'This is an alternate universe where the Venom Snake ruse never existed, instead a soldier named Howling Wolf watched over Big Boss during his 9 year coma and became Big Boss's most trusted soldier and took command of Diamond Dogs while Big Boss recovered and created the true Outer Heaven, his name is Howling Wolf and this is his story."

Chapter 1: It's been 9 years
The soldier looked on as he saw Big Boss wake up to "The Man Who Sold The World" he never seen Big Boss so weak but then again a nine year coma would do that even to the legend, his orders were to watch over Big Boss until he woke up he never knew it would be nine long years in a hospital in Cyprus.

He saw Big Boss turning towards him and even though he was covered by the curtian between the hospital beds but he jumped on to his bed to prevent Big Boss from seeing him and lucky enough Big Boss didnt catch his shadow, the soldier was wearing a patient robe and was wearing a bandage covering his entire face the nurses and doctors knew who he was but for safty procautions he needed to hide his face just incase his and Big Boss's enemies reconised him.

Pretty soon two nurses came in and the soldier motioned his hand to call over one of them and quietly ask them to place the white orchid on his desk and place them by Big Boss's bedside table, there was a chance Big Boss may not remember everything so the plan was to try and give something related to his past to help him remember.

The soldier listened as the music played and soon enough he heard Big Boss try to call out to the nurse and the nurse quickly ran to get the doctor knocking the radio over ending the music.

The soldier was ordered not to make contact with Big Boss unless his life was in danger they needed to bring Big Boss back as comfortable as they could so all he could do was wait and listen.

The Doctor began to talk to Big Boss "Please try to relax there is plenty of time, I need to tell you something please listen and try not to panic, you have been in a coma for quite sometime yes yes I know you would like to know how long".

The soldier held his breath as he waited for those words "I'm afraid its been nine years".

As soon as those words left the doctor's mouth Big Boss started to panic and the soldier could hear the monitor going off with Big Boss's raising heartbeat and all he could hear was the Doctor trying to calm him down as the Nurse injecting him and soon enough Big Boss returned to his slumber.

The soldier decided to get up and check on the situation.
"I guess he didnt take that well doctor?" The Soldier sighed.
The Doctor let the Nurse check on Big Boss as he left the bedside "It was unavoidable, even when we try to be calm our bodies can act beyond our will but we will monitor him as he recovers".

The doctor grabbed his folder and the soldier left the room and was heading to the reception.
"So tell me doc, whats his health like is there anything I should know?".

The Doctor pulled out a report and gave it to the soldier and spoke as he read it
"It would seem that he has suffered sever burns to the body but the trickiest part was to remove the shrapnel that was lodged in his body but lucky enough non of it hit any major organs as for his strength its gonna take some time for him to be able to move but we plan to get him moving soon".

The soldier nodded "Thanks Doc if I may can I use your phone in the office I need to make a call".
"Of course just head through to the reception I got to send these reports off I will be back shortly".

The Doctor went off and the soldier went into the reception and dialled a number and soon enough the other end of the line answered.
"This is Howling Wolf, Ahab has returned to us".

A week had past and Wolf kept out of sight while Big Boss was going through the recovery stage and soon enough he heard the Doctor and Nurse bickering and he could tell it wasn't good news and soon he heard the Doctor speak to Big Boss.

"It's true there are others out there who wish you hadn't woken up, your enemies are everywhere we must alter your appearance immediately otherwise you will never leave this place alive".

Wolf then heard a Helicopter over the hospital and went to the window and quickly he knew who it was.

Wolf gritted his teeth "Xof..." he then heard something and saw a armed woman strangling the nurse with wire and as much as he wanted to help he was in no position to attack, he had to wait for the perfect moment so he hide behind the bed curtain.

He waited and soon he heard the Doctor speak "This is you as you have lived till this day, tomorrow it becomes your phantom".

As soon as the Doctor finished his sentence the woman attacked wrapping the cable around his neck and Wolf could hear the doctor struggle but there was nothing he could do if he attacked he could be killed he just had to wait for an opening but his thoughts were cleared when he heard a few things being knocked over and he heard Big Boss fall to the ground and soon he heard the final breath of the Doctor before his neck snapped.

"I'm sorry Doc" Wolf whispered, It was silent but he waited and soon he heard footsteps knowing the woman was drawing near and then he heard her voice.

"Not yet the patient in the next bed saw my face...of course consider it done".

He heard the woman pulled out a knife and drew closer to Big Boss he just need her to get closer to him to spring the trap and then heard her stop and he realised she found a gun on the floor and heard her load it he made a move and saw her point the gun at Big Boss.

