Test drive

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

[After a few sleepless nights, Otacon and Sunny were ready to send the Mk4 out for it's first test run! Most of the systems weren't online yet, but first they had to check the mobility.]

[Sunny walked beside Otacon, the controller for the Mk4 in her hands as she made it roll in front of them, making it go in a few circles.]

I-It's going really well, Uncle Hal! 

[((For vestri_vires , worlds_serpent  and somnium_paterna ))]

Comments

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Not bad work, is it?

[Otacon took careful note of the movements, writing down any parts it has trouble with. The MK4 seemed to be working remarkably well.]

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

I t-think it's the best one yet.

[She made it go a little faster.]

A-are we still going to paint it yellow?

[Since it wasn't even close to being finished, it was still in the normal mishmash of gray colors from the materials used.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Of course! But we have to wait for it to be completed first.

[No problems with speed to note... no problems with sharp turns.]

How about corners? Think you can get it to turn that corner up there?

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

R-roger!

[She speeds it ahead making it turn at the corner and disappearing out of sight.]

It's working b-better than the test runs for the o-old ones!

[somnium-paterna.livejournal.com]

[...for some reason, it isn't returning when she commands it to.]

[That would be because there's a foot on top of it, pinning it on its side on the ground. Solid listens to the voices, identifying at least one of them. Older, perhaps... but still Emmerich.]

[He takes a minute to decide what to do. Careful enquiries had lead to the information about the little girl. Liquid's little girl. The little mechanical genius. If this was her work... it might be useful.]

[Perhaps it would be a good idea to acquire this little girl. Find out what she knew about Liquid. Perhaps even use her for a hostage. Not Emmerich. Not after last time. This might be the push he needs to force Liquid into surrender. His expression blank, he stands... and waits.]

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

[She tried to make it come back a few times but with no luck.]

H-huh. Must have lost it's signal.

[With a little skip she runs a little ahead of Uncle Hal, turning the corner- and freezing.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Sunny? Is something the matter?

[Otacon looked worried, running after her. He stopped beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.]

What is-?

[!]

[somnium-paterna.livejournal.com]

[He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. He'd take the girl and go hide. But Emmerich was a risk factor. Taking him out would delay Liquid, if Emmerich called him - the man would be more concerned with the victim. It was nothing personal. Even as the man looked around and froze, he drew his gun, raised it, and fired three times. Somehow, he didn't even feel anything. It was different, this time. Not like Liquid. Not like that fight before, with the older Liquid. This was business, not revenge.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He couldn't move.]

[For a moment, all he could do was stand there as the gun was raised. It wasn't until the harsh sound of the first bullet reached his ears, closely followed by a burst of pain, that he thought to move. A scream of pain tore itself from his lips as burning agony spread through his chest. Solid had missed everything major, but it still hurt, it still burnt red-hot inside of him.]

[Grabbing Sunny by the shoulder, he shoved her to one side even as the other two bullets rang out.]

RUN- AGHK!

[The second bullet struck him in the arm, the third in the upper chest. He staggered back, lifting a hand to clutch at the wound there. If it had been even a short distance higher, he would have died within seconds. He hoped Solid wouldn't look close enough to realise he hadn't.]

...n-no... not... you...

[He fell back against the wall, his eyes wide and terrified. Slowly, he sank down it, unable to look away. Even with the bullet lodged just low enough to avoid certain death, he knew he'd die from blood loss within moments if he didn't manage to get to safety.]

;_;

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

[Sunny just stared unable to move unable to think. She heard someone screaming, but didn't realize it was her as she watched her Uncle Hal fall to the ground.]

U-Uncle Hal!

[She sobbed, moving to grab onto him.]

;_;

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Su-sunny! Go! You have to... get out of here!

[He tried to push her away, terrified. All he could think about was the pain, and Liquid, and how if Sunny got hurt he'd never, ever forgive himself...]

Just run!

:|

[somnium-paterna.livejournal.com]

[Scooping the MK4 up into one hand, he strode forward, firing another couple of shots. The first one strikes into Emmerich's leg, just above the calf, the other a short distance lower. This man isn't a soldier. He wouldn't be able to get to help before he died, Solid was sure. For safety, he'd have put a bullet right between the eyes, but the time it would take to reload would mean the girl getting away.]

[He grabs her by the upper arm, roughly.]

You're coming with me.

[cookedemright.livejournal.com]

NO!

[She screamed, kicking and flailing with all of the strength a little girl could muster, for what good it was worth, all the time she was crying hysterically.]

No! Go away!

[somnium-paterna.livejournal.com]

...hn.

[He ignored it, dragging her away without another word. His cold gaze passed over the man lying slumped against the wall.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

S-Sunny-...

[He reached out a hand towards the retreating pair, pleadingly.]

Don't... hurt her...

[The pain was almost blinding. He sank down to lie on the floor, shuddering. Liquid. He needed... Liquid.]

[Slowly, he activated his codec and called him.]

[141.80]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

...Otacon? What is it?

[CALL]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

J-James...

[The relief at hearing that familiar voice is palpable.]

He... took Sunny. Hurts... James... you have to find her.

[CALL]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

[A cold chill of what was definitely fear went straight through Liquid at that. How long had he feared this, woken up at ungodly hours by nightmares of Philanthropy's enemies hurting Otacon, his Otacon...?!]

...Where are you?

[CALL]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[Otacon is hardly aware of where he is, but he looks around almost blindly, his vision blurred by pain.]

F-fifth floor... near the eastern stairwell...

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Hold on. I'll be there in one second.

[He hung up, snatching the first aid kit from the table it was on and darting out of the room--his legs would not thank him for this, but who the hell cared? He was by Otacon's side moments later, dropping to his knees beside him and speaking in a calm, quiet voice.]

