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 13
VIRTUAL INSANITY

/-\ Fort Hood, November 12th, 2001 /-\

The Drill Sergeant stood just outside the doors of the barracks. He had been placed in charge of training the new recruits with the US Army's Task Force XXI program – a series of trials and exercises meant to test new technologies and combat techniques for the new modern battlefield. Ever since the recent terrorism attacks two months ago, the US needed new soldiers for the War on Terror, and Force XXI was a necessary effort for turning the recruits just ahead into proper disciplined soldiers. The Drill Sergeant stepped through the doors.

"Atten-TION!" He shouted shortly after entering the barracks. "Sergeant on deck!" He called. Within seconds, the recruits rushed out of their beds and organized themselves in an orderly fashion. "My name is Drill Sergeant Christopher Fletcher!" The Drill Sergeant exclaimed, walking up and down the barracks. "From this day forward, you maggots are part of TF-XXI. Here at this base, you will be molded into soldiers well-equipped for the battlefields of the 21st century. Do you understand!?"

"SIR, YES SIR!" The recruits chanted in unison.

"Your regimen here will not be easy, but it will prepare you for what you will encounter on the field." Fletcher continued. "You will be put through hyper-realistic virtual reality combat simulations day in, day out, with rigorous physical training to build up your strength and resistance. By the time of your deployment, you will be properly trained and experienced to serve the interests of the United States of America. Understood?"

"SIR, YES SIR!" The recruits chanted once more.

Drill Sergeant Fletcher inspected the troops. Most of them were male – Caucasian or African American – with a decent amount of muscle on their bodies. One of the recruits, however, stood out from the rest. A tall female, with violet braided hair – clearly not compliant with military standards. Fletcher approached the young woman and stood in front of her.

"What's your name, Lady?" Fletcher ordered the woman.

"Jacqueline, sir…!" The woman responded.

"Sound off like you've got a pair!" Fletcher demanded.

"Jacqueline, sir!" She said, louder this time.

"Jacqueline, is it?" Fletcher questioned the violet-haired lady. "How the hell did you pass selection, recruit? You're built like a goddamn beanpole, for Christ's sake!"

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" The woman, Jacqueline, asked.

"Granted." Fletcher allowed her.

"I see no reason why my physique would have any effect on my ability to fight, sir." Jacqueline spoke up. "I would like to say that combat skill is what matters the most in a battle, sir."

"Oh, really?" Fletcher questioned. "Then I recommend that you prove you are able to show skill in combat, miss Jacqueline! You are to report to the VR training facility ASAP! Dismissed!"

With that order, Jacqueline left the barracks for the VR training building. Drill Sergeant Fletcher turned his attention back to the other recruits.

It had been eighteen years since Ei first found herself on Earth. The first fourteen years were… regretful, to say the least. However, four years ago, Ei had been taken to America. She was kept in a building owned and run by an NGO, which was reluctant to place her in foster care because they thought she would prove to be troublesome for a foster family. Upon reaching eighteen years old, Ei joined the US military, where she was recommended to the Army's Task Force XXI due to her incredible scores on the entry exam.

Ei was unsure about why she decided to join the military, but it seemed to satiate some kind of "itch" inside her. Besides, she was already familiar with fighting in war, so this seemed like an acceptable way to apply her knowledge. It wasn't a perfect solution, but she was at least able to keep control over herself this way.

Ei left the housing unit and jogged out across the open area of the military base. She looked around, seeing a wide variety of soldiers, National Guard units, and military police. Eventually, she reached the VR training building and entered. Making her way to the designated training area, she felt some slight unease about her decision. Perhaps she wasn't truly comfortable with the choice she made after all. But she didn't have time to think about that now. She entered the training area and stood at the door.

"So, you're the recruit Fletcher told me about." A voice called. "I am Lieutenant Brian Greene, and I will be your instructor for this exercise."

"Understood, sir." Ei responded.

"At ease." Lieutenant Greene spoke. "Now, here in TF-XXI, we're all about modernizing the battlefield. That, of course, also includes modernizing the methods we use to train our soldiers for these new battlefields. One such result to this is the virtual reality training system."

