"Hey, Snake, watch this!"

Snake ducked as the Stinger missile went over his head and directly to the enemy Hind, destroying it in one shot. The VR system slowly disengaged itself and Snake found himself staring, unimpressed, at the little computer nerd.

"That's what you wanted me to see?"

"Isn't it cool? I destroyed it in one shot!"

"You destroyed a Hind with one Stinger missile on the easiest mode of this VR thing you've programmed?" Snake deadpanned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Well... but I hit it, didn't I?"

He had a point. Hal had never been able to hit anything before, so this was an improvement. Still, it wasn't much of one. "How many times did you play it with the exact same path before you managed this? Look, Hal, it doesn't work that way in real life."

"It's still a hit," protested Hal. "And you said that you'd consider it if I hit something."

Snake shook his head. "If I'm not around to protect you, skills like that would get you killed." He let out a short barking laugh. "How do you expect to run that kind of NGO without being able to protect yourself?"

Hal scowled, and it made his face look a little strange. "Mei Ling doesn't have to-"

"Mei Ling always worked deep inside headquarters, with a whole lot of soldiers between her and the enemy. She wasn't open to attack. And as part of the military, she still did field training. You actually want to come into a dangerous situation without any fighting skills whatsoever."

"So teach me, Snake! Teach me how to take care of myself. Half the metal gear out there is based off of my designs. I can't just sit back and do nothing!"

"Otacon," said Snake, using Hal's codename to let him know that Snake knew he was doing something. "You're doing this hacking work while I'm here. You're providing valuable support, sending in tips to local governments-"

"Who aren't doing anything! They don't have..."

An operative like Solid Snake? Snake gave Hal a cool gaze, daring him to finish the sentence. He'd already informed his friend that he wouldn't work with anyone he wasn't completely sure of in every way. Hal not only wanted to send Snake on missions, but he also wanted to go out on them himself. An computer nerd going out on missions? The closest Hal had gotten to killing people was in a computer game.

"They don't have the ability to do what you do. You won't go in without backup, and I don't blame you, but... Snake..." Snake gave Hal a measuring look. "You know you can't just ignore what's going on in the world."

Snake turned. "Sure I can."

"I've seen your face you know! When you look at those reports I send... I know you can't ignore it any more than I can. You... You look at each one as though it might be the place where your 'brothers' will be, ready to take over the free world."

Snake frowned. It was true that he was worried. There were more and more of these reports of metal gear. If the truth were to be told, sending out reports of nuclear weapons was just causing other governmental organizations to arm themselves more heavily.

But to go out there himself? He wasn't up for more killing. He didn't want to do it anymore. Hal didn't understand. He'd never killed anyone, at least, not directly. He'd never taken out an enemy tank, never felt that kill or be killed sense that was ever-present in real, live field work...

Maybe that was what Hal needed to understand. It might make him give up on this whole Philanthropy business. And if he still didn't give up, then Snake would reconsider it himself.

Some survival training might be just what Hal needed.

"All right Hal." Snake smirked. By the time he was through with Hal, the engineer wouldn't even think of sending someone out to do the dirty work of destroying other people's lives. "I'll teach you a few things. And then, I'll give you an exam."

Snake nodded. He already had a few ideas for this. Hal was going to remember the exam for the rest of his life.