Consciousness slowly returned to Frank Jaeger. As he sat upright and inhaled deeply, he realised he was alive, despite the recent memory of being crushed by Metal Gear REX.
"H-how!?" he questioned himself, scanning his transformed state. No longer encased in the cybernetic exoskeleton, he found himself back in the familiar uniform from his Zanzibar Land days. A distinctive red bandana adorned his forehead, and a dark green jacket hung casually off his shoulders with the Zanzibar land logo near the collar. A snug black sleeveless t-shirt showcased his physique, complemented by dark green combat trousers tucked into black combat boots. His hands were adorned with black fingerless gloves featuring green cuffs.
Rubbing his eyes, he pondered whether it was all a sick dream. Surveying the surroundings by the dirt road, he noticed his High-Frequency Blade—The Fox Blade—lying in its sheath. A straight-bladed Ninjatō capable of molecular-level cutting, unique and crafted for him by Doctor Clark when he was undergoing her gene therapy experimentation. Bitterness welled within him as he picked it up, a reminder of the torture he endured under her for four years.
Hating the weapon, he considered discarding it, but the lack of alternatives led him to sheath it on his back. Dusting himself off, he followed the road.
Walking further, Frank encountered a horse-drawn wagon with two men. One, holding the reins, sat on the seat, while the other walked alongside, holding the horse's leash.
"Excuse me!" Frank called out, catching their attention. "Do you know where I am?" he asked.
"You're just two miles south of the capital. If you keep walking, you'll reach it." The man with the leash explained.
"The Capital?" Frank thought to himself. "What year is it?"
"It's 1024 of the imperial year, of course. Why do you ask?" the man said, raising an eyebrow.
"1024?"
Something felt amiss. Frank sensed it. "Is there any chance I could walk with you to the capital?" he asked, eyeing them with caution.The two men exchanged uncertain glances. "I guess you can," one said, with reluctance in his voice.
As Frank joined the two men on their journey towards the capital, an unspoken tension lingered in the air. The rhythmic clip-clop of the horse's hooves seemed to underscore the unease that surrounded them.
Frank couldn't shake the feeling that this world, with its unfamiliar year and peculiar circumstances
His mind raced with questions, and the reluctance of the men to share more only fueled his suspicions. The capital loomed ahead, a place where the unknown awaited. Frank gripped the hilt of his Fox Blade, a silent reminder that, even in this unfamiliar realm, his instincts as a warrior remained steadfast.
As Frank walked towards the capital, the road stretched out ahead, winding through a landscape marked by the scars of time and conflict. The air carried a mixture of dust and an unspoken tension, as if the very ground beneath him held stories of its own.
His boots crunched on the uneven path, each step resonating with uncertainty. The surroundings spoke in silent echoes of the journey he had undertaken, the weight of his past, and the uncertain future that lay ahead.
Then he stopped walking. The ground trembled beneath Frank's feet, heralding the emergence of a colossal beast that shattered through the earth's surface. Caught off guard, the former cyborg ninja's reflexes kicked into overdrive.
"WHAT!?" he exclaimed, facing a creature unlike anything he had encountered before.
"Earth Dragon!" Yelled on of the men.
"I didn't know the came out in highways like this!" Yelled another. "RUN!" With that
Swiftly unsheathing his HF blade, Frank prepared for a confrontation, questioning the nature of the colossal entity before him.
"Just what are you?" he pondered mentally as the beast readied itself to strike. In a moment of agility, Frank dodged left and leaped into the air towards the creature. Positioned horizontally, he executed a spinning maneuver, transforming his body into a lethal buzzsaw that cleanly cleaved the colossal beast in two.
As the dust settled, Frank reflected on the encounter. Sheathing his sword, he raised his hand and flexed his fingers. His gaze shifted to a nearby tree, and with a swift, powerful strike, he shattered the trunk, causing the tree to crash to the ground. A realisation dawned on him.
"I still have all my enhancements from when I was the cyborg ninja..." he muttered to himself. "...but why?"
The two men stared at him, jaws hanging., before they ran up to him.
"That was incredible!"
"How did you do that?" The two stopped in front of Frank.
"Just a bit of training," Frank replied cryptically, leaving the specifics veiled in secrecy. Impressed by Frank's extraordinary display, one of the men reached into his pocket and handed him a handful of coins.
