[ongoing log; closed] Potential

[baldr_was]

Who: Solid Snake baldr_was, Kazama Souji sagittariinae, Big Boss magna_nimity.
Where: Outer Heaven, Terra
When: Evening
Summary: In which FOXHOUND receives a new recruit.
Rating: PG-13
Other: N/A

Comments

[sagittariinae]

Outer Heaven. To be honest, the only reason that Kazama was even familiar with this place was because of the times he'd passed by it while gathering information. Discotheques, nightclubs, and the like, Kazama had the tendency to give a wide berth -- too many people and too much noise. The streets were populated enough as is, and he'd never seen a reason to willingly plunge into the midst of a drunk and screaming crowd

[baldr_was]

Snake's eyes narrowed at this in a gaze that was just as if not more critical.

"Relax. It's not poison, if that's what you're thinking."

Granted, Kazama's reaction was to be expected but it was always best to inject them quickly before they had a chance to tense up or refuse outright.

"That injection was the only way to get the nanomachines into your bloodstream. With them, you'll be able to receive adrenaline and stimulants that'll improve your performance on the field. They'll also help us keep tabs on you and your location, if we need to."

Which they undoubtedly would. Snake was trusting, but he wasn't stupid.

"Lastly, they'll recharge the batteries of your Codec, which will act as your own personal communication device with us and other FOXHOUND members and personnel. It works by directly stimulating the small bones of your ear, making it possible to send and receive messages that no one but you will be able to hear. Handy, don't you think?"

[sagittariinae]

Nanomachines? It wasn't technology that he was familiar with, but it made sense in vague sort of way -- not that it kept him from feeling the slightest bit violated by this sudden injection without warning. By the time Snake was finished speaking, the syringe had already been removed, and Kazama pressed a hand against the spot, feeling nothing but the slightest chill in his veins that quickly dissipated. He'd expected something a little more drastic, if this injection was so important, but he was apparently mistaken.

Pausing only to give the man behind him a brief and wary glance, Kazama stood at attention once more -- trying to ignore the way his nerves now stood on end, as he muttered a quiet answer. "It sounds convenient." -- It had been a while since he'd been in such a situation, faced by people who seemed leagues above him -- and this just now only strengthened that impression.

Still, there wasn't much use in showing fear, and so he masked the underlying tension, returning to his blank facade. "Is that it?"

[baldr_was]

He shook his head. "They're convenient, but not permanent. They'll leave your body every seven or so days via urination or deification, so you'll need an injection once every week. Shots are mandatory, by the way; don't skip out on them."

He walked around Kazama, heading to the door.

"We're going to the shooting range now. Follow me."

[sagittariinae]

So the convenience came at a price, then -- weekly injections sounded to be something of a bother, and to be honest, he wasn't used to anything this hi-tech. Then again -- adapting to a new situation was a skill, too, he supposed. Eyes following the other's movements, he nodded, then fell in step behind Snake, one hand steadying the strap of the violin case.

No doubt, they'd be testing his marksmanship now. And in this area, he refused to back down -- it was his greatest strength, the only thing that had kept him alive to this point. Failing to prove his worth here would be unforgivable.

Mulling over these thoughts, he followed in silence, studying the passing hallways as best as he could.

[baldr_was]

"This'll be done without the use of muscle relaxants such as Pentazemin and Diazepam," He said briskly, leading him through the corridor and around a corner. "Drugs like that are a luxury on the battlefield; don't rely on them."

Stopping in front of the room, Snake pushed the door open and stepped in first.

"Set up your gun and get to work on the targets you're most comfortable with."

[sagittariinae]

For a moment, he paused to study the range -- sleek and streamlined, bathed in pale artificial lighting. Accustomed mostly to training in the Abyss, at the outskirts of the city, Kazama felt almost out of place -- but he shook the feeling off, making for one of the metal tables and laying down his violin case. It took only a few moments to reassemble his rifle -- an SVD that he cared for with great dedication.

Oddly aware of the two others watching his progress, he made a beeline for stand with the targets furthest away, shouldering the rifle and peering down the scope. Breathe in, breathe out -- pulling the trigger straight back, holding the rifle still. All tips and trick he'd learned, both self-taught and by others.

Ten shots, before he paused to shoot the other two a glance.