"Not on my watch bitch" Wolf jumped in the woman trying to get a neck lock in trying to pull her away from Big Boss but was met with a few elbows to his side and was suddenly thrown across the room landing next to Big Boss.

"Bitch is strong" Wolf grunted as he looked up at her and saw her taking out her knife and took a defensive stance and slowly approached him.
Wolf was unarmed so he had to think of something so he threw everything near him and soon he threw a bottle of liquid substance at her and she was soaked and before he could think of what to do next the woman flipped her knife and threw it right into Wolf's shoulder stopping him in his tracks.
Wolf then saw the woman approach Big Boss and she then picked him up and began to strangle him then threw him on the bed with her grip around his neck tighter.

Wolf then saw another bottle on the floor with was the same substance as the one he threw at her and he noticed something on the bottle, it was flammable.

Wolf got out a lighter and threw it at the woman and soon as it hit her she went up in flames moving away from Big Boss to the other side of the room trying to get rid of the flames and soon she fell to the floor and Wolf thought it was over but he saw her look at Big Boss and crawled to him still covered in flames.

"Determined I will give you that" Wolf pulled the knife out of his shoulder and threw it at the woman but she knocked the knife out of her path and stood up and Wolf saw his chance.

Wolf picked up the liquid substance and threw it at her and it smashed on her and the flames engulfed her entire body and he heard her screams of as she retreated and in her panic she ended up going through the window falling to her death.

Wolf went to confirm and soon enough he saw her lifeless body on the ground and the flames eating away at her. "Ok Ahab time to go".
Wolf went back to Big Boss and knelt beside him as he spoke.

"Wha-What happened to the woman?" Big Boss struggled to talk in his weak state.

"The woman? I gave her a light she took the short way down" Wolf responded.

"Who are you?"

Wolf was taken back by Big Boss's question but remembered his face was covered.

"Who am I..I...I've been watching over you for nine years you can call me Ishmael". Wolf assured Big Boss.

Big Boss struggled to speak "What the hell is going on..?"

Wolf looked around as he spoke "Well the good news your in the land of the living, Bad news the world wants you dead".

The building began to shake and Wolf knew XOF began their assault and he had to get Big Boss out.

"On your feet soldier the whole place is coming down". Wolf sat Big Boss up but he couldnt get up.

"Need a little pick me up? Alright" Wolf pulled out a syringe and jabbed it into Big Boss's arm which resulted in Big Boss grunting in pain.
Wolf chuckled "Nothing like a little Diagostion to get you back in the game".

Wolf helped Big Boss up but he ending up falling and Wolf had no choice but to scout ahead while the drug kicked in "Come on" Wolf waved Big Boss over to follow him.

Wolf leaned out the door and saw the coast was clear he then heard a crash in the room and saw Big Boss attempting to get up.

"Drug's not working" Wolf had to be patient and let the drug work if it was gonna take them thirty minutes or more he had to do endure it and soon enough Big Boss tried again but failed and Wolf commanded Big Boss. "We're getting out of here move it!".

Wolf then heard a helicopter down the hall and saw it was patrolling around the hospital and was too far away to spot them and as Big Boss got closer he moved out of the room to the direction board and looked at his options.

Wolf waved to Big Boss "Let's take the stairs". he then motioned forward to the reception area and waited for Big Boss to catch up and luckly he saw Big Boss moving quicker he began to move his legs as he crawled.

"Great work Boss keep it up" Wolf said to himself as he watched the area and soon enough Big Boss got to a water fountain and tried to stand up but he ending up falling again.

"This isn't going to work, we better take the elevator" Wolf made his way to the elevator with Big Boss following near him but Wolf stopped and knelt down and told Big Boss to stop and soon enough they saw a floating figure near the elevator.

"What the hell is that" Wolf tried to figure out what he was seeing but then the figure floated into the ceiling and the elevator arrived and Wolf saw flames come out of the elevator.

"Something's coming" Wolf prepared himself knowing what was in that elevator wasnt just a normal fire and soon enough both Wolf and Big Boss went flying from the explosion knocking them both back into the reception and Wolf saw he was on fire and tried to tap out the fire little did he know a giant figure engulfed in flames was approaching them.

The figure stood over them and looked like he was about to attack but the sprinklers above him went off and the figure grunted and vanished just as Wolf tapped out the flames on his body.

"Weakness to water huh, makes sense" Wolf got up and turned Big Boss on his side a they proceeded back down the hallway looking for another way out.

Wolf scouted ahead and looked back and saw Big Boss getting on his feet "Drugs kicked in?, good lets get moving".

