PEACE AND KAZUHIRA BLUES "FIRST ENCOUNTER" This is supplemental canon telling the full story of how Big Boss and Kaz first met, acted out by Akio Otsuka (BB) and Tomokazu Sugita (Kaz). It was released as a standalone Drama CD and the story tracks were included in the Japanese version of Ground Zeroes, much like Paz’s Diary. The translation you find here is official, as the JP version of Ground Zeroes has optional English subtitles. I've transcribed these tapes for quick reference, if you want to listen to them, look on Youtube. ========== CHAPTER 1 ========== Kaz: Life’s funny sometimes, isn’t it? BB: What brought that on? Kaz: We first met as enemies on the battlefield, and now here we are fighting side by side. BB: You mean Colombia? Kaz: Yeah. After I quit the JSDF, I made my way there and got myself a position as drill sergeant for a band of revolutionaries, despite the fact that I’d never seen a day of combat. BB: I see you had the gift for talking business in Spanish even back then. Kaz: C’mon, stop it, you’re making me blush. Unlucky for me, though, you were in the service of the Colombian Army. I remember it like it was yesterday. It all happened in an instant. You guys ambushed us, and half my unit was taken out. My mind went totally blank. I couldn’t keep it together… My whole unit was… [Flashback. Sounds of gunfire.] Random soldiers: Over there! Move! That way! Turn right! Fire! Fire! Eat this! Get down! This way! Run, run! Move it!! Go, go, go, go, go! Turn left! Right! Turn right! Soldier A: It’s a damn ambush…! What should we do, Master – Master Miller! Kaz: Uhh… Umm… Soldier A: Master! Kaz: Split up. You come with me. Soldier B: Wait, what about me…? Kaz: You go that way. That’s an order! Soldier B: You’re using me as bait…! Kaz: No I’m not. Now move it! [Soldier B gets shot.] R-Run! This way! Soldier A: But Master, that’s – ! [Soldier A gets shot.] M-Master Miller! Kaz: Hey! [Explosion.] Booby traps… Damn it! No…! [Explosion. Kaz is hit, and begins to laugh.] BB: CASEVAC the wounded. Seize as many weapons as we can carry. Line up the bodies by the road and cover them with a tarp. OK, you, commander! Drop your weapons! Hands on your head! ¿Hablas inglés? Kaz: Afraid I… BB: Speak up! Kaz: Afraid I can’t lift my hands. BB: Don’t be stupid, commander. Your men are all dead. Kaz: I-I… I came here from Japan. BB: What? Kaz: I chose to come here! C-Came because my place, my place is on the battlefield! BB: All right, all right – now let me see your hands. Kaz: Be my kaishaku. BB: Your what? Kaz: Seppuku… Hara-kiri. I’m a samurai. I disembowel myself. When I do, you cut off my head. That’s being a kaishaku. From behind, it’s all one cut from below the medulla. Just stop before you get clean through. That way my head stays attached – I don’t want it left for the birds. Can’t handle that? BB: …Machete. Soldier: Here you are, Boss. Kaz: Don’t worry… It’ll be over soon. Goodbye…! Soldier: Grenade! Boss! BB: Can’t go off if you don’t release the lever. Kaz: Let go… BB: I don’t think so. Soldier: Boss! BB: Stand down! Last-ditch kamikaze, huh? Kaz: I’ll… we’ll never lose again… The Japanese will never lose again. We’ll do… whatever it takes! But we’ll never… be beaten again! Ne… ve… [Kaz passes out. BB grunts. Credits roll.] ========== CHAPTER 2 ========== [ECG beeping.] Kaz: A field hospital… No, a tent…? BB: You’re in a makeshift camp set up by the government. You look better than I expected. Don’t try to move. The place is a sauna during the day, but you’ll have to bear it. Kaz: …Get lost… BB: After we’re done talking. I’m unarmed. And you’re out of grenades. Kaz: …Get lost… BB: I could always just put you out of your misery. I did lose some of my men. Here, I brought you a present. Go on, open it. Kaz: …Why are you here? To interrogate me? BB: Wrong. I already know all