[baldr_was]

It was a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle with a short-stroke gas-piston system and fitted with a PSO-1 scope. Snake was familiar with the SVD, and knew how accurate and efficient of a weapon it could be in the right hands.

"Sniper, huh."

Watching Kazama take out the targets with cool, precise ease, Snake couldn't help but feel mildly impressed with how much care the kid put in the usage and care of his rifle. Good.

"How long have you been handling that gun?" He asked evenly, at length.

[sagittariinae]

Lowering the rifle, Kazama gave the question a moment of thought before answering. "Four years. I used an Arisaka for a short while before." The Arisaka had been a souvenir from Battle Royale, and he'd resigned himself to using it despite the bad aftertaste it left -- before connections with Quark had allowed him a change of equipment.

A pause, before he glanced back at the range. "Should I continue?"

[magna_nimity]

Big Boss had been keeping quiet until now, just watching and listening to the conversation. Of course there had been things he'd wanted to say; suggestions to make and telling Snake when he forgot to mention something, but he left it entirely up to him. He'd just watch, nothing else

[sagittariinae]

Though Kazama listened to these new instructions in silence, standing at ease with his rifle by his side, he couldn't help the slightest twinge of fear that coiled about his chest. No doubt the adrenaline boost was partly responsible for the way his heartbeat had increased the slightest -- but maybe it was also the terror he felt towards the prospect of having to aim at someone he knew. (Again, almost like before.)

But no, no -- there wasn't any room for petty hesitation. If this was a test, then he'd take it. Limbs tense and eyes narrowed into a focused gaze, he only gave Snake a brief glance -- resigned, more than anything -- before nodding to Big Boss.

Breathe in, breathe out -- he turned towards the targets, shouldering his rifle and peering intently into the scope, honing in on the moving targets and following their paths. They weren't the main threat, in this situation. It was the obstacle that would lay before them.

[baldr_was]

Once more, he was as readable as a closed book. There was no emotion in the look Snake exchanged with Big Boss, nor any nod of acknowledgment.

Of course it had to be done, you couldn't expect to be a good sharpshooter let alone a soldier if you didn't know how to handle a live

(breathing, pulsating, bleeding, talking--)

target.

Save for the slightest twitch of his left palm and followed by the curl of his fingers, he was silent as he watched Kazama sharply, intensely, as he began to take aim.

[magna_nimity]

Big Boss remained in the position he had taken up, it was quite precisely in the center of the far-distance-targets track. He barely moved, breathing steadily and looking ahead, right at Kazama and into the barrel of the rifle.

It was also another test. Big Boss smiled inwardly; there was still the slightest of possibilites that Kazama would turn out to be a spy. If he was a spy, an assassin even, he'd know his true identity and never waste this opportunity. It was like an invitation.

Big Boss gave a brief hand signal that he was ready.

[sagittariinae]

Breathe in, breathe out -- Kazama focused on the targets and the targets alone, blocking out his surroundings and everything else -- all except the man who stood before him, staring into rifle, and it was frightening, more than anything, the prospect of killing someone who wasn't an enemy

[baldr_was]

It was like a bad premonition in that he had a horrible feeling what was inevitably coming. Good shot or not, Kazama was still a kid. He still needed training, he had to improve--

"Nn--"

When the bullet shot past Big Boss' arm, close enough to rip fabric and skin, Snake instinctively moved forward and, by the look on his face alone, you would think he had been the one grazed.

When his gaze finally turned away from Big Boss and settled on Kazama, a considerable measure of the calmness it had so adeptly kept cracked. In that instant, his eyes narrowed in a harsh, uncertain sort of outrage.

". . ."

[magna_nimity]

He didn't even flinch when the bullet grazed him. By god, he'd had to endure much worse in the past, and given the fact that he'd already once lost all his limbs -- a bullet in the shoulder didn't matter all that much to him. At least he now had proof that Kazama wasn't a spy. Either that, or he was planning something, but Big Boss wanted to trust him for now. He had to, and the same went for Snake.

Big Boss turned his head and looked at his coat, the ripped fabric where the bullet had gotten him, and red began to slowly blossom from the wound.

"Hngh."

He clutched his shoulder, looking back at the two men, and he noticed Snake's brooding anger.

"Close enough," he eventually said, voice placid. "You're gonna pay me the coat."