The two soldiers reached a window and saw a helicopter approach and the two ducked behind cover under the window and for some reason Big Boss looked up to check who the enemy was but Wolf pulled him back down just in time to avoid the light and he then noticed Big Boss's arm was dislocated.

"Hold on lets fix this" Wolf grabbed Big Boss's arm and moved it around abit feeling out for the spot and in an instant he popped it back in resulting Big Boss grunting in pain and when he calmed down Wolf gave him some advice.

"Next time do it yourself, its always good to treat your wounds while hiding from the enemy" Wolf tapped his shoulder and saw two smoke grenades approach them and he motioned Big Boss in to the room next to them.

Once in the room Wolf ordered Big Boss to crawl on the ground and moved under the beds but came to a stop when they saw a soldier shooting a patient, there was nothing they could do but watch as the patient crawled away in pain and he came to a stop next to the bed they were under and the two watched as the soldier put a bullet through the patient's head and moved on to find any survivors unaware that Wolf and Big Boss were there.

Once the coast was clear the two moved out of the room to see a nurse and patient get gunned down by a helicopter and as soon as it was out of sight the two made their way down the corridor and saw the helicopter come round again.

"Stay out of the search lights!" Wolf moved behind cover avoiding the light and got to the end of the hall way and when the time was right he ordered Big Boss to move.

Big Boss got half way there and they saw a patient behind them get gunned down.
"MOVE!" Wolf shouted and Big Boss ran towards the exit and Wolf barricaded the door once he was through but it wasnt over the soldiers were cutting through the door and the two had to move quick.

The two went down a flight of stairs but Wolf stopped as he saw soldier's coming up the stairs "Shit! its ugly down there turn back!".

Big Boss and Wolf went back up and saw a group of patients behind a gate and the doctor at the gate called the two over and let them in, there was about twenty people there but Big Boss was the priority so Wolf moved through the crowd and saw a door on the right and went through and saw it was clear and suddenly he heard gunshots and realised the group of people were being gunned down and he returned just in time to pull Big Boss in the room.

"GET DOWN!" They both fell to the floor as the screams died down and the two were in trouble as two soldiers on the other side of the room entered so the two hid under two beds as the soldiers went into every bed and shot any patients there unaware of Wolf and Big Boss.

After the soldiers made their sweep they left the room and Wolf left his hiding spot and checked the door the soldiers went through and saw to soldiers behind the gate they came through and then he heard Big Boss come up behind him.

"We're sitting ducks here blend with the bodies get down on your stomach and crawl" Wolf ordered Big Boss and the two slowly crawled along the bodies until Wolf heard more soldiers approach and looked at Big Boss.

"You move we're done for, play dead". Wolf and Big Boss remained motionless as the soldiers checked the bodies, a few were shot but by luck the soldiers didn't shoot Wolf or Big Boss.

Wolf saw the soldiers were about to leave the area until one of them realised he was in a puddle of water and he turned around to investigate near Wolf but soon realised it was a water bag under Wolf but then Big Boss made a big mistake.

Wolf closed his eyes as soon as Big Boss moved "God damn it boss..." Wolf knew it was over and waited for the shot to go off but it never did, instead the floating figure and the Flaming Man appeared and saved the day but Wolf knew they wanted to kill Big Boss.

Wolf looked on as the Flaming Figure took round after round and he was shocked to see that he even took a rocket but soon realised he was feeding of the bullets and all of a sudden he unleashed all the bullets back at the soldiers sending them flying and Wolf knew they had to move so the two got up and headed back to the gate but it was locked and they were trapped.

Wolf saw a pistol on the floor and started shooting at the Flaming Figure and realised bullets do nothing but then saw the sprinkler system above the figure and shot it and pretty soon the figure vanished into air giving the two a moment to breath.

Wolf looked down at Big Boss's leg and saw a bullets was in his leg and brought Big Boss's attention to it.

"You better treat that injury I'll get the door" Wolf shot off the lock at Big Boss dug the bullet out and the two went across the room and Wolf shot the lock off another door and proceeded on until they came up to a soldier ready to shoot but Wolf pulled off a headshot before that could happen and the soldier fell dropping his gun.

Wolf and Big Boss approached the soldier and took his ammo and Wolf picked up the soldier's handgun and gave it to Big Boss and the two proceeded to the main entrance of the hospital.

They reached the balcony overlooking the entrance and saw five guards down below and Wolf had an idea it was risky but he believed Big Boss would be alright.

