Fan Fiction ❯ MGS: DOA ❯ Chapter 4

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CHAPTER 4

 

Sunset was upon the forest, tinting the world red. There were no roads, no trails, no paths and yet, there was movement. High in the branches, there was a rustle here, movement there, and an occasional leaf fell to the forest floor. As the silent runner leapt from branch to branch, even the rodents and the birds paid him no mind. He was as another creature of nature, not to be feared nor noted. He stopped in a large tree and cupped his hand to his mouth. Sounding like an owl, awaking for the night, he signaled his presence to the seemingly empty wilderness. He waited for several minutes, not stirring until another call rang out in the growing darkness. In a flash, he was off again. As he approached a ridge, he veered off towards a waterfall. Upon reaching its base, he began to scale the wall like a shadow… and then disappeared behind the raging water.

The torchlight within the cave revealed the man to be clad in black, with the slightest hint of armor beneath the wrappings of cloth. After a short distance, a hut blocked the small tunnel. He stopped at the door and knocked twice, then slid a small piece of parchment underneath it. The door quickly opened and he rushed through. There were two men inside, similarly clad. Who looked at him for a moment then stepped aside and opened the back door. With controlled urgency, he briskly left the hut and stepped out into an immense cave. So large was the cavern that a small village fit easily inside it, with a three story building at it's center. The last rays of day were fading from the natural skylight and, one by one, lanterns filled the room with light. As he passed the various buildings, he stopped frequently to bow to someone or allow someone else to bow to him, but he did not stop for more than a moment. As he reached the largest building, he nodded to the door guard, then stepped aside the door and kneeled, waiting. Though he ignored it, he could clearly hear the Japanese discussion taking place inside. “I don't understand!” The voice was clearly a woman but somehow less than feminine. “I discovered her location, you should have sent me!” “That's enough!” The second voice was deeper, male, and clearly in charge. “This behavior is exactly why you were not sent! You let your emotions cloud your mind! That is why you have lost to her time and again. You are lucky that you and she are not the same, or you would be dead thrice over! I cannot let you go because you are too close to her.” “Then why send him!? You don't think he's too close?” “I said that's enough! And that is final!” Waiting outside, the ninja instinctively moved away from the door as a young woman came storming out of the building. He then calmly moved into the open doorway and bowed his head to the floor. The man inside watched as the girl stalked away until her purple hair faded from view.

He then turned his attention to the man at the door, gesturing to a cushion, “Come, Kage-san. What is your news?” The messenger took a seat and quickly bowed once more. “Hayate-sama, there is a small band of travelers seeking the Mugen-Tenshin.” Hayate's eyes narrowed, “Go on.” “They arrived on Hokkaido with a helicopter which reports indicate came from a submarine not far off shore to the West. There are two men and a woman. It is said that the woman and one of the men were contestants in that tournament with you. We do not know who the second man is, but he seems to be the leader.” Hayate pondered this. `Could they have sent someone so soon?' he thought. “Can you describe them?” “Hai, the woman was 5'7” with long blonde hair, possibly French. As far as we could determine, she is unarmed. The first man was just over six feet and wore a red beret with militaristic clothing. He has several small firearms, a large knife, and we believe a stiletto. The last man was similar height with short dark hair. His clothing was odd but also seemed militaristic. He seems to be armed only with one handgun and some sort of surveillance equipment.” Again, Hayate sat for a moment, thinking. “I want you to take two men and capture them, alive.” Kage looked confused, “Two Hayate-sama? Surely I could go alone and-“ “Kage-san! I said take two men. Do not underestimate them, I have a feeling they may be… formidable.” “Hai, Hayate-sama.” Kage bowed once more, then headed for the door. “And Kage-san. Just because the woman carries no weapon, does not mean she is unarmed.” Kage gave a last, short bow, “Understood.” Hayate rose and slid the door shut, thinking aloud. “So, Helena and Bayman are seeking me out. If they think I'm going to be DOATEC's pawn again, they're sadly mistaken.”

 

“Look Bayman,” Snake was clearly annoyed. “You've been grumbling for the last hour. I told you we'd stay out here for two hours after sundown in case they decide to act at night. The sun just went down twenty minutes ago so get over it. Are you afraid of the dark or something?” “I still do not approve of simply hoping we are ambushed. It was a bad enough idea when we had a chance to see it coming but this is a deathwish!” Snake stopped and sighed, “Fine, I'll tell you what. We'll stop and make a fire. If they were gonna spot us they'd have done it by now so either they don't know we're here-“ “Which I doubt.” Helena chimed in. “Or,” Snake continued, “They're just waiting to move. So we'll wait here for one hour, then head back to the ship.” He saw that Bayman was going to protest again, “And that's Final!” Helena was a bit surprised. She'd never seen anyone actually succeed in shutting Bayman up like that. “Well,” she stated, “I think I see a small clearing right over here.” She began to make her way through the bush. “HELENA STOP!” Snake had suddenly yelled at her and she froze in mid-step. He then rushed up to her, grabbed her and lifted her off the ground, setting her behind him. “What was that for? What's wrong Snake? I was perfectly fine!” Snake breathed for a moment and then simply pointed down. “Take a good look at where you were about to step.” Helena followed his finger to the ground, as did Bayman. “Snake,” she said quietly, “there's nothing there.” He wiped his face and sighed, then knelt down to the ground and gently pushed aside some leaves. Stretching just along the clearing's edge was a small thread, crossing the ground. “Leaves don't fall in a straight line like that. It isn't, well, natural.” “Oh my.” Helena wasn't sure what to think. “Is it a mine or something?” She'd had friends die on old WWII mines that were left across Europe. “I don't know, but there's one way to find out. You two stand back. Get behind a tree or something at least thirty feet out.” Once they were clear, he removed a small wire and looped it around the trip-wire. He then began to back away, slowly feeding out his wire. After reaching the same distance as the other two, he ducked behind a tree. “You might want to cover your ears.” Helena and Bayman quickly complied. “Wow,” Snake said softly, “I should come across mines more often, get `em to listen for a change.” He then got a good grip on the wire, cupped his hands over his ears… and pulled. At first, nothing seemed to happen. As he slowly peeked around the tree, he relaxed. The others followed suit. But then Snake smiled and began to laugh out loud. Bayman took his hands off of his ears. “What the hell was that all about. He looked around his tree to see a large net hanging from the branches. “That was it? A stupid net?” Helena was still breathing heavily, “I don't think it's very funny Snake.” He stopped laughing but couldn't help from smirking. “You two should have seen the look on your faces, it was priceless. Bayman, I don't think I've ever seen you so scared.” “This is ridiculous!” Bayman stormed up to the net and began to slash at it with his knife. “OK knock it off.” “Stupid, lousy, stinking… mine huh? I swear I'll…” “Bayman, stop.” Snake was suddenly very serious. “Bayman I mean it, stop.” “Why the hell should I?” Helena had caught on to what Snake had noticed. “Because,” she said, “We're being watched.”