"For your troubles, friend. Get yourself a decent meal and a room for the night when you reach the capital," the man said, a generous gesture reflecting both gratitude and admiration. Frank heditated before taking the money.
"Thank you." He gratefully said. The man, still in awe of Frank's abilities, offered a word of caution, his expression turning serious.
"Take this advice, stranger. The capital may not be as safe as it seems. Keep your wits about you, and don't trust everyone you meet. There are shadows in every corner, and not all of them belong to friendly faces," he warned, a touch of concern in his eyes. Frank nodded his head in acknowledgement before he continued on to the capital.
Frank had finally reached the capital. The sheer size of it left him in awe. He came to the conclusion that he was no longer on earth. At least, not the one he lived in. As he walked through the bustling streets, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Just where exactly does he start. He noticed his appearance seemed to attract he gaze of others.
The more he wondered, the more lost he felt.. He didn't know where to start. Unbeknownst to him, his lost self caught the attention of a certain blonde woman. Wandering through the bustling streets of the capital, Frank felt a profound sense of displacement. The city seemed alien compared to the battlegrounds he once navigated. Lost in his thoughts, he contemplated the inexplicable reality of being alive after facing the crushing force of Metal Gear REX.
Amidst the crowded thoroughfares, he found a secluded bench and took a seat, the murmurs of the city swirling around him. His mind wrestled with unanswered questions, and the weight of his existence bore down on him. He was alive, and he had no idea why.
"I'm not not on earth anymore..." He muttered to himself.
And then, he heard a scream. It went unnoticed by the other passerby's, but not him. His instincts kicked in and he got up to reach the source. Following the source had led him to an alleyway, where he stumbled upon a horrific sight:
A man had a young girl pinned to the wall at knifepoint, grabbing a fist full of her clothes. The young girl in question looked at Frank with a look of pleading, as if begging him to save her.
"The hell do you want?! Fuck off!!" The man yelled at frank, threatening him with the knife. In an instant, Frank's response was to sheath his sword and behead the man on the spot with blinding speed. The body fell to the ground. Frank flicked the blood off his sword and shesthed it while walking towards the girl. The girl looked at him with mixed emotions; gratitude for saving her and fear for what had just transpired.
"Are you okay?" Frank asked, as he lowered himself to her level and places hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner. The girl, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged Frank and sobbed into him. All Frank could do in this situation was try his best at comforting her. Some time had passed and the girl pulled away, wiping the tears out of her eyes.
"Thank you." She managed to say, albeit shakily. "I'm Aria." She introduced herself to him.
"Frank Jaeger." He said in a soft voice. She hugged him again, her sobbing slowly going away.
"Thank you! If you hadn't come by, I would be..."
"You're safe now. C'mon, let's get yoy out of here."
Frank took Aria by the hand anded her out kf the alleyway. According to her, she had a group of guards waiting for her near a carriage.
"May I ask you something, Mr. Jaeger?" Aria asked. Frank silently nodded his head. "Are you from the capital?" She curiously asked him.
Frank shook his head. "No. I just got here a few few minutes ago." He explained.
"Well, you can stay at my families home? We'd be more than happy to offer you a place yo stay." She cheerfully said.
Frank raised an eyebrow at this. Sure, he had the money for a room for one night. Frank nodded appreciatively at Aria's offer but couldn't help but maintain a sense of skepticism. The concept of finding refuge in a stranger's home felt foreign to him, and his instincts urged caution despite Aria's genuine demeanor.
"Sure. ," Frank replied, his words laced with a reserved gratitude.
Frank stood in the expansive house, taking in the grandeur that surrounded him. Aria led him to meet her parents, and her father was the first to address the situation.
"Ah, and who is this fine gentleman you've brought in, Aria?" he inquired. Frank, expressing gratitude, bowed his head slightly.
"Oh, him? He saved me from a thug earlier. I offered to let him stay here as a way of saying thank you," Aria explained.
"Well, any man who saves my daughter is more than welcome to stay here," her father responded.
"Thank you for letting me stay," Frank acknowledged.
"You're most certainly welcome," said who Frank assumed was Aria's mother. "Though, if you don't mind me asking, are you a mercenary?" she curiously inquired.
"Hm, I'm not sure. Even I don't know what I am anymore." The uncertainty in Frank's response hung in the air.
"Well, in any case, make yourself at home Mr. Jaeger." said Aria. "Did you come to the capital by yourself?" She asked.