about you, Kazuhira Miller. Kaz: Hmph… BB: Formerly of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces… An army that doesn’t fight. Kaz: It’s no army. BB: You went to America, then ended up down here. No combat experience to speak of. Yet somehow, two months ago, you became a drill sergeant to a platoon of rebels. Impressive. Kaz: If you’re here to piss on me then get lost. BB: Wrong again. Mind if I sit here? [BB flops down on the bed.] Kaz: Son of a… Don’t move the bed. BB: I came to make you an offer. Kaz: What? BB: I want you to join me. Kaz: Join you? BB: That’s right. What do you say? I’m serious. Kaz: I was hired by the revolutionaries. Pay’s not as bad as you think. BB: Spoken like a true businessman. Kaz: The fighting here won’t be over anytime soon. You expect me to change sides and help the government? BB: Wrong – again. Kaz: Then enlighten me. BB: My contract with the government expired yesterday. Your unit was my last job for them. Kaz: …So, you’re just like me. You go where the money is. BB: It isn’t about the money. We all fight for ourselves. Kaz: So… for the money. BB: [Sighs.] I think I just realized how the Japanese turned their economy around. I guess I can’t convince you right away. Kaz: Save your breath. Now take a hike. BB: …I hear you’re headed for a cell as soon as you’re better. Interrogators here can be very unpleasant. I should know. I trained them. Kaz: Oh yeah? BB: One technique the French liked to use in Indochina… pushing bamboo splinters under the fingernails. Kaz: The fingernails…? BB: It’s extremely painful. I’ve watched grown men scream like babies. They literally shit themselves. Kaz: Trying to scare me? BB: But pain doesn’t kill you. And you have ten fingernails, ten toenails. They’ll take their time on every one of them. And when that’s over? Your nails’ll be gone, but they’ll just be getting started. Your teeth, for example. 28 of those. Still got your wisdom teeth? Open your present. Kaz: You’re giving me… a diaper?! BB: It’ll come in handy – trust me. Kaz: Very funny. BB: Look outside. Soldier: Fire! [Someone outside gets executed.] BB: One of the regular military’s “executions.” You see a lot of them around here. How about it? Join me and I’ll throw in a full pardon – forget the whole thing. Kaz: You’re a mercenary. What can you do? BB: The base commander and I have an understanding. Kaz: An understanding…? BB: My journal contains a few secrets he’d rather his superiors not know about. Kaz: …Blackmail? BB: He just doesn’t want to get lined up too. [BB lights himself a cigar.] Kaz: Hey, you’re in a hospital. BB: You’re the only patient. Kaz: But why me? How do you know I won’t just take off and join back up with the rebels? BB: Well, I’m hearing rumors. Kaz: What rumors? BB: That Kazuhira Miller is a government spy whose mission was to infiltrate the rebels and bring them down from the inside. Kaz: Bullshit. BB: Part of the government’s disinformation campaign. Maybe the CIA’s planting ideas. Kaz: So what. BB: But what are the rebels going to think? Your unit was wiped out, only your body wasn’t among the dead. Doesn’t look good for you, huh? Kaz: You? You started those rumors… BB: No, but it doesn’t change the fact that your days with the rebels are over. They’ll be looking to get even with that traitor, Kazuhira Miller. Good luck going freelance on your own, at least around these parts… Having said that, getting out of the country won’t be easy either. [Another execution can be heard.] Helping rebels… it isn’t worth it. They’re broke, barely any firepower, and a lot to be responsible for. And don’t join government forces either, all that power and corruption – the stink’ll never wash off. Join me. We make our own way. No ideology, no balance of power to worry about. Just the perfect home for those who want to fight. Kaz: You want