Chapter 5: Beta

Snake: "What the hell! Do people ever knock anymore?"

Otacon: "Sorry."

Snake: "You said you found Metal Gear? Where?"

Otacon: "Alaska. Near ANWAR"

Snake: "How did you find it?"

Otacon: "It was by a complete accident, Mei Ling was looking at oil sites for it and saw a mysterious shape near an oil pump in Alaska."

Meryl: "Isn't it illegal to pump oil in a nature reserve?"

Snake: "Up until a few years ago when President Sears passed a bill to allow a few to be built so long as it did not disturb the migration route of the elk."

Otacon: "Right, anyways we were lucky we made that mistake but we may not get lucky again."

Snake: "We need to ask Viper about it, you know put a name with it. Jeez, had to be Alaska again. What is it with that place that just seems to draw Metal Gears to it."

Otacon: "We need to talk to Viper now." his face was set and stern.

Snake: "I'll call just a sec..." I ran to the kitchen and picked up the phone. I punched in the numbers hard and fast, my heart was racing. We were going to find out about the new Metal Gear. The line rang, after four pulses there was a click and I heard a familiar female voice

Rose: "Hello, sorry we couldn't make it to the phone but you can leave a message and your number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible" there was about six short beeps and then one long one.

Snake: "Cummon answer the phone it's important, Raiden... s*** guys he ain't answerin'" I hung up. I ran to get a par of pants on and shoes. "We're going to Raiden's" Meryl hopped up and slipped on her camouflage pants. "Not you Meryl."

Meryl: "Why? Why can't I come?" She tilted her head inquisitively.

Snake: "Viper may be up to something, it could be dangerous" that was the wrong thing to say

Meryl: "So! Do you think I'm not capable of handling myself? Do you think I'm weak because I'm a woman? Is that it mister?" she was in a torrent of anger

Snake: "Ok I'm sorry, you can come, just please be careful, I love you too much to..." Meryl cut me off

Meryl: "Alright, let's just go." she was still holetyed.

We were riding in my jeep, the only sounds were the jeep's engine and tires and the speeding of cars passing. No sirens, no radio, no talking. All was calm inside the car. But not all was calm in my head, it was racing with questions about whether or not Raiden was ok, why he wasn?t answering and where in Viper.

Meryl: "Snake, slowdown you'll miss his road"

We stopped in front of his apartment and dashed in. When we walked in the door we saw a war zone. The bookshelf was knocked over, most of the furniture was flipped, the aquarium was shattered and all the fish flopped around on the floor. And in the middle of it Raiden laid half conscious.

Snake: "Raiden!"

Meryl: "Oh my god!" me and Otacon ran to his aide and Meryl stayed back in shock.

Raiden: "Ugh... man am I glad to see you." he shook with pain trying to sit up

Snake: "Just stay down, what happened here?"

Raiden: "Viper. He ran off, I tried to stop him... he said something about Alaska and Beta Gear, does it mean anything to you?" I looked at Otacon meaningfully

Snake: "It is the new Metal Gear's name, we found it in ANWAR"

Raiden: "Ugh man... help me up let's go"

Snake: "No, you need to rest. Me and Otacon will handle it" I looked back at Otacon "Remember that I'm dead and buried?" I smiled, it took him a second but he smiled back.

Otacon: "Let's go dig you up!"