Chapter 7

Solid Snake

"The ArmsTech President is dead, just like the DARPA chief," Snake told Campbell.

"No…What is going on here?"

"I don't know, I thought you would. Baker told me about this woman who was captured. Colonel, is your niece here?"

"Y…yes." Colonel Campbell hesitated.

"Well, what's her frequency? I need to talk to her. Baker gave her the card keys."

"He did, did he? Well, you can talk to her at 140.15. She's used that frequency since she was a kid. She probably still uses that one. If not, then it's one close to it."

"Okay…Thanks." Snake turned off the codec. Well, I better contact her. Snake dialed 140.15. The Colonel's niece answered.

"Who are you?"

"I was really impressed with the way you busted yourself out of there."

"The one from the prison…?"

"You're the Colonel's niece, Meryl, right?"

"…No, it's not him… Just exactly who are you?"

"I'm the fool that your uncle sent all alone into the middle of this whole mess."

"You came by yourself? You think you're some kind of one-man army?"

"I don't need lectures. You're just like your uncle, ya know."

"How do you know my uncle?"

"We go way back. Almost 20 years."

"What's your name?"

"My name's not important."

"Aha! Could you be Snake? Are you Solid Snake?"

"That's what some people called me."

"The legendary Solid Snake…! You? Sorry about before… I wasn't sure if you were one of the good guys."

"But I knew you were."

"How?"

"It's your eyes."

"My eyes?"

"They're not soldier's eyes."

"They're rookie's eyes, right?"

"No. They're beautiful, compassionate eyes."

"Just what I'd expect from the legendary Solid Snake." Why does everybody keep saying that? Am I that predictable? "You trying to sweep me off my feet?"

"Don't worry. You'll land back on them once you meet me. The reality is no match for the legend, I'm afraid."

"Somehow I don't believe that."

"Why did you look so surprised when you saw my face?"

"Because you look just like him."

"…You mean the terrorists' leader, Liquid Snake?"

"Yeah, you know him? You're not brothers, are you?"

"I have no family."

"So, what's the deal then?"

"Who knows? Why don't you ask him? But first I want some information. You were involved in this exercise from the beginning. What exactly happened here?"

"I'm sorry. I was captured along with President Baker right after the terrorist attack."

"That's okay. But what is this place? I don't think it's just a nuclear weapons disposal facility…"

"Boy oh boy…It's just like them! Nobody's told you anything, did they? Okay…you see, this place isn't really for disposing nuclear weapons. This base is owned and operated by a dummy corporation of ArmsTech."

"This is a civilian base?"

"Right. For the development of Metal Gear."

"Colonel!"

"FOX-HOUND and the Next-Generation Special Forces were called here for the test launching of a dummy nuclear warhead."

"Why FOX-HOUND?"

"Because they're a Special Ops group used to handling top secret missions. They figured they could help keep it all hush-hush."

"But we must have fired nuclear warheads before. Why just this time?"

"I heard it was because this was to be a final test before the formal adoption of the Metal Gear program…that's what I heard anyway."

"Hmmm…sounds kinda fishy…So what do you think the terrorists want?"

"Sorry, I'm not sure…I was captured with President Baker right after the revolt started…"

"Oh yeah. That's when he gave you detonation code override keys, right?"

"That's right."

"Amazing you were able to keep 'em hidden from the guards."

"Well…women have more hiding places than men. Anyway, you met Baker, huh? How's he holding up?"

"…He's dead."

"What?"

"Heart attack. Same as the DARPA chief…"

"The Chief died from a heart attack too…?"

"Yeah…Was either of them sick or anything?"

"No…not that I heard of."

"Well I don't believe in coincidences. Something funny's going on."

"Hmmm…Sounds like it. But I have no idea what."

"Me neither…yet. Do you know the person who designed Metal Gear?"

"You mean Dr. Emmerich?"

"Yes. Is he still alive?"

"Probably. He should be in the research lab in the 2nd floor basement of the Nuclear Warhead Storage Building to the north."

"2nd floor basement?"

"Yeah, that's where his lab is. I think they're forcing him to work on the nuclear launching program."

"So they'll need him alive until that's done anyway…"

"Then we'd better do something before he finishes."

"You're right. In case we can't override the detonation code in time, I need to ask him how to destroy Metal Gear."

"You plan to take that thing on by yourself, Snake?"

"It won't be the first time…What's the best way to the building where the Doctor is being held?"

"There's a cargo door on the 1st floor of this building that leads to the north."

"What's the security level of the door there?"