me to join you? We may be hired guns, but you’re still my enemy. BB: …Some people are only good at fighting. Whether they were born that way, or someone made ‘em that way, their place has always been on the battlefield. Right? But what do they fight for? Country? Family? Money…? Kaz: I… BB: It doesn’t matter. But guys like that, cut from the same cloth… they belong on the same side. Better that than killing each other. Kaz: “Victory… or death…” BB: What? Kaz: I don’t accept that you beat me. BB: Oh? Kaz: I have no reason to join you. BB: Uh-huh. Kaz: How about… a contest? BB: A contest? Kaz: You win, and I’ll join you. But if you lose, you have to let me go. BB: So you can do what? Kaz: I just want to settle things between us, that’s all. What do you say? Let me heal up. Gimme a week. I choose the contest and the place. BB: …Fine, it’s a deal. [BB gets up to leave.] Kaz: Hey. When I win, and I’m free… I’m going to tell the rebels you’re the real spy. [BB laughs.] What’s so funny? You’ll be the one getting the bamboo manicure. Here, you’ll need this. [He tosses the diaper to him.] BB: Thanks. And if you need anything, let the guys here know. I’ll give ‘em the heads-up. Kaz: I will. BB: One other thing. Kaz: What? BB: Don’t think of escaping. These guys, they fall in line, but they can be a little temperamental. Can’t have our contest if you make ‘em shoot you. Kaz: Yeah. BB: Catch you later, Kazuhira Miller. Kaz: Hey. BB: Hm? Kaz: …I’m not in this for the money. BB: So what is it? Kaz: …No… it’s nothing you need to hear. So what do I call you? BB: Me? Kaz: Yeah. BB: Call me “Boss.” [BB laughs.] The name’s Snake. Kaz: See you in a week, Snake. BB: Yup. I’ll leave this here. ========== CHAPTER 3 ========== Kaz: Guess you kept your word. The soldiers in the camp have been helping me out. There’s a guard assigned to watch me, but he lets me move around the hospital freely. The guard said, “Boss’ orders were to make sure you had the run of this place.” I could tell he wasn’t lying. It’s weird. You’re not with the government forces anymore, yet he still calls you “Boss.” Not only that, he looks proud about it. Unfortunately, stretching my legs has shown me something else – escape’s not an option. Eyes everywhere, 24 hours a day. Well, I figured as much. I had them get me things in preparation for the contest… or so I told them. Goggles, stopwatch, spears… They even let me have a semi-custom 1911 modified for sport shooting. They’ve been all too kind. But the guard told me, “Try to use it on the Boss, and he’ll show you his ‘broken gun’ trick.” I asked him if he meant like a magic trick, but he just laughed and said, “Give it a shot. You’ll see what happens.” The men here all have deep respect for you. As a soldier. As a leader. A lot of them want to leave the military so they can go with you. “I would lay down my life for that man.” The words of a soldier who once served under your command. Is that the secret of your strength? I… when I led the rebels, I pushed them like a slave driver. And they more or less did what I told them, but… If I had asked them to leave their group and follow me, how many of them would have done it? With my unit gone now, I guess I’ll never know… The final preparations. I passed a letter to Miel, a local peddler, along with a bottle of Scotch I got my hands on. The soldiers watched us for a while, but eventually they left us alone. Miel may be his name but booze is his honey… and he buzzed over to that Scotch like a regular bee. Okay, now go! The letter was for some guerillas I’d taken under my wing. They were good, and I trusted them. They were left in reserve during the op, so they had to still be alive. It didn’t take long for Miel to deliver their response – “Understood. Plan is a go.” Perfect. I knew victory was in my hands. The week passed quickly. [Fast