Lieutenant Greene motioned to a station mounted to the wall. It consisted of a headset connected to a set of servers next to a chair. There were also wires that connected the servers to a suit, each wire hanging off a certain part or limb.

"Jacqueline, if you would please change into the haptic suit." Greene instructed. Ei complied with the order, sliding herself into the tight, dark gray suit. "Now take a seat in the chair, and the VR headset will lower onto your head." Greene continued. Ei sat in the chair, and the headset slowly descended to cover her upper head. All of a sudden, a dark cyan light flashed from inside the headset, but Ei couldn't close her eyes. After several seconds of this light being beamed into her eyes, it completely enveloped her vision.

Ei woke up, feeling weightless. She looked around, seeing only an endless void the same color as the dark cyan light from before. A honeycomb pattern also spread across the void as a part of the background. It was almost like a digital Plane of Euthymia. Ei reached out to touch, and to her surprise, her hand was different, almost like it was made up of simple three-dimensional shapes. Looking at the rest of her body, she saw that it was indeed her own body, only comprised of polygons in her general shape. A disembodied voice brought her to attention.

[Are you able to hear me, Jacqueline?] The voice asked her. Ei recognized it as Lieutenant Greene and nodded. [Excellent.] Lieutenant Greene's voice sighed. [You are now in virtual reality. I am currently monitoring your status and progress in the real world. A virtual environment will be generated momentarily. Please wait.]

A few seconds later, a large amount of polygons gathered beneath Ei's feet and connected with each other to form a platform. Ei felt gravity pull her down onto it, and she tried to balance herself in the unfamiliar environment.

[More of the environment will be generated shortly.] Greene's voice instructed. [Please take this time to familiarize yourself with movement in virtual reality. After which, follow the path which is generated.]

More polygons attached to the platform Ei stood on, and extended it outwards. Ei thought Lieutenant Greene wanted her to follow down that path. She walked forward, feeling slightly off-balance in this virtual world. It was almost like she was inside a body that didn't belong to her. Reaching the end, the platform expanded outwards, becoming wider. A polygonal humanoid figure wearing an olive-green uniform with a black balaclava, gloves, and boots was generated, holding a FAMAS rifle.

[As some people know, field training can be dangerous.] Greene explained. [Every year, we have to report injuries and sometimes even deaths during live exercises. Well, in VR, none of that is necessary. While there is a definite simulation of pain within virtual reality, it is only that – a simulation. If you are injured – or even killed – within the simulated exercises, you will wake up, fresh as a daisy. Please stand in front of the soldier, and this will be demonstrated for you.]

Ei was reluctant, but eventually decided to trust him. She stood a few meters away from the soldier in front of her. She wasn't sure how Greene could demonstrate this to her, but if it was true, she had nothing to worry about. Suddenly, the soldier raised his rifle in a stiff motion and aimed it right at her. The soldier then shot Ei directly in the chest, hitting where her heart would be. The pain felt all too real. Shock flooded her system, and she collapsed, slowly blacking out.

Ei awoke seconds later, completely fine. She felt her chest, not feeling any kind of injury or bullet hole from the gunshot. Though the adrenaline of the gunshot was still coursing through her system, she was completely fine.

[As you can see, you are not dead.] Greene's voice explained. [This technology is a revolutionary breakthrough in our department. This not only allows us to generate combat exercises to train soldiers with no risk of injury or death, but also reduces the monetary and resource cost of setting up field exercises. I will now proceed to run you through one such combat exercise.]

With that, the virtual environment split apart into polygons and dissipated, leaving Ei weightless once more. A new environment formed, one consisting of two platforms. The first, which Ei was currently standing on, was around fifteen meters wide and five meters long, with a raised section about the height of a table. The second platform was much larger than the first, and also five meters away, disconnected from the first platform.