Bayman slowly lowered his knife, but Snake noticed that he did not sheath it. He glanced down at his radar and saw three red blips surrounding them, all with red cones centered on the group. Cursing himself for being caught off guard, he slowly rose to his feet. “Helena,” he whispered, “is that them” “How should I know?” she shot back. There was a rustle in the trees and they both froze. A voice shouted out something in Japanese. Snake quietly cursed himself again, he forgotten to wear the translator. He was about to ask Bayman what the voice said when Helena said something aloud in Japanese. He decided to just let her do the talking. After another short exchange, she turned to Snake. “He said that we're to go with him, now, but we're to be unarmed. He wants us to put out weapons in a sack.” “What sack?” As if in answer to Snakes question, a large bag was tossed into view. “Oh, that sack…” He picked it up and slowly drew his gun, placing it in the sack. Then he tossed it over to Bayman, who looked at it disdainfully. “You just plan to go along with it then?” He sneered at Snake. “I've got a better idea.” “Bayman,” Snake looked worried, “don't do it. You said yourself that they're dangerous.” He was trying to sound calm. “If these are them than we don't want trouble.” “They asked for my weapons, they can have them.” Bayman retorted sarcastically. “Look,” he shouted, “you bastards want my guns, fine! I don't need them.” He thrust both guns into the sack, then sheathed his knife and put it in as well. “There!” he shouted again. Again something was shouted in Japanese. Helena began to translate, “He said to-“ “I know what he said!” `Apparently,' Snake thought, `I'm the only one here who doesn't speak the lingo.' Bayman took off the beret. “Lousy bastards.” He mumbled, as he removed a stiletto from inside the brim of his beret and placed it in the sack… and dropped the whole bundle at his feet. “You want it? Come and get it.” He repeated himself in Japanese, using the same calm voice. “Damn it Bayman!” Snake tried to keep his voice low. “What the hell are you doing?” For a moment, no one moved. There was some low, hushed conversation in the bushes. “Bayman, I swear to God I'm gonna kill you myself if you don't knock this off.” “You don't understand, Mr. Snake. If we just go along willingly, then, Mugen-Tenshin or not, they won't listen to a thing we say. I know these kind of people and strength is the only thing they respect.” “You know something,” Helena whispered, “you are a Neanderthal!” Bayman only smiled, “Why thank you Helena, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.” Before she had the chance to say anything back, one of the ninja dropped from the trees directly in front of Bayman. Snake held his breath as they stared at each other. The man glanced down at the bag, then reached down to pick it up. Just before he grabbed it, Bayman lunged forward and grappled the man. Snake cursed as two more men burst from the brush. As Helena parried off her attacked, Snake grabbed the third ninja's outstretched arm and threw him overhead into a trunk, knocking him out cold. Bayman had the first one in an arm lock from behind so Snake dove at the bag of weapons, but the ninja grabbed it with his feet and back-flipped over Bayman's head, simultaneously throwing it into the branches and freeing himself. As he passed over Bayman, there was a loud POP and the man landed, grabbing his shoulder. Bayman turned and charged at him, but the ninja was prepared this time. He turned and just before Bayman reached him, he ran up a tree and back-flipped again over Bayman's head. This time, though, he kicked Bayman from behind, right into the tree. Snake leapt to his feet and watched as the ninja landed turned, and shoved his arm back into the socket without flinching. Snaked saw that Bayman was out, muttered a small and meek curse, and dove into the foliage. Meanwhile, Helena was busy holding her own. “These,” she said to herself to rhythm her breathing, “are… defi… nately… Mugen… Tenshin.” The fighting style of the Ninja reminded her of her fight with Hayate. She kicked low to catch him off guard but he sidestepped her and chopped at the back of her neck. It struck square but she managed to roll forward, lessening the blow. As she rose up, he side kicked into her waiting hands. She hefted his leg, kicked out the opposite knee then kicked his mid-section, letting him fall to the ground, where he stayed. She sighed in relief, but gasped as an arm grabbed her from behind and a knife was pressed to her throat. She realized too late that the ninja Snake knocked out was no longer on the ground…

As Snake rushed through the foliage, he tried to remember the terrain they had come through earlier. Risking a quick glance at his radar, he saw that he was indeed being pursued. His attacker was catching up, fast. Realizing that he was probably out of sight for only a few seconds more, he rolled under an outcropping log and froze. He covered up the small holo-display to douse the light and held his breath. He could hear the ninja pass a few yards from the log and listened as the sounds faded into the forest. He then took another look at his display. There was no one within range.