By yourself. Those words resonated with Frank. It reminded him thst he was alone in this world. Far from Naomi and Snake.
"It's just me." He confirmed.
After all that was said, Frank was shown the room in which he would be staying. He felt grateful to have met such nice people.
After a while filled with conversation, Arias mother showed Frank to his room. He was currently in the bathroom looking at his reflection in the mirror.
He appeared to be old. Like somewhere in his late 40s to early 50s. It's was as if he never died in Zanzibar and continued to age normally. "Probably 53..." He thought to himself. One thing he noticed was that he was no longer blind in his right eye.
He left the bathroom a laid on the bed with his hands behind his head, contemplating his existence in this new world. For him, tomorrow would be a fresh start. With that, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
(Zanzibar Land, 1999)
In a room with landmines covering the floor, Snake found himself in a perilous situation.
"Where am I?" inquired Snake.
"The perfect ring for our final battle. It's been a while, Snake... Here we are, back in the minefield... What say we go at it hand to hand!" proposed Grey Fox.
"A chicken fight!" responded Snake.
"The two greatest rivals in FOXHOUND... I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." declared Grey Fox.
"Fox! I'll beat some sense into you!" asserted Snake.
The tension in the air surged as they closed the distance, launching into an intense hand-to-hand combat. Each move was executed with precision, a dance of lethal strikes and evasive maneuvers. The sound of fists colliding echoed through the room, punctuated by the occasional grunts of effort.
Snake's agility and combat prowess were matched by Grey Fox's relentless ferocity. The two warriors exchanged powerful blows, showcasing a symphony of martial arts expertise. The room seemed to shrink around them as the battle raged on, the ever-present threat of the surrounding landmines intensifying the stakes.
As the struggle continued, the combatants' movements became more fluid, a seamless fusion of offense and defense. Sweeps, kicks, and parries painted a kinetic portrait of their rivalry. Each impact echoed not only in the room but in the history of their shared experiences and conflicts.
The intensity of their fight mirrored the complex emotions underlying their relationship – a blend of camaraderie, betrayal, and the shared burden of their troubled pasts. It was more than a physical duel; it was a clash of ideologies, loyalties, and the scars left by the battlefield.
Finally, after a series of fierce exchanges, Snake managed to gain the upper hand. A powerful blow landed, sending Grey Fox staggering backward. As the dust settled, Snake stood triumphant, his breath heavy, and Grey Fox lay broken and defeated.
"Snake! Looks like it's finally time for me to give up the title of 'Fox.'" admitted Grey Fox.
"Fox... why?" questioned Snake.
"I'm not like you, Snake... My situation is more... complicated. Big Boss might have been just another CO to you, but he saved my life - twice. This was way before I joined the unit. The first time, I was a child soldier fighting with the FRELIMO guerrillas in the Mozambican War of Independence. He saved me from that living hell. Just like he saved all the children here... The second time was in San Hieronymo. I was being experimented on by the CIA in the perfect soldier program. They'd wipe my memories after every mission to make me a more efficient killer..." explained Grey Fox.
"And this is your idea of paying him back?" questioned Snake.
"No, you've got it wrong. I hate war. Just like all the kids here. But... I need it. War is all we know. We can't make it in the normal world. We need the battlefield to survive. Big Boss gives us a place to fight. Conflict is in our blood. We can't deny it. I was born on the battlefield... And I'll die on the battlefield. All I can do is fight, Snake... all I can do is fight. Making people happy... making a woman happy... is something I could never do." revealed Grey Fox.
"You mean..." started Snake.
"Guess I was always fated to die in action." admitted Grey Fox.
"Rest easy, Fox. I swear I won't turn out like you." promised Snake.
"Won't turn out like me... I'll have to remember that. ...Fight hard, Snake. ...Don't let your fans down." encouraged Grey Fox.
"My fans?! ...It was you, wasn't it? ...You were the voice on the radio!" realised Snake.
"Call it payback for being so selfish... See you on the other side, Snake." said Grey Fox.
"You won't be alone, Frank. Gustava is waiting for you." assured Snake.
In his final moments, Grey Fox whispered, "...Gustava... Thank you... Snake..." before succumbing to the blast of the landmine he lay upon.
The next day came fast. Frank was currently with Aria and her guards in the capital, helping her with her shopping. The vast amount of things she was buying was surreal.
"Is she always like this?" Frank asked one of her guards.