"Five, but it's okay…I've got a level five card."

"Well…I've got to go save the Doctor. You should go…"

"I'm going with you!"

"Hell, no you're not. You're still too green. I want you to hide somewhere."

"I'm not green."

"Oh, yes you are. You pause for just one second in front of your enemy and it's all over! Good luck doesn't last forever!"

"I don't know what happened. I just couldn't pull the trigger right away. I never had any problems in training…But when I thought about my bullets tearing through those soldiers' bodies, I hesitated…"

"Shooting at targets and shooting at living, breathing people are different."

"Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of being a soldier…Every day of my life, I've trained my mind and body for the one day when I could finally see some real action, and now…"

"So what now? You wanna quit?"

"I can't quit. I can't allow myself to quit now."

"Listen, Meryl. Everybody feels sick the first time they kill someone. Unfortunately, killing is one of those things that gets easier the more you do it. In a war, all of mankind's worst emotions…worst traits come out. It's easy to forget what a sin is in the middle of a battlefield."

"But this isn't a war. It's a terrorist action."

"You're just a little jumpy from the combat high. The adrenaline in your blood stream is starting to thin out. Just take it easy."

"But I learned all about combat high at the academy…"

"We'll talk about it later. For now, just think about keeping yourself alive."

"If I get out of here alive, I'll think about that other stuff."

"Okay, let me say this another way…Stay the hell outta my way."

"You're a real bastard…just like my uncle said."

"Ha ha. I told you. The real me is no match for the legend."

"It looks like you were right. Okay Snake. I'll be a good girl."

"We'll link up after I grab the Doctor. Then we'll take care of the detonation code override."

"Got ya. But listen, I know this area better than you. Call me if you have any questions."

"Be careful, okay?"

"After I open the cargo door, I'll contact you."

The codec clicks off. Snake gets an unexpected call…What the hell…Can't be her already…

MantaRay

Manta was still waiting under the tanker. Every once in a while, she would shoot passers-by, just for the fun of it. Not, kill them, just shoot them in the foot. They would fall and Manta would drag them under the tanker with her. She knocked them out then searched them for items and rations.

After she's done searching them, she would hide them under the adjacent tanker. The stupid guards'll never catch on.

After about an hour had passed by, Manta got really bored with the shoot-and-hide-the-guard game. She turned her codec on and tried random frequencies. First, she got Campbell.

"What's going on, Manta?"

"Oh, nothing…just accidentally dialed your frequency."

"You're not randomly dialing are you?"

"Nnn…Yeee…kinda…"

Campbell sighed, "Manta, that's the first thing I told you before you started this mission. Don't do that! You could be noticed! Don't you ever pay attention?"

"Huh, what did you say?"

"Why did I ever agree to send you on this mission?"

"'Cause you love me, Roy…"

"Hey, just because you're the daughter of my best friend…that doesn't actually mean anything…"

"Whatever, Roy."

"Manta, no more random dials, promise?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure." Manta clicked off the codec. "Not!" She continued her random search. On one of the frequencies she got an answer. It was Snake.

"Who the hell is this?"

"AAAhhhh!" Manta yelled and clicked off her codec quickly. Damn, now he's sure to know I'm here. Manta heard a noise and noticed that the cargo door in front of her had opened. She headed for it.

Solid Snake

Snake answered the call. "Who the hell is this?"

"AAAhhhh!" The person yelled. It sounded like a girl's high-pitched scream. The codec clicked off.

Huh? That's really weird. The codec beeped again. "What the hell do you want?"

"Geez, Snake. Don't kill me!" It was Meryl.

"Oh, sorry. There's this person who called my frequency and screamed like a little girl. I just thought you were him…or her.

"Nah, sorry. Anyway, the door is opened."

"Thanks, where are you?"

"Where-I-can-see-ya."

"Don't move around too much."

"Don't worry. I'm disguised in this enemy uniform."

"You won't be for long with the way you walk."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh…nothing."

"Listen Snake, the cargo door is like an airlock. It's equipped with infrared sensors. Be careful. If an intruder is sensed, gas is released."

"Gas…"

"Okay, so we'll meet at the nuclear warhead storage building."

"Wait! You said you'd stay put and be a good girl!"

"I changed my mind."

"Don't get careless. That's when things always turn sour."

"Sorry, but this is the only way I can figure out whether or not I'm cut out to be a soldier. I gotta get my hands dirty."

"These guys are professionals. You're gonna get yourself killed."

"See ya there." Meryl cuts off the codec and ends the conversation.

