembered George's words to her. "None of this is my fault…"

Max hummed in sympathy for Jacqueline, feeling the pain hidden behind her words. He placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Jacqueline ignored the gesture, gazing back into the sniper scope.

[Here they come, Jacqueline.] Carlos' voice came through the radio. She looked over to her right down the road, seeing the caravan approaching.

The caravan consisted of three supply trucks. Looking to the front of the trucks, she saw two soldiers in each truck, driving the caravan forward. Like bugs flying into a web.

"I see them." Jacqueline acknowledged. "Take your mark."

[Rear truck, driver.] Carlos spoke. Jacqueline decided to train her sights on the soldier in the third truck's passenger seat.

Ordinarily, shooting the truck in front would be the logical play. If both shots landed, the front truck would come to a halt, easily setting up the two trucks behind it. Any trucks ahead of the one they shot would be able to escape more easily, which would make their plan a failure.

That is, if it weren't for the claymore trap Toby had previously set up on the road.

BGM end

The lead truck ran right over the claymore mines, detonating them and flipping off the road onto its side. It was safe to assume that the soldiers driving that truck were out of commission.

"Fire." Jacqueline spoke into the radio.

The sound of a sniper rifle bolted out, and the driver of the third truck in the caravan was killed. Jacqueline took her own shot, killing the passenger next to him. Max flinched from the loud bark of the sniper rifle, covering his ears.

With both the front and rear trucks out of commission, the truck in the center was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Jacqueline began to aim towards the middle truck, but it quickly turned and went offroad. It sped up drastically, trying to get further away from the carnage. Jacqueline took another shot but missed. She grabbed her radio.

"Fire at will." She instructed.

With that, Carlos began firing his own sniper rifle, attempting to hit the runaway truck's driver. The truck began to swerve back and forth, trying to throw off the snipers targeting them. Jacqueline took aim slightly ahead of the truck, attempting to adjust for its erratic movement. Several seconds passed, and she let off another round.

The truck then swerved, rolling as it went out of control. Must have hit the bullseye. Eventually, the truck came to the end of its tumble, now motionless on the side of the road.

[Did you see that?] Carlos asked over the radio. [I guess you got him.]

"I will investigate." Jacqueline spoke. "You cover me, Carlos. Max and Toby can search the other trucks for supplies."

[Copy that, Jacqueline.]

Jacqueline got up from her sniping position and turned to Max. His hands were firmly pressed against his ears, blocking out all sound. It took Jacqueline touching him on the shoulder to get his focus.

"Get over to the trucks and take anything useful." Jacqueline said to him. "Stay alert for any survivors."

Max hesitantly nodded and walked over, the AK on his back waving around as he walked. Jacqueline then shouldered her sniper rifle and slid down the hill. Reaching the bottom of the hill, she began making her way over to the lone truck. She unsheathed her new knife and approached the crashed vehicle.

A booted leg kicked out the broken windshield. An African soldier crawled out of the truck, heavily bruised and bleeding. He looked around, eventually spotting the one who shot the driver of his vehicle.

"You…!" He exclaimed. "You… you're the… The Violet Demoness…!" The soldier tried to get away from the approaching girl, but couldn't move fast enough. "No… stay back… get away…!" His cries were for naught. Jacqueline grabbed his head and slit the man's throat, killing him. His face was warped with terror, the life leaving his eyes.

She didn't care.

Jacqueline took the radio from her belt again and spoke into it. "Carlos, the truck is neutralized." She said. "Check it for supplies."

[Copy that, Jacqueline.] Carlos' voice said. Jacqueline then altered the frequency on her radio. She then spoke into it, calling the one on the other end of that frequency.

"George, this is Jacqueline…" She spoke. She then waited for a response.

[I can hear you, Jacqueline.] George's voice crackled through the radio. [What's your status?]

"Mission complete." Jacqueline answered.

[Well done, Jack the Ripper.] George praised her. [Have you found anything of use in the caravan?]

"The others are searching for supplies right now." She answered. "We'll get everything ready for when you get here."

[And the trucks?] George asked. [Are they still usable?]

"I think one is. The other two might be damaged. We might need to check if they can still work."

[Understood.] George acknowledged. [I'll be there in an hour with more soldiers to prepare the attack. You stay there and be ready to welcome us. Over and out.]

Jacqueline's radio shut off, no longer receiving a signal from George. She walked over to Carlos, who had just arrived to search the truck.

"George wants us to gather supplies from the trucks and see if they still work." Jacqueline instructed. "Take all the supplies out and see if the trucks can still run."

"I understand." Carlos responded.

Jacqueline went over to the other two trucks, seeing Max investigating the truck which had activated the claymores. He was looking into the windshield, seeing if anyone had survived.

"Is everything alright?" Jacqueline asked him.

Max looked away from the truck to answer her, but was interrupted by a soldier grabbing him. A pistol was pressed against his head, ready to fire at any moment.

"Don't move!" The soldier yelled. "If you take even a step closer, I'm gonna blow his brains out!"

Jacqueline was still. She saw Max trapped in the soldier's arms, whimpering in fear.

"Jacqueline…!" Max cried. "I'm scared…!"

"Shut up!" The soldier shouted, pressing the gun harder against his head.

"Let him go." Jacqueline said, holding her knife in her hand.

"Oh, we both know that isn't gonna happen." The soldier taunted. "You can't shoot that thing fast enough, and that knife of yours isn't useful at this range. Oh, and if any of those other kids try to be a hero, I'm gonna shoot this kid anyway!"

Jacqueline froze. She had to do something. "Max." She called. "I know you don't want to kill, but you have to be brave now."

"What do you mean…?" Max said with panicked breaths.

"Don't think about anything." Jacqueline said. "Just get him off his guard. I'll do the rest."

Max hesitated, but slowly stopped shaking. "All right…" He whispered.

"You do realize I'm still here, right?" The soldier reminded them. "Whatever you're planning, it's not gonna–"

He was interrupted by Max grabbing his gun arm and pulling it down. That bought them a moment of time.

"JACQUELINE!" Max shouted. She didn't waste her chance. She lunged forwards, her knife thrusted out at her enemy.

However, Max's distraction didn't last long. The soldier wrestled his arm free and aimed the gun back at Max's head. Jacqueline stabbed her knife into his throat, and a gunshot fired.

The soldier fell dead, his throat now punctured. However, Max's body fell to the ground, his brain matter blasted out of his skull. Despite her best efforts, Jacqueline failed. Carlos and Toby rushed back over to her, hearing the commotion.

"Jacqueline…?" Toby asked. "Is everything all right?"

Jacqueline stared at Max's lifeless body. She saw his eyes clenched shut, closed in his last moment. Her chest ached.

"Everything is fine." Jacqueline said. "I don't care."

With that, she walked off behind the hill she was previously on. Now alone, she sat down and began sobbing to herself. Despite her constant vacancy, her broken hopes, and her inability to express herself, she was not fine. Somewhere deep inside Jacqueline, Ei was still there. Ei was still alive.

Ei cared immensely.

And there is the end of this chapter. I am probably going to have the end of the fighting happen at the end of the next mission, which will directly lead to the next arc of Ei's story. I'll try my hardest to make sense of what happened during that time, so stay tuned. Here are the reviews.

Maniacalharp747: Excellent. That means I'm doing a good job of writing this.

I'm going to take a lot of time writing the next part, so make sure to be patient. I'll see you then.

-Azzy Asbourne

Music: watch?v=lxVXIiPi9RA&t=20s