"Yes, and it's not just her. All girls are like this." Said one of the guards. "Anyways, look up."
Frank glanced upwards, his gaze fixating on the colossal palace situated at the heart of the city."
"I'm guessing that place is important?" Frank remarked.
"Yes, in that palace resides the emperor. But truth is, he's not really the one pulling the strings. It's the prime minister who's calling the shots from behind the scenes. He's the reason the country's falling apart."
"So the country's essentially rotting because of him?" Said Frank.
"Yeah, and to add to the mess, we've got folks like these," the guard remarked, gesturing towards the billboard behind him adorned with numerous wanted posters.
Frank, arms crossed, approached for a closer look.
"The Night Raid..." Frank muttered.
"They're the bunch of assassins causing chaos in the capital, just as their name suggests. They carry out nighttime attacks on high-ranking or wealthy individuals, shaking up the whole city." The guard explained. "Prepare yourself, just in case."
Frank silently nodded his head.
"Also, do something about that for now."
Frank turned his head and his jaw dropped as The sight of a large parcel being carried buy multiple guards.
Later that night, Frank's eyes snapped wide open. Something felt wrong, really wrong. He jumped out of bed, grabbed his sword, and dashed out of his room.
He ran down the hall and stood Infront of the window. And right there, he saw them.
"Night Raid..." he muttered to himself. He watched as they took out Lady Aria's guards eith ease. Their skills were impeccable. He opened up the window, jumped out and landed on the ground below.
He ran as fast as he could, hoping to catch up to her before the night raid did.
"Aria!" He exclaimed,. catching the attention of both Lady Aria and the guard that was escorting her to a warehouse.
"You came at just the right moment! we'll run to the warehouse and wait for the guards to come! You stop the enemy for us in the meantime." He guard explained. Frank silently nodded his head.
Just then, the assassin known as Akame landed behind him. Frank unsheathed his High-Frequency Blade, and prepared himself for a sword fight.
"Not a target." Said Akame, before she leaped over Frank with speeds that caught him of guard.
"She's fast," He thought to himself. "Very fast." before he knew it, she had killed Aria's guard.
Akame then looked down at Aria and said "Eliminate." she brought her sword down, with intent on killing her. Her attack, however, was unexpectedly blocked by another sword. Before she could register who had blocked her, she was pushed back with force. She looked and saw Frank standing in front of Lady Aria, holding his high frequency blade in a reverse grip.
"You are not a target. There is no need to kill you." Akame said, nonchalantly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you kill her. Stand down." Frank demanded.
"if you don't move, you'll leave me with no choice but to kill you."
In response, Frank drew a line in the ground with his sword, as if daring her to cross it.
As Akame approached, her steps silent and purposeful, Frank tensed, his senses on high alert. Moonlight danced off the blades they wielded, casting shadows that seemed to dance along with their movements.
With a sudden burst of speed, Akame lunged forward, her katana slicing through the air with deadly precision. Frank met her attack head-on, his own blade flashing in a blur of motion as he parried her strikes with expert skill.
Their swords clashed with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying into the night air. Frank's movements were fluid and controlled, each motion calculated to anticipate Akame's next move. Despite her agility and speed, he held his ground, refusing to yield an inch.
Akame's attacks came faster and fiercer, each strike aimed with lethal intent. But Frank remained undaunted, his focus unwavering as he countered her blows with a grace that belied his strength.
The battle raged on, the sound of their swords ringing out like a symphony of war. They moved with a precision born of years of training, each maneuver executed with flawless execution.
As minutes stretched went on, neither warrior showed any sign of faltering. Their breath came in ragged gasps, mingling with the sweat that coated their brow.
But then, with a lightning-fast strike, Frank managed to gain the upper hand, disarming Akame and leaving her momentarily vulnerable. Instead of pressing his advantage, however, he stepped back, giving her the chance to retrieve her weapon.
With a swift motion, Akame retrieved her fallen sword, her movements fluid despite the setback. Determination blazed in her eyes as she resumed her attack, refusing to be deterred by the temporary loss of her weapon.
Frank braced himself for her renewed assault, his muscles tensed and ready for the impending clash. The air crackled with tension as they circled each other, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Akame lunged forward once more, her strikes swift and precise. Frank met her blows with equal ferocity, his own blade flashing in the darkness as he defended himself against her relentless onslaught.
"Hold up!"