forward.] Okay, stop here! Come on out. BB: Miller, this area’s no good. Find somewhere else. Kaz: You afraid of something? No one’s ever set foot in this jungle. The crocs here don’t have a taste for human flesh. BB: I’m not talking about those caimans. Kaz: There are no dangerous animals to worry about. Except maybe snakes, and I figure they’re on your side. Nothing will disturb us here. BB: I’ve heard about a group of bandits that operate in these parts. They grow drugs for the cartels. I doubt they’re going to appreciate getting visitors. And no one’s ever set foot here? Look again. Signs of human activity everywhere. Trampled grass, blade marks on tree trunks, and over there – that stone’s been turned over. It’s still damp. Somebody was through here, in the last few hours. And not just one or two guys. Forget about this place, samurai. You’re just making it worse for yourself. Kaz: No, this has got to be the place. BB: Why? Kaz: Uhh… Hold on, just what are you afraid of, Snake? Your men can stand watch. Keep a look out for bandits. Make sure I don’t try to escape. BB: Why do you think they’re here? Kaz: All these guys, all that firepower, nobody’d ever pick a fight with them. Am I wrong? BB: All right. So what are we doing here? Kaz: Gonna catch some fish. Ever gone spear fishing? BB: I’ve gone knife fishing. Kaz: Fishing… with a knife? BB: Nothing beats a good knife. Ever. Kaz: Well, close enough. Whoever gets the most and the biggest wins. Nice and peaceful, huh? Here. BB: And if I win, you’ll join me? Kaz: Of course. I’ll even call you “Boss.” BB: Okay, no point standing around. Let’s get going. [Sounds of water splashing. Soldiers going, “Ooohhh!” BB tosses a bunch of fish.] Kaz: …Th – They’re monsters… BB: It’s full of arowana! You knew about this little fishing hole, hm? That why you picked this place? Kaz: …Sure. BB: How many’d you get? Kaz: Two… BB: …Not too big, huh. They wouldn’t feed a sparrow. Kaz: And you got two, four, six… seven. Every one must at least be 3 feet… BB: [Relenting sigh.] Tell you what, I’ll even the odds for you. Kaz: What do you mean? BB: You beat me in any one event, and you win the contest. I let you go, and you never hear from me again. So, what’s next? Kaz: …How about… arm wrestling? BB: All right. ========== CHAPTER 4 ========== Soldier: Go! [Sound of BB obviously beating Kaz.] Don’t mess with the Boss! Group of soldiers: Boss wins! BB: Anything else you’re good at? Kaz: Field strip and reassemble a firearm! I was the fastest in all of Japan. BB: Okay. Let’s do it blindfolded. Kaz: What? Soldier: Go! Kaz: [Fumbling with his gun.] Huh? … This goes… Wait, hang on, this end… Ah- this is oily… No, that’s not right… BB: Done. Soldier: Stop! BB: [Lights himself a cigar and laughs.] What’s that, a model airplane? Kaz: …Next, speed-eating! BB: Speed-eating? Like what? Kaz: Those. BB: The fish we just caught? The arowana? Kaz: Yup. And you can’t boil them or grill them. BB: Raw, huh. Kaz: You got it. Can’t handle that? BB: Not my first choice, but… Kaz: A soldier eats what he can, when he can. Gotta have a strong stomach. BB: That’s right. Kaz: Time to see whose is stronger. BB: Bring it on. Guess it’s been 8 years. Man, this takes me back. Survival Viewer! Kaz: Survi- what? [BB swallows the fish.] What the… The whole thing?! BB: Mmm, delicious! Kaz: You… You can eat raw fish? BB: What, you thought only the Japanese did that? Kaz: Uh, even the Japanese don’t just wolf down a whole fish like that… BB: [He swallows another fish.] I want some more! What’re you waiting for? Eat up! Kaz: Uhh… BB: [He swallows yet another one.] Mmm… Tasty! Kaz: You… eat the guts too? BB: These tender bits are extra delicious. Kaz: The parasites? BB: Just gotta chew well to kill ‘em. Kaz: [Kaz gapes. BB eats another fish.] Hold it!! BB: Hm? Kaz: E-enough already. BB: [With a full mouth.] Okay. So? Kaz: So what? BB: You’re giving up and joining my unit? Kaz: …No, I’m just getting started… Okay, next is… BB: There’s more? Kaz: You better believe it. BB: So what now? Judo? A noodle-eating contest? Kaz: You’ve heard about those…? No, not this time. Shooting – speed shooting! BB: Keep your voice down. Kaz: We take turns. Six targets each. Whoever shoots them the fastest wins. BB: All right. But it’s nearly sundown. And if bandits hear our gunfire, we’ll have them to deal with. This is the last event. Kaz: Agreed. And if I lose this time, I promise I’ll join your unit. BB: I’m holding you to that. I’ll take somebody’s 1911. Soldier: Stand by! [BB shoots six times.] 2.62 seconds. Kaz: Not bad. BB: [Sighs.] You’re up. Kaz: That I am. Only my target is… You, Snake. [Soldiers move out of their covers.] Soldier: We’re surrounded… Kaz: Hey! Kept you waiting, huh? You guys can finally show yourselves. BB: So that shout was their cue? Who are they? Don’t look much like bandits to me. Kaz: These are my most trusted men. BB: They were already here. That’s why you insisted on this place. Kaz: That’s about right. BB: And the “contest”? Just buying time till the sun went down? Kaz: [Laughs.] …It has been fun. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to be your lapdog. BB: Lapdog? All I did was ask you to join me. Kaz: Sounds the same to me. Remember what I said? I’m not in this for the money. BB: Yeah. So why is it? Kaz: I have a dream. BB: You have a dream? Taking cues from Dr. King? Kaz: Not that kind of dream. But I will change the world. It’s the dawn of a new era, and I will create just the business it needs. BB: How did I ever talk down to a businessman like you? Kaz: The days of the Cold War are numbered. What will follow is a time of chaos, with no clear cut line between friend and foe. I will offer this world personnel, supplies, maintenance, intelligence… Whatever military muscle it needs, where it’s needed. Irrespective of ideologies, isms, or borders. Privatized militaries will shape world affairs and the economy, and I will be point man for this new age. BB: Mercenaries are news to nobody. Kaz: This is a whole new ball game. I guess I can’t convince you right away. BB: Save your breath. Kaz: What do you say? You want to come work for me? Along with them. BB: These guerrillas? Kaz: Yeah. They were the cream of the crop when I was a drill sergeant. I trust them more than anyone, which is why they’ll have a piece of the ground floor. Why don’t you join us? BB: Sorry to disappoint you. Kaz: So the negotiations are over? Too bad. BB: You gonna shoot me? Kaz: I don’t want to kill you. I just want to get away. [BB charges.] Stay back… [Kaz is field-stripped by BB.] Dammit! My gun! The, the slide’s gone?! BB: You mean this? Kaz: When did you – ! …All of you, grab him, now! BB: Do it. Kaz: [Kaz struggles as he is being grabbed.] Ah – hey, hey, what are you – Not me, get Snake! Let me go! Soldier: Sorry, Master Miller. Kaz: What…? BB: [Laughs heartily.] It was Miel. Kaz: Hm? BB: Miel. The guy you gave that letter to while you were recovering. Kaz: How did you – ? BB: He showed it to me the minute after you gave it to him. Kaz: …That huckster works for you too? BB: So I paid visits to the guys in the letter, and they said they wanted to join me. Kaz: You betrayed me?! BB: They just made a decision. Right? Group of soldiers: Right, Boss. BB: Even then, you thought I’d only have one man watching you? You’ve got a lot to learn about intelligence work. Kaz: I don’t have any ninja in my family tree. BB: But you’ve got an eye for talent, I’ll give you that. They’re all great soldiers. And they saw right through that story about you being a government agent. Kaz: How did you convince them? BB: We just sat down and talked man to man. So, you gonna admit