MantaRay

Manta saw the cargo door open. She crawled out from under the tanker and stretched. She looked around to see if she could see any guards. She didn't so she started for the door. She heard footsteps and didn't bother turning to look, she just ran. Before she knew it, she ran into something hard and hit the floor.

That something happened to be another person who was also on the floor. Dammit, I'm seen. She started to run but that someone jumped for her and grabbed her by the waist. She turned around to see that it was Snake. Oh, God. I'm in trouble.

"Riki!" Snake yelled, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Chapter 8

MantaRay and Solid Snake

"Riki!" Snake yelled, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Well, umm…Roy sent me…"

"This is a dangerous place!"

"Hey, I'm a big girl, I can handle it!"

"Really? Did you know that the cargo door you almost ran in to had infrared sensors? Huh? Gas would have filled the place!"

"No, I didn't know, okay?"

"You could have been killed!"

"So? Why do you care?"

"Why? Because you're like a little sister to me."

"Well, how come you haven't called me or came to see me in ten years? Huh? Did you ever really care for me?"

"Look, I'm sorry. But now is not the time for this. We gotta go find Dr. Hal Emmerich."

"Okay, for the mission, I'll put off the scolding. But I'm still mad at you." Riki gave Snake an evil-but-funny look.

"Ha. I'll call Campbell. Hang on."

"I'm listening in."

"I can't stop you." Snake shrugged his shoulders. "Campbell!"

"What's wrong Snake?"

"I wanna know what the hell is up with sending Riki here!"

"Well…it was part of the mission."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We didn't want you to be distracted."

"Right. So, is the fact that Metal Gear could destroy the world too distracting? I think I can handle a couple of girls. They're both green, but I think we'll live."

"Couple of girls?" Riki interrupted. "Do I have a twin? God, Roy, you really don't tell anything."

"No, Riki," Campbell sighed again. "Meryl is there."

"Oh," Riki sighed in disgust. They had hated each other since elementary school. "Great."

"Well," Snake said. "We're gonna go find Emmerich."

"Hurry."

Both Riki and Snake made it through the cargo door without getting gassed. Snake walked up the door on the other side of the sensors and opened it with the Level 2 card, since Riki didn't have one. Snake got a call.

"Snake, be careful." It was Meryl.

"Hey, we already made it through. Don't worry."
"We? Oh, that's right. Who's the chick?"

Grr…. Manta really disliked her.

"Oh. Riki Mayeson. Know her?"

"Yeah. I know her."

"Talk to ya later."

"Mm-hmm."

"Now," Snake said. "On to the Nuclear Warhead Disposal Facility."

"Right."

The cargo door opened slowly and the two of them went through it. It was cold on the other side, an open area filled with snow. Riki immediately started shivering. Snake was used to the cold.

Snake got another unexpected call. This time from the frequency 140.48. Who the…?

"Snake, be careful." The burst transmission wasn't working, so Snake could not see who was calling. "There are Claymore mines around there. Use a Mine Detector or something."

"Who are you?" Snake asked.

"Just call me 'Deepthroat'."

"Deepthroat? The information from the Watergate scandal?"

"Never mind about that."

"Are you nearby?"

"Listen. There's a tank in front of your position waiting to ambush you."

"Who are you anyway?"

"One of your fans." The codec clicks off.

"What's up? Who was that?" Manta asked Snake.

"Don't know. Come on." They ran in to the middle of the open area and the tank appeared. "Riki, hide!"

"No! I want to help!"

"Not this time, now hide!"

"Dammit!" Riki ran behind Snake and jumped in behind a rock. It was about the size of a small car, so she wouldn't have any problem keeping hidden.

The tank rolled up to Snake. He could hear someone speaking from the speakers on the inside. "This is Raven's territory." Raven? A man with a raven tattoo on his forehead popped out of the top of the tanker. "Snakes don't belong in Alaska. I will not let you pass." The man looked down inside the tanker, apparently talking to one of the guards. "Send him a message." The tanker's main gun shot out a burst of light and a missile right toward Snake. He rolled out of the way. Riki whimpered, Oh, God.

"Ha ha ha ha ha…That's right…You belong on the ground. You should crawl on the ground like the snake you are!" The man sank back down into the tanker. "Come…let's fight!"

Snake saw some grenades on the other side of the open area. He ran for them and the tanker shot at him. It shot little bullets at him. He jumped at the grenades and pulled the pin on one of them. He threw it at the top of the tanker. It exploded, but seemed to have little effect.