Akame was suddenly pulled back, by a blonde woman sporting what appeared to be the features of a lion.
"What are you doing?" Akame asked the woman.
"We still have time right? Besides it's not everyday we can meet someone that can match you in battle. Let alone a man of his age." She said to Akame before setting her sights on Frank.
"Not bad, old timer. it's not often someone can hold their own against Akame."
"Look, I don't know who you are, but I can't let you kill her."
"Really? I Think you'll change your mind after I show you this." Leone casually walked past Frank and kicked down the doors behind him, revealing the horrors inside.
inside the warehouse where people locked and sells and hung up by chains tortured and disfigured their bodies mangles so much to the point that they didn't even resembled humans anymore.
"What..." was all Frank could. in all his years as a soldier he had witnessed many horrific acts but nothing like this.
"They lureunidentified people who came from the country with their sweet words and subject them to their hobby of torture and toyotim until they die that's the true nature of this household."
His eyes landed and a boy in a cage, who had green eyes and brown hair.
"Y-you! Help me! HELP ME!" He begged.
"It's a lie, Frank! I didn't know there was a place like this. Please you have to believe me."
,
"That girl invited myself and my friends..." The boy explained. "and after we ate we lost consciousness, and we were here when we came to." The held onto the bar, shaking violently.". "THAT GIRL! SHE TORTURED MY FRIENDS TO DEATH! BOTH IEYASU AND SAYO!" He screamed.
"What's so wrong!?" Came Arias' voice. "YOU'RE JUST WORTHLESS HICKS FROM THE COUNTRY, RIGHT!? THE SAME AS CATTLE!!! I SHOULD BE FREE TO TREAT THEM HOWEVER I WANT!!!
She had finally decided to reveal her true self.
"BESIDES, THAT GIRL WAS SO IMPERTINENT ON HAVING SUCH STRAIGHT HAIR FOR A FARM ANIMAL!!! EVEN THOUGH I'M TROUBLED FOR HAVING SUCH UNRULY HAIR!!! THAT'S WHY I AGONIZED HER SO METICULOUSLY!!! IN FACT SHE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL I TOOK CARE SUCH GOOD CARE OF HER!!!!"
"You were planning on doing this to me." Franks voice turned cold, catching the attention of both Akame and the other woman.
What truly caught their attention, however, was the look in his eye.
The look of a killer.
With a diagonal slash, Frank cut Aria in half with ease.
"It's what she deserved. That felt good." Said the boy, before be coughed up blood.
Frank wasted no time cutting the bars down and helping the boy out of the cage.
"Let's get you to a medic." Said Frank. But the boy shook his head.
"I'm not going to make it." he said before holding onto Frank tightly. "Please! My village is suffering! I'm begging you to save it!"
Frank hesitated for a moment. He wasn't in this new world for a week and so much had already happened. Here he was, holding a dying boy in his arms.
"What's your name?" He spoke softly.
"T-tatsumi." The boy known as tatsumi said.
Rest easy, Tatsumi. I promise you, I'll help you village." Frank said in a comforting manner.
Tatsumi smiled as a single tear came from one of his eyes.
"Thank you... thank you." And with thaf, he gave his last breath before finally succumbing to the poison.
Frank gently laid him on the ground, processing what had just happened.
"Hey!"
He felt someone pat him hard on the back. He turned to see the blonde woman looking at him with a friendly smile. "You should come back eith us." She suggested.
"Why?" Frank asked.
"Well, where else are you going to go you're clyear not from around here. besides I think your skills could be a great addition to us." Before he knew it he was being dragged by her.
He ended up on the roof top of the manor.
"So they're finally back." Said a man in armour.
"It'd be bad if we don't reteart soon." Said a green haired boy.
"YOU'RE LATE! WHAT WERE YOU DOING!?" Said a pink haired girl.
"Wait, who is he?" She asked, taking notice of Frank.
"He's one of us."
"I don't exactly recall agreeing to this."
"Give it up. Leone won't listen, once she's made up her mind." Said Akame.
"As expected of you, you know me well." Leone said, patting Akame on the head before turning her attention back to Frank. "Don't worry old timer, I'll take good care of you."
Leone. Frank now at least knew her name.
"Mission complete. Let's return!!!" Akame announced.
And with that, they took off back to their hideout, carrying a confused Frank Jaeger with them.
Author's note: I'm sorry just took so long. Real life has been kicking my ass as of late.