[Direct your attention to the table in front of you.] Lieutenant Greene instructed. Ei followed his instructions and observed the raised section of the platform. A group of polygons concentrated on the table, forming a pistol and some magazines. Ei seemed to recognize the pistol as an FN Five-seveN. [Take the pistol on the table and load it with a magazine.] Greene ordered. Ei picked up the pistol and a magazine, loading the gun. [A series of targets will appear in front of you. You will use the pistol to shoot the targets as they appear, as quickly and accurately as you are able. Make sure to reload your weapon when it is most convenient. Are you ready, Jacqueline?]

Ei nodded in acknowledgement, and a beeping noise was heard. A hexagonal target appeared above the second platform. Its outermost "ring" was black, the center was colored cyan, and the rest of the rings were a bright gray. Ei raised the Five-seveN, taking aim at the target and firing, hitting the ring just outside the bullseye. The target then disappeared, leaving no trace.

Another target appeared just like the first one, this time in a different location. Ei quickly switched her aim over to the new target, shooting it as well. More targets appeared as Ei kept shooting them, only appearing one at a time. After Ei had hit ten targets in total, another beeping noise was heard, and the targets stopped appearing.

[Well done, Jacqueline.] Lieutenant Greene congratulated Ei. [You're a natural at this. Why don't we try something a little harder?]

Another beep sounded, and a new target appeared downrange. Ei aimed and shot it, and another target appeared immediately after. Shooting that target and the next one successfully, another target appeared. This one, however, was moving. Not very fast, but it was moving. Ei aimed at the moving target and pulled the trigger, but her shot missed. Adjusting her aim for the target's movement, she let off a second shot, this time hitting the target right in its center.

More moving targets appeared after that, and Ei adjusted to the change of pace. Having expended all the rounds in her pistol's magazine, she ejected it and took a fresh magazine from the table, loading it into the gun. Ei continued shooting the targets, missing a few times, but she was able to successfully hit them all. A beep sounded, indicating she had hit all the targets.

[Incredible…!] Greene's voice exclaimed. [Usually recruits have a bit of trouble adjusting to the learning curve. You've either done this before or learn really quickly.]

Ei heard what Lieutenant Greene said, namely that she might have done this kind of thing before. Her memory was hazy, but she absolutely knew that she handled firearms before on Earth. She didn't like that fact.

[How about we kick things up a notch, Jacqueline?] Greene suggested. [I'm going to load up a simulation of an obstacle course. Hang tight for a bit.]

This time, only the platform where the targets appeared disappeared. In its place, a new environment was created. This one was much larger than the last, consisting of a U-shaped platform with a hollow structure at the far end. There was a way leading into the structure on the left side of the platform, but none on the right. A few barricades were placed on the platform, providing cover. On the platform she was currently standing on, two crate-like boxes appeared to her right.

[So, Jacqueline, this is what I like to call the difficulty spike.] Lieutenant Greene informed Ei. [You're gonna run through this to find out whether you're above or below the median. Personally, I hope you're above. But statistically, you might be a little below. Grab some mags for your pistol and check the crates on your right.]

Ei took three magazines for the Five-seveN, reloading the pistol and holstering it. She walked over to the crates, which opened up to reveal rifles. There were two in each crate, making a total of four. There were also a few corresponding magazines for each rifle in the crates.

[Now choose a rifle, Jacqueline.] Greene instructed. In the crate on the left was a FAMAS and an M4A1. The crate on the right contained a P90 submachine gun and a Vektor R5 Carbine. Ei opted for the R5, taking it and the corresponding magazines, loading one into the rifle.

[Good. When you're ready, just stand on the glowing waypoint behind you and you'll be transported down to the start of the course. As you traverse the course, targets will appear periodically. You must shoot all blue targets before moving onto the next stage. However, for every red target you hit, you will gain a time penalty. Your objective is to make it through the entire course in as short a time as possible. Do you understand, Jacqueline?]

Ei paused to digest all the information Lieutenant Greene gave her before nodding in acknowledgement.

[Good.] Greene acknowledged. [You may begin when ready.]

Ei stepped into the glowing circle on one end of the platform, and felt her vision fade. When she came to, she was standing at the end of the left side of the larger platform, at the beginning of the obstacle course. She stepped forward, initiating the exercise.