Riki saw what Snake was doing. She had some grenades on her from the guards she had killed earlier. She waited for the tanker to come closer to her before she threw any grenades. When then tanker got close enough, she pulled a pin and threw it. The grenade went off right on top of the lid were the man came out of. The tanker began to slow down a little.

Snake noticed Riki's little escapade. He sighed, Oh, well, she better not get hurt. They both threw grenades at the tanker for quite a while. It slowed down, but seemed like it wouldn't give up.

Snake didn't see the tanker's main gun aimed at him. When he turned around, he had no time left to move. The tanker shook violently and began to explode. Snake was startled. He ran to the rock where Riki was hiding.

The tanker made a huge explosion and the guard from the inside flew out. He landed in front of Snake and Riki. Dang… Snake went to the guard and searched him. He found another PAN card. This is useful…

Snake heard the man called Raven talking to someone on the inside of the tank. "Well, Boss, I hope you are happy. He got the card." With the sound of the "Boss's" voice, Snake could tell they were talking over radio.

"…We'll play with him a little longer…"

"You would be wise not to underestimate him."

"What did you think of him?"

"He is just as you said. In battle, he is as if possessed by a demon. Much like you. I would expect no less."

"You see? I told you so. But I will kill him." It was a different voice this time.

"So, General Ivan. I hear he took your hand as well as your dignity?"

"Watch your tongue, Shaman!"

"In the language of the Sioux people, 'Sioux' means snake. It is known as an animal to be feared."

"Well, Snake is mine now…When I meet him next, I'll take special care of him."

"Not yet," the first voice said. "Don't kill him just yet."

"He and I will meet again in battle," Raven spoke this time.

"Same prediction as always?" said the second voice.

"Yes. The raven on my head…It thirsts for his blood."

The tanker left and Snake and Riki head for the next building.

Chapter 9

MantaRay and Solid Snake

Before they could even get started, Colonel Campbell called both Manta and Snake.

"Be careful, you two. You absolutely must not use weapons in that area."

Naomi interrupted, "I've already programmed their nanomachines so that they won't be able too, Colonel."

"What?" Manta asked.

"What are you talking about?" Snake said.

"Have you both forgotten? That's where they keep the nuclear warheads."

Manta slightly crawled under the small opening of the cargo door. "Hey, I see lots of boxes all piled up. Are they all warheads?"

"Yes," Campbell said. "They're all dismantled."

Manta asked, "Do they just leave them here?"

"Yeah," Snake told her. "It's like Baker said…totally careless."

"They're working on a limited budget. They try to put on a pretty face for the media, but this is the grim reality of it."

"All of the warheads in those boxes have had their detonation mechanisms removed so there's no fear of them exploding," Naomi told them. "But if the warheads are broken, they might leak plutonium and that would be a serious problem."

"Snake, Manta," Campbell stated, "never use any weapon on that floor." The codec clicked off.

Before entering the Nuclear Warhead Storage Building Snake told Manta not to speak for a while because there was a lot more guards there than before.

"So, I'm to use hand signals, right, Dave?"

"Yeah." Snake did a double take, "Dave? God, It's been years since anyone has called me that."

"Sorry, Snake. So…lead on." Manta really missed being a kid hanging with Snake, or Dave, as he was referred to then.

"Hey," Snake said. "What's your frequency? Ya know, in case we need it."

"Oh. Um…" Manta had almost forgot, since she herself never used it. "141.88."

"Hmm…odd number. Any significance?"

"Actually, it's even."

"What?" Snake looked confused.

"141.88. It's an even number."

"Oh." Snake felt really stupid.

"Nope…No significance. That's just what they gave me."

Snake led and Manta followed close behind. Snake would go a few steps than wave her forward, noting the close was clear. They went around a corner and up some stairs. There was a guard right in front of them. Snake tapped his ear telling Manta to go to codec.

"What? Why are you calling me?"

"Well, just a good chance to see if I had the right numbers programmed."

"Ugh…men."

"Hey, we're not all bad. Anyway, there is a guard up there." Snake pointed to the top of the stairs. "You wanna take him or just sneak passed?"

"Do I ever! Of course I'll take him. I love takin' people."

"Hey, just remember, don't let him or anyone else see you. We can't have any weapons going off. Okay?"

"Right…We don't need that plutonium to leak, now do we?" They both laughed a little. "Move over."

Snake was right in her way. He scooted over a little and she reached the top of the stairs. Manta snuck up behind the guard. She did her favorite, snapped his neck and took his gun. "A little morbid, aren't we?" Snake mouthed.

