Snake? !gwSNAAKE5k 2008/07/13 (Sun) 01:50 No. 48380 Jody callan gaems.
"Momma, Momma, Can't You See" is fairly recent as well, considering the mention of the M16 in it. I chose another one without such references. I have no idea how old it is, but it fits the story well. Also, sleepan gaems, writan tomorrow, etc.
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You follow the caves for several miles, and it appears you're gaining little ground. Although most of your time walking is spent in silence, you do manage to make some small talk with Aya and Youmu. Aya gives you a basic explanation of the lifestyle of the demigod race of Tengu, and Youmu attempts to discuss with you the more fine points of crossing between life and death. You understand little of what either of them say.
"So Snake." Her legs tired, Aya floats several inches above ground. "Tell us about the outside world."
You have no idea where you'd start. "There's an awful lot to the outside world. What do you want to know?"
"All of it." Youmu's answer is swift and short, much like her temper.
"All of it?" You don't think you could do that, even if you were to walk fifty miles it would be difficult to explain that much.
"What about you, then?" Aya leans into you. "You haven't talked much about yourself since we first met."
You really haven't. All the strange happenings and beings in this strange world have occupied your thoughts, and you've had little time to talk about anything else.
"That's a tough one, too." A lot has happened in the past few years of your life. A war breaks out between nations, and as a military man you got caught up in the middle of things. You've had little time to truly think of yourself these past few years. "I wouldn't know where to start."
"Then how'd you get here? Do you remember?"
You remember like it was yesterday. You try to explain what happened from the beginning. You start with the mission. Get in, mark the targets for bombing, get out. Simple enough, up until the point where you got sucked into another world.
"So when you say mission, were you some sort of warrior?" Youmu speaks as if you were performing a menial task for a lord. This brings to mind a good question.
"How long has Gensokyo been separated from the outside world? You said the Border seals this world off before, so I'm just assuming it wasn't always like that."
"Indeed." Youmu answers you. "The Border was erected in the year of Meiji 17."
"Uhh..." You were hoping for a more familiar number.
"1884." Sanae responds, her head turned slightly so she can hear and see you. "There seems to be some rumors about the date, though. Some say it was earlier."
"So I've heard." Youmu replies. "Records often become lost or distorted with time. Furthermore, dragons have not been seen since the border's creation."
Basically, what she's saying is that most of this world is living in a time period a little more than a century ago. "That explains the old-fashioned town and clothing."
"So let's get back on track, here." Aya redirects the conversation. "You said you were a warrior."
"Not quite a warrior." You wag a finger at her. "The term I'd use is soldier."
"What's the difference?" Youmu asks, confused by the difference in terminology.
"There's a whole world of difference." You'd rather not debate the concepts of both terms. "A soldier works together with other soldiers as a part of a team, forming a unit. The smaller units work with each other to form larger groups, and that eventually becomes the country's army."
"Yet would it not be difficult to tell the stories of battle?"
You nod. "Not necessarily. The army as a whole writes it's own stories, of sorts. The more experienced soldiers who return to train new ones pass them down through word of mouth. They're used during marches to keep the recruits going at the same pace, so nobody steps out of line." You wonder if you should recite a cadence. The ones your drill instructor loved were incredibly vulgar, to say the least. His favorite was about a trooper who's chute didn't open. "Would you like to hear one?"
"Absolutely." Youmu nods.
Here goes nothing. "All right you ladies, listen up!" You search your memory, trying to find one that's fitting. An old buddy of yours from boot camp you remember had a particular favorite. He never could remember the whole thing, but it left a lasting impression on you. You decide to give a full performance, loudly reciting what words you can remember and keeping pace with the rhythm of the lyrics.
"Band of brothers, that’s what I said,
Baptized by fire, scarred by lead.
We’re lean and mean, and fit to fight,
Anywhere, day or night.
When bullets fly and rockets fall,
We’ll stand our ground, and give our all.
We’re on the move, we’re on the march,
We’re diggin’ ditches and breakin’ starch.
When you hear our battle cry,
You better move, and step aside.
Band of brothers, that’s what we said,
Mess with us, we’ll shoot you dead!"
Your words echo from the cave walls as a short moment of silence fills the room.
"A bit on the violent side, don't you think Snake?" Aya raises an eyebrow at you.
"I thought it was beautiful!" Youmu responds, adamantly.
"Really?" Aya turns her puzzles stares to the sword-bearing girl.
"I shouldn't expect you to understand the heart of a warrior." She ignores Aya's attempts to retort, turning back to you. "I liked it. It was a stunning portrayal of a warrior's strength and brotherhood in the face of intense adversity. Though the wording was a little on the gruff side."
"That's just the way soldiers are." You're happy to hear that at least one person liked it. "We don't waste time with pleasantries and get right down to business."
"Indeed." Youmu laughs. An honest sort of laughter. Something you've come to think you'd ever hear coming from her.
Ahead of you, Kanako stops, holding her hand in a motion for the rest of you to stop. Beyond her, the narrow passageway opens up into an immense cavern. Man-sized crystals of green, red, and blue line the walls and ceiling, and you can vaguely make out several man-made structures in the center. You were so distracted by your little performance that you didn't notice what was up ahead. You wonder if your getting sloppy.
"Let's go!" Kanako whispers forcefully, on edge. You can tell she's completely certain that the room is not safe, but the only way out is straight ahead. You ready your rifle as you follow her into the room.
The cavern is much larger than you'd thought. It ends abruptly at one end, narrowing to form the passageway where you stand. It becomes wider as it continues. In the distance, you judge about a half-mile away, you can vaguely make out the shapes of buildings, yet that defies all logic. What would houses be doing in a cave? Bright flashes of red and purple light dance and flicker above the house-like structures, the shapes and sizes of which appear similar to the ball Suwako threw at Kanako earlier. Directly ahead, you notice an underground stream, over which an elaborate bridge is built. There appears to be a person leaning against one of the railings. You can sense them staring at you.