Three blue targets appeared, each partially behind a piece of cover. Ei aimed down the sights of her R5, shooting all the targets from right to left. She proceeded further down the course, and the next set of targets appeared: A blue target to the far right, another blue target moving left behind cover, and a red target in front of the second blue target. Ei paused to identify each target, then shooting only the blue ones, leaving the red one behind.

She arrived outside the hollow structure at the far side of the course, and a lot more targets appeared. The structure had two floors, with targets on each floor. The closest blue target was slightly behind a piece of cover. On top were two blue targets behind the structure's "windows," the one on the left moving around. On the bottom were four targets: A blue one guarding the structure's entrance, another blue one moving sideways behind a wide window, a red one on the right standing still behind a window, and another red one moving around outside the structure.

Ei quickly shot the closest blue target and focused on the top floor of the structure. She first fired at the stationary blue target, then the one strafing to the left. She turned her attention back below and shot the blue target in the structure's entrance before carefully aiming at the last blue target and fired, making sure not to hit the red one. Not seeing any more blue targets, she moved into the structure.

The first thing Ei saw was a blue target behind a red target, both behind cover. She aimed carefully and shot the blue target before turning to her right to identify what else was inside the structure. From left to right, there was a set of stairs leading upwards, a red target, a blue target behind cover, and an unprotected blue target. She shot both blue targets, running over to the stairs.

Ei tried to reload her R5 while moving, but as she ascended the staircase, was interrupted by a blue target appearing at the top of the stairs. Thinking fast, she switched back to her pistol and shot the target, keeping it at the ready. Ei emerged into a room with an open right wall which led to the other end of the course. There were four blue targets and two red targets in the room, three of them moving around and two behind cover.

Ei aimed her pistol at the blue target beside the red one hovering behind cover and fired. Looking to her right, she shot at the two blue targets, trying her hardest not to hit the red target moving in front of them. Finally, she shot the final blue target behind cover, holstered her pistol, and finished reloading her R5. Ei moved over to the hole in the wall and jumped down.

Landing in the last area, seven targets appeared, four blue and three red. Ei aimed between two red targets and shot one blue target a few meters away. She then aimed left towards a blue target behind cover and fired, taking it out. Moving past the nearby red targets, she aimed at the remaining blue targets, first shooting the one to the far right, then the far left.

Three final targets appeared after that, two blue and a single red. Ei shot the last blue targets, seeing an area behind them start glowing, like the waypoint she stood in to begin the exercise. She ran over to the glowing circle and stopped when she was fully inside it, and the obstacle course split into a mass of polygons and scattered. After a few seconds of floating around weightless, everything went black.

"Wow, I'm honestly impressed." A voice said. "Forty-five seconds, all twenty-four targets hit, zero out of eleven penalties, with seventy-five percent accuracy. You're an absolute pro, Jacqueline."

Ei felt tired from the recent experience. As the VR headset lifted off her head, she slowly came to her senses, looking around. It seemed she had never moved once from her seated position while she was within virtual reality. She saw Lieutenant Greene standing a few meters away, next to a computer station. That must be how he spoke to her during the simulation.

"So, how do you feel?" Greene asked.

"Disoriented…" Ei answered. "That was an out-of-body experience… I've never felt anything like it."

"Yeah, the first time can be a little dizzying." Greene told her. "Well, after this little training session, I've seen all I need to. You have lots of potential, Jacqueline. You're gonna be a very big player for our team, and I'm excited to see how you can help serve this great country."

Ei felt confident about this opportunity, but also conflicted. She wondered if she would be able to find out how she could reach her goal of Eternity from where she stood now. All she knew was that this part of her life would be vastly different from what had come before.

Thanks for reading again! Now, we never do get any kind of information about what Force XXI is in MGS, other than the fact that Raiden underwent lots of VR training during that time. However, when has not knowing Raiden's backstory stopped me from writing my own interpretation? Also, the "difficulty spike" course in the VR simulation is supposed to be a reference to a tutorial section of a first-person shooter. Hats off to anyone who can guess the right answer! I'll see you guys next time!

-Azzy Asbourne