"I'll run interference". Wolf took the silencer off his pistol and threw it at the solders and ran down the stairs shooting and jumped of the side of the stairs right behind cover and moved quickly behind a pillar out of the soldier's sight giving Big Boss a chance to take him out and on point Big Boss delivered a headshot.

Wolf chuckled "You're pretty good" he then made his way around the room while Big Boss kept that last few soldiers busy until he reached the exit in hopes to find a vehicle to get out of the hell and as soon as he got outside he heard the gunfire stop and looked into the window and saw Big Boss looking over the dead soldier.

"Welcome back Boss" Wolf smiled as he went towards an ambulance and lucky enough it was open and began to hotwire the ambulance and then he saw a phone and quickly made a call.

"This is Wolf we need you here asap XOF is attacking us and we just made it outside we will meet you just by the underpass!".

Wolf then began to hot wire the ambulance but then heard an explosion and needed to move fast and in a few moments the engine started and he put down the throttle and soon enough he pulled around the corner and saw the flaming figure looking down at Big Boss.

"Just fucking die already!" Wolf slammed into the figure at full speed and crushing him into the wall of the hospital and then reversed to return to Big Boss and opened up the passenger door and called to him.

"GET IN!" Big Boss wasted no time and got in and the two raced off from the hospital avoiding two fire engines and an ambulance but it wasn't the biggest problem cause soon enough the fire engine was sent flying to Wolf and Big Boss thanks to the flaming figure but Wolf managed to avoid everything that was thrown at them and pretty soon they came to a tunnel but a chopper came into view and fired at the but ended up missing them.

The rockets from the helicopter hit the top of the tunnel and it began to collapse but Wolf and Big Boss made it out in time and just had to keep driving and avoid the helicopter but another problem appeared and it turns out XOF set up a barricade and opened fire at them and the ambulance spun out of control and hit the barricade and it went flying through the air killing the XOF soldiers and as the ambulance rolled to a stop Big Boss and Wolf were knocked out

Wolf woke up and saw Big Boss crawling out of the wreck and so he unbuckled his seat belt and followed him out and soon he saw Big Boss look up at the floating figure and he looked towards the helicopter but what he saw next was something that was impossible, he saw a huge whale in flames appear in the sky and consumed the helicopter sending it crashing to the ground and Wolf and Big Boss got up and ran but was cut of by a man on a motorbike and a man riding a horse.

"Got on! I'm on your side!" the man on the horse offered his hand to Big Boss and Wolf pushed him towards the man.

"He's with us Boss go I will catch up with you!" Wolf helped the man get Big Boss on the horse and the two took off and Wolf jumped on the back of the motorbike.

"Step on it!" The driver took off at full speed as they were chased by two XOF jeeps.
Wolf took out a submachine gun from the drivers holster and began shooting back at the jeeps, bullets were being traded back and forth but no bullets hit and soon enough Wolf ordered the driver to go through the woods and soon enough the jeeps broke off persuit unable to follow and Wolf and the driver headed towards the docks and after a few minutes of waiting they met up with Big Boss and he and the man got off the horse.

"Great work Wolf you have done us proud" The man offered his hand and the two shook hands.

"Thank you Ocelot I didn't expect XOF to find us though".

Ocelot shook his head "It was going to happen sooner or later but the important thing is the Boss is safe".

Wolf looked over to Big Boss "Are you alright Boss?"

Big Boss was still trying to process thing but responded "Yeah I'm great, listen thank you for getting me out of there Ishmael".

Wolf chuckled "Actually sir my name is Howling Wolf I used the name Ishmael and Ahab for you to shield us from our enemies for the time being it bought us some time but not as much as I hoped".

Big Boss frowned "Howling Wolf? wait...I remember you now, you were one of my first recruits of MSF".

Wolf nodded "That's right sir you recruited me after you found me as a POW and I've served you ever since".

Big Boss placed his hand on Wolf's shoulder "Thank you my friend you were always the best we had".

Ocelot chucked "We can catch up later but right now we have to head to Afghanistan".
Wolf looked at Ocelot "Afghanistan?".

Ocelot shook his head at Wolf "Not you Wolf I want you to head back to base and prepare for Big Boss's arrival, the Boss is going to rescue Miller we need Big Boss in fighting shape and this should be the perfect warm up, we are heading there right now so once we depart from the ship there will be a chopper waiting to take you back".

Wolf nodded "Understood Ocelot".

Ocelot looked towards Big Boss "Well lets get going Miller isn't going to rescue himself its time to take back what was taken from us nine years ago, don't take too long getting used to yourself again".

"Man that was a long chapter just like the freaking prologue lol hope you enjoyed my first chapter and many more get ready for chapter 2 :)"