Terror Infinity Side B
Chapter 24, Apocalypse Alice Intermission
WARNING: MAJOR METAL GEAR SOLID 4 SPOILER AT THE END.
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Connor: I see... I lost then.
Shin: Yes you did, but it wasn't easy. Your attacks were ruthless and well thought out. If I got hit, it wouldn't just take away half my life, you know. I would die. Especially if you used your Trigger on top of everything else.
Connor: It's shameful to show mercy in a battle. It's better to incapacitate the enemy before showing mercy and not during a battle... you could have killed me with that strike since you were in the Second Stage, but if you act like that on the battlefield then you and your comrades will be the ones to die.
Shin: I know, I know. Stop talking like I'm some weakling when you lost to me. I know when to show mercy and when to go all out, and I won't hold back to keep my own life and everyone else’s safe.
Connor: Really? Then what if they are also people who are just struggling in this world like us? And what if they are weak and feeble women and children?
Shin: If they really threaten us... then of course I won't hold back...
Hikari saw that Shin himself wasn't convinced about his own answer to Connor's question, so she immediately digressed from the topic back to their vacation plans
Hikari: Can't we stop here? Weren't we discussing about going to the beach in Hawaii and not sudden life and death spars? Since Connor lost to Shin we can all go now. Let's go before we waste any more time. Everyone is fine with 100 points for ten days right?
Misaki: Hey, doesn't God start a new mission every ten days? If you all go and I choose to stay behind... then am I the only one left when the next one starts? I planned on going, but it may not be a choice for me or anyone else.
Hikari: Relax, Misaki. I've already talked to God and it said that the time spent inside the Mission Worlds are only an instant in this dimension when it's for a trip like this. Even when we go on missions we return back here in twenty-four hours. No matter how long we are there, we will be back in the blink of an eye for the people here if they so choose to stay behind, so relax. We'll be back before you know it.
Shin: Then it is decided. Also, we don't absolutely have to go to Hawaii, but since we will be in the world of BTOOOM everyone should bring a weapon. Everyone other than the newest additions to the team may be wanted by Tyrannos Japan since we are survivors of the death game who were supposed to be dead. I still have some magical bullets in my ring, yet BTOOOM is Sci-fi and not fantasy. We will each bring a submachine gun. Connor, if you plan to exchange for a normal Sniper rifle and plan to take it along, disassemble it and I'll bring it with us in one of my Na Rings. This is just in case something happens and it will bring us some security... and let's all think about what else might happen.
They started to discuss what else they may need, but they were all heavily armed and Aqua always made sure to exchange enough of the 50 point communication phones that can work anywhere, so they were all ready and set to go... still, one member of Team Japan still had an objection.
Connor: I still can't agree with ten days. I understand the need to relax, but laziness is a scary trait. Once a person stays in a comfortable environment, he will develop dependency and loosen his guard. If we suddenly come back to the Mission Worlds from that environment... if it's even more dangerous than that Apocalypse Alice, I don't know how many of us will die having lost our edge. So I can't accept ten days... why don't we just go for five days? Just 50 points for this trip. Five days is enough for a trip to the beach, or anywhere else we choose to go.
Hikari was about to say something to refute Connor since this break meant a lot to her, but Shin nodded first and said that he agreed with his suggestion. He wanted a break just as bad, but hearing what Connor had to say made sense. Shin loved Hikari, but he had to be a responsible leader first and foremost.
Shin: Yes, you're right. Five days plus the remaining nine days in this dimension should be enough for me to get a hold of my new skills and relax. Also, this trip was originally my decision along with Hikari, and I'm making everyone spend valuable points... then let’s make it five days... Hikari, don't look at me like that. I'll pay for your five days, so just let it go.
Hikari: Fine, but don't have to pay for my trip. I still have the 100 points from Orientation. Just take me out for dinner on this trip and I'll forgive you.
Shin: ...Too easy.
Hikari: What was that?
Shin: Nothing!
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If it was only for relaxation, five days was actually enough, so the others didn't say anything about it and Hikari was fine with it as well after Shin promised a romantic date.
Once the trip became official it didn't take long to get ready. Shin watched as everyone arrived, along with the Human Creation of Misaki's, Mokoto, and the new Human Creation of Jin, the maid Miyuki Kujo (so Copyright... but brilliant all the same. Still, to be with someone more abusive than Hikari... Jin is a real M). They all held their hands and stood in a line. Then walked up to God together and exchanged time in one of the previous worlds that Hikari had already unlocked.
- Btooom Mission World, Location Switzerland.
Going through that half-awake process again, when they woke up, they were already standing in front of one of the most famous ski and snowboard resorts in the world.
The pure white snow on the ground could even reflect their faces and the happy and smiling faces of other tourist filled each of them with warm felling in spite of the cold temperature. It was over all much better than the usual blood on the floor that would reflect their desperate faces and having to hear the cries of those being killed by monsters.
This was Shin and everyone else's second time leaving God's dimension for a trip, aside from Connor and Jin, so most of them were familiar with the rules like coming back where they appeared in five days. What was different this time around was that there was no rule about disclosing information regarding God's world. It seemed like because this was not the real world, God didn't care if they disclosed the information.
Shin: This is amazing! It was definitely the right choice to come here instead of Hawaii.
Aqua: Yeah, I'll have to agree. Did you always want to come here?