Hal...Hal, love, can you hear me?

[He ran agentle hand through Otacon's hair, opening the first aid kit with the other--it must have been Snake. And if that was the case, he wouldn't hurt Sunny. No, it would cause Liquid much more pain to leave her alive, and he was certain Snake knew that.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

J-James...

[By the time Liquid reached him, he was barely conscious, his hand still loosely outstretched in the direction that Sunny had been taken. A selfish part of him was relieved, overjoyed even that Liquid was there. His James would make the pain go away, right? But the other part of him, the part that worried constantly, was more worried about Sunny. That part won out, gradually.]

Have to... go after her. Don't worry about me...

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Ssh, don't talk. He won't hurt her, I'm sure of it. I'll find them as soon as I'm sure you're alright--now just hold still. I'll be careful, but this may hurt a bit.

[Moving quickly but carefully, he started tending to Otacon's injuries--speaking calm, reassuring wordsthe whole time. Liquid felt rage building in the back ofhismind,a small flame that would turn into a blazing inferno. But he could repress it for now, hold it back until he needed it.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He shuddered in pain, his entire body convulsing a little. Even if he'd had anything to say, it would have been nothing more than reiterations of the same words. There was nothing he could do but lie there and let Liquid tend to his wounds. His entire body felt as if it was on fire, and he hardly noticed the additional pain that came with the treatment. He just lay there, listening to the constant litany of reassurances.]

[Otacon was trembling, but not with rage. He'd been terrified, and he was terrified still. Slowly, he managed to lift his hand, reaching up to touch Liquid's face, needing that reassurance, that he was there, that the two of them was safe, but his fingers barely brushed Liquid's cheek before his hand dropped back down. He whimpered in pain. It just hurt too much, and it seemed that all of his energy had gone to producing the pain he was in.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

...it's going to be alright. I swear it, Hal.

[He was going to break his twin for this--death was too merciful. When he finally finished, the former soldier lightly pressed a kiss to Otacon's head.]

Can you stand at all? We need to get to the infirmary so I can give you something for the pain.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

I... I don't know... if I can, but... I'll try...

[It hurt to move. Every muscle in his body was on fire, every part of him aching and shrieking protests when he tried to move. His first effort almost made him scream, a shriek of pain forced out through gritted teeth.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Don't push yourself. [He ran a hand through Otacon's hair again, cautiously picking him up--this would hurt a hell of a lot later, but Liquid couldn't care less.]

The infirmary's not far. I can handle this with no problem.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

You're... still injured...

[He managed that one weak protest before falling silent, cuddling close to him without meaning to. Right then, he felt weak. It had been so easy for Snake to take Sunny, so easy for him to nearly die - if Liquid hadn't gotten there so fast, the blood loss might have killed him first. He was such a burden...]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

I'm Liquid Snake, love. Built to recover quickly at any age. My arm's mostly healed, and the lacerations are perfectly fine.

[He didn't even have to lie, at least not much.]

Just relax. I'm goingto fix everything--it's what I do, remember?

[He managed a slight, mostly forced smile--anythingto reassure Otacon at this point.]

You're going to be perfectly fine, Hal. Then I'll go get Sunny back and settle everything with Snake.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

...I was... so afraid...

[He whispered the words softly, pressing close to Liquid. In his state, he couldn't tell how forced the smile was. All he could tell was that James was smiling, all he could see through eyes blurred with bitter pain and tears of agony. It was a relief.]

For a moment, I thought... I thought I was going to die there...

[Alone, in an empty corridor... just like James had been left.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Ssh...there's nothing to fear, Hal. I'm right here, by your side. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore.

[He walked into the infirmary, carefully setting Otacon on a bed and rummaging through a nearby cabinet.]

And you know I would never, ever let you die.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He nodded tiredly, regretting it as the slight movement sent another wave of pain through him.]

I... know. Trust you...

[There was the tiniest of relieved smiles on his lips. Liquid was here... he'd make everything alright again. Just as always.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

I know, Hal. I know. Hold still.

[He sat down on the bed by Otacon's side, administering the painkillers before gently brushing a handagainst his face.]

I love you, Hal. I'm...sorry. I should have been there.

[He was the soldier, at least he had been once. It should have been Liquid that had been injured, should have protected his family.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

...n-not your fault... should have reacted quicker.

[He was a little close to going into full-blown delirious, but he tried to keep himself coherant long enough to try to explain.]

...t-took the MK...4... too. Heard her scream... why'd he just... take her? Why shoot me?... didn't even think about it...

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

...don't worry.

[He knew why--to hurt him. Because taking Sunny and injuring Otacon would positively kill Liquid inside, and it would have been working if not for that flame burning steady in the back of his mind.]

Just get some sleep, Hal. By the time you wake up, I'll have Sunny and we'll both be right here by your side.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Please... James... be careful. Don't forget... don't... kill him...

[If he died, it would just cycle again. Snake had to be stopped, but that wouldn't work. He'd never give up. Snake was like some sort of machine sometimes, uncaring, unfeeling... unafraid. He lay back, too tired to stay awake.]

I'll... hold you to that... James.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

I haven't forgotten. [Oh, no. He'd have much worse than death.]

I give you my word, Hal--and I've never broken that.

[He leaned close and pressed a kiss to his fiancé's lips,once more running a gentle hand through his hair.]

After this is all over, we can plan for our wedding.[He smiled a little more sincerely, standing up.]

Just rest here and wait for me.

[He walked out of the infirmary--the second he was out the door, that smile disappeared, blue eyes turning frigid and emotionless as he walked down the hall back to his room.]