defeat for real this time? Kaz: I get it… Charisma’s what makes the difference. Soldier: Here, get up. Kaz: [Kaz hits the soldier.] Outta my way! [He runs away.] I’ll survive on my own if I have to! Soldier: Stop! We’ll shoot! BB: Hold fire. Soldier: He made off with a spear. BB: Yeah. He’s headed into bad ground. Soldier: The bandits? BB: It’ll be dark soon. You guys wait here. [BB runs after Kaz.] Soldier: Boss! Be careful. ========== CHAPTER 5 ========== [Kaz breaks down, out of breath.] BB: Come on, give it up! [Kaz charges at BB, fails.] Get up! Come at me again! What’s the matter? Take a swing! Kaz: Damn you! BB: You’re wide open! [Kaz swings, fails.] Just like that “scheme” of yours! Kaz: Go to hell! BB: There you go! Stab me! Come on and stab me! Drive it right into my heart! [Kaz swings.] Useless! Your arm is shaking! [BB throws him down, and catches Kaz in a chokehold.] Kaz: …Lemme go… You’re breaking my neck… BB: Now, are you going to join me? Or you want to do your hara-kiri for real this time? I’ll even be your kaishaku. [He tightens his grip.] Or should I end it here, with my arm? Time to make your choice. Kaz: All right. All right, lemme go… [He is released, gasps frantically for air.] Just can’t get away from you… You’re not just a snake, you’re a constrictor. BB: You give up? Kaz: I’ve got nothing on you. You even took my own men from me… BB: So, you’re throwing in the towel? Kaz: No… I haven’t lost yet. BB: You what? Kaz: There’s one last thing that… hasn’t been settled. I haven’t lost yet. BB: You don’t still wanna – Kaz: But I will join you. Let’s work together. We’ll be business partners. BB: [Sighs.] I’m not interested in making money. Kaz: That’s not what I meant. They call us Japanese “economic animals.” Say we’re “obsessed with money.” But that’s not true. We don’t invest in something that doesn’t move us. I will provide a service that delivers on its promise. And I will be compensated appropriately. But my goal isn’t to make money. BB: So what do you want? Kaz: Recognition. To prove myself. I have a dream. You must have one too. BB: Mine is no dream. Kaz: I know that with you, I can make my dream come true. I’ve seen that now. BB: But… Kaz: I can handle the business end. We’re talking about a military without ideologies, without isms, or borders… [BB grunts.] Isn’t that what you want? Let’s build it together – a home for those who fight. The home you want. BB: An army without borders… Kaz: Yeah. BB: You know… Kaz: What? BB: I think I understand now how a foreigner with no connections or experience landed a job here as a drill sergeant. Kaz: Yeah? BB: And why it didn’t work out for you. Kaz: I was unlucky – I ended up against you. BB: Can you stand? Kaz: Help me up. Partners, Boss? BB: Call me “Snake.” Kaz: We’ll settle our contest some other time. BB: Fine by me. Kaz: Say… what’s your count with the ladies? BB: Huh? Kaz: How many women you been with? BB: Huh. You first. Kaz: [Shows a number with his fingers.] This many. Actually… this many. BB: Damn… Kaz: You? BB: Me? I’ve… [A sound.] Hm? Kaz: …Snake… BB: You noticed, huh? …We’re surrounded. Kaz: Guess we stumbled onto somebody’s turf. BB: Here they come. Two of ‘em. [Soldiers come charging.] Consecutive! C! Q! C! Kaz: Impressive, Snake. BB: They had weapons. Can you shoot? [He tosses Kaz a gun.] Kaz: This is ancient! BB: Better than nothing. Kaz: Nobody operates out here, not the government, not the rebels. BB: A no-man’s land. Except for the bandits. Kaz: Pretty much. BB: We gotta get back to the others. Kaz: After we get past these guys. BB: This is battle. Some things are unavoidable, but… don’t take a life if you don’t have to. Kaz: Got it. BB: Let’s see what you can do, partner. [Gunfire.] Kaz: Contact, 10 o’clock! LMG! [Gunfire.] Contact, front! SMG! Clear! Move! [More gunfire. PW Theme plays.]