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Shin: No, but I liked the idea of skiing and snowboarding since the characters in Persona 4 Golden went Skiing. They looked like they had a lot of fun, so why not copy them!?
Aqua: ...That is your sole reason?
Hikari: Hey, you two airheaded monsters! You do realize that we forgot to buy winter gear since Shin insisted on coming here at the last minute? Only the two of you with high level enhancements and the Russian mercenary are fine in this cold temperature!
Everyone aside from Shin, Aqua, and Kampa were unable to stand the cold in their causal clothes. Connor, who lived in the Middle East his whole life, was about to lose to the natural elements of Switzerland, so they were all forced to head into town and buy clothes.
The prices were ridiculously high like any tourist resort is, but for Players of God's Dimension money was no problem. Cash, silver, gold, and diamonds they had it all it abundance. Such things had less value than water for a team of God's Dimension. They used their vast funds to get into the best ski lodge and rooms. Then the next morning they went to have fun on the slopes. Connor had never seen snow before and Shin got to see his childish smile before he hid it.
Shin's mind was clear and peaceful as he watched his friends having fun. It was nice to see comrades, who were usually risking their life in battle, live as normal people… if normal people had Olympic level athleticism and showed off enough to draw the eyes of the other tourists.
Shin: I really hope no one is looking for us here in this world. I wouldn't be surprised if someone would post this on YouTube later if they have it here.
Shin said that, but not five minutes later he was snowboarding with the rest of them and, despite having never been on one before, he showed an ability that would have allowed him to join a professional team. Not only did Shin get to show off, he got to spend time with his girlfriends Hikari and Aqua in unexpected ways.
Hikari was not an athletic individual, even after going through three mission and three rounds of enhancements, yet, due to past experience on a family vacation, Hikari had experience skiing, and so was able to somewhat keep up with Shin on the slopes.
Then there was his other girlfriend. To everyone's shock, Aqua, despite all her experience and enhancements, turned out to be incredibly clumsy, whether it was snowboarding or skiing. Shin, at the time, found the clumsy Aqua cute (like this she's cuter than Hikari), yet when he offered to teach her, she hit him out of embarrassment and went back to the lodge they were staying in.
Shin: So cute... and totally worth it.
Hikari: You’re hopeless, Shin.
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Four days later.
The day after Shin had his romantic date with Hikari (dates cost too much! Having a girlfriend in the real world would force me to get three jobs!). It was around evening and Shin and the others were turning in for the evening. Shin and Misaki, wanting to have fun, went out into town while leaving the others behind.
Misaki: This is stupid Shin and it’s going to get me in trouble with Mokoto.
Shin: Don't be so whipped, Misaki. It's just a contest to see who can pick up a girl first (Persona 3 and 4.).
Misaki: But I'm in a relationship.
Shin: Then you shouldn't have bragged that your relationship was better than mine and that Mokoto like you more than Hikari and Aqua like me! This is to decide who the better man is!
Misaki: By cheating.
Shin: Is it cheating if a girl accepts a drink at a bar or restaurant from a man? It's a gray area like that and it'll stay gray long as we don't follow up... or telling anyone. Especially the red haired 34D War Goddess! Now let's-
Shin was about to excitedly tell Misaki to start their competition, but a moment later Shin felt a powerful presence nearby. Misaki, although not as quickly as Shin, felt something was wrong as well having unlocked his Constraint, yet he was confused for more than one reason. The presence that they could feel was incredibly powerful. It was stronger than any final boss in existence they ever fought before, yet there was no feeling of danger whatsoever.
Misaki: Shin what is this?
Shin: Keep your guard up Misaki! Whatever it is may not seem dangerous... but feels just as powerful as someone on Sozin's level. Get ready to run and join up with the-
Drebin893: There's no need to be alarmed by someone like me now is there? I'm just merchant. Drenin893. Nice to make your acquaintance.
Shin: !!!
Shin was both shocked that someone had appeared behind him without him noticing... and also who that person was as he turned around. The man Shin saw standing behind him was an adult black man with bleach blonde short hair in his late thirties/early forties. The man wore a black suit and tie which made him look like a capable business man, yet Shin smelled a heavy stench of blood on the man (I doubt that the blood was his own).
Shin had never met the man in person before, but he knew of the man calling himself, and mostly that the real Drebin893 from one of his favorite video games.
Shin: Aren't you the one from Metal Gear Solid 4? The man who gave Old Snake weapons that worked and... but this is BTOOOM and not Metal Gear Solid! Also-
Drebin893: The very same. I'm the man you remember from the game, but it looks like your friend here doesn't know me as well as you do... Shin. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Drebin 893, or simply Drebin since I'm the one who will be dealing with you all from Team Japan. I'm one of the many members of a group called DREBIN, a huge network of underground gun launderers who replaced ID chips in guns in my world so they could be used by anyone. In what you call Metal Gear Solid 4, I personally helped out Solid Snake, or Old Snake as some called him, and Hal Emmerich on their mission to take down Liquid Ocelot, yet at the same time I was also assisting the Patriots by encouraging them to take Liquid out. At this current time the new DREBIN has expanded its operations and so we have become black market merchants of God's Dimension. We are neither enemy nor friend, so now Team Japan... let's talk business.
Shin: (Th-that is so copyright... but that's what this world is after all.)
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Authors Note:
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Proofread by Hoebagger
Anyone who has read the final chapter of the Real World arc would know that this was coming.