She just smiled. Manta waved Snake on and went toward the elevator nearby. She pressed the activation button and the doors opened. They got in and Snake pressed B1. The elevator immediately started down a floor.

The door opens and they head for the door in front of them. This room has three rooms on both sides and they all have different Level numbers on them. They head for the second door on the left. It's the only one that will open. Inside, they find a Nikita Launcher and missiles. Snake gives Riki half of the missiles and they head back to the elevator.

Riki noticed a guard on the radar. He was in the bathroom. "Wait a minute," she said to Snake.

"What's up?"

"Just…wait…okay?"

Snake nodded and Riki walked into the guy's bathroom. She walked up behind the guard. He was standing in front of the toilet urinating. Riki held her gun up to his back. "Don't move a muscle," she told him.

The guard just nodded. Riki pushed the gun hard into his back. "I told you not to move!" The guard didn't respond. Riki felt his pockets to see if he had anything useful. She felt some grenades. The guard started to turn around. Riki shot her gun and the bullet hit the guard in the side of the neck. The guard hit the ground with a thud.

"I told you…" Riki mumbled. She grabbed the grenades and hid the guard in the last stall. As she was turning around to walk away, she noticed something glittering. She leaned down to pick it up. It was a card key. Funny…it looks odd. I've never seen a key like this before. She put it in her pocket for future reference. She walked out of the bathroom door to see Snake standing in front of her with his arms crossed.

"What?" she asked.

"We don't have time for this…we need to find Dr. Emmerich."

"Okay, no more play breaks."

"Seriously. You don't need to kill who we can avoid."

"Fine."

They walked back to the elevator and Riki pressed the B2 button. The elevator shook and they exited on the second basement floor.

"Whoa, an air lock?" Riki said, a little surprised.

"Apparently. Stay back for just a second."

"Okay."

Snake walked into the air lock and through the other door. He immediately got a call. It was from 140.48 again. Deepthroat?

"Snake, watch out! That place is filled with gas."

"Thanks, but I sorta noticed when I ran into the airlock."

"Also, the floor is electrified."

"Kinda noticed that too. The crackling gave it away."

"Hey, I'm just trying to help."

"Why?"

"Destroy the high-voltage switch before walking onto the floor."

"Hey, why? Why help me?"

"It's the switchboard on the northwest wall."

"Hey-"

The codec clicked off before Snake could finish.

"You dummy…" Riki said. She had walked in the room while Snake was talking to Deepthroat. "Why do you even ask?"

"But, who is he?"

"Who cares? He's helping, isn't he? Why worry?"

"Many reasons, okay? Enough with the questions. We got to rescue the Doctor.

"Can I fire the Nikita?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to."

"So. So do I."

"I guess. But only once."

"Yes!"

"If you miss, you owe me a missile."

"Jerk."

They both smiled at each other. Riki took the Nikita and fired. The missile launched and she controlled it with ease. She had only once before fired a Nikita but she was a natural. Before the missile exploded by itself, she had made it collide with the switchboard. The electric floor exploded and became electric-less.

"Good job," Snake said.

Riki looked at him with a smirk. You'll owe me a missile. Right…

They both headed back out of the door for a few seconds to recover from the loss of oxygen then decided to head the opposite way of the switchboard. They snuck passed a gun camera and went into the nearest door.

Before exiting the new airlock, they heard some strange noises, like people getting beat up. What the… Both Snake and Riki looked at each other. Eyes wide. They pulled themselves together and braced for the worst.

They went through the Level 3 door and it shut behind them. What they saw was a complete massacre. "Oh my God…" Riki said on the verge of losing the little amount of lunch she had eaten earlier. There were about five guards on the ground.

"They look like they've been cut with some type of blade," Snake said, very sure he was correct and starting to worry about it.

Blood was everywhere and so were the bullet holes. Snake started to walk forward but a man stumbled in front of him from the turn in the walkway ahead.

"It's…it's a ghost!…" The man groaned and fell to the ground, also cut with the blade.

"God, it's awful…" Riki lurched.

"Yeah…Come on. Stay behind me."

"Uh…huh."

I've never seen her like this…

As they turned the corner, they saw the culprit. Or should I say, didn't see. It was the ninja in the stealth camouflage. He had one of the guards hanging in the air impaled by his blade. The ninja threw the man down onto the ground and turned off his camouflage. He walked through the door in front of him. The door crackled with electricity. He's obviously broken it, Snake thought.

"Come on…We need to follow him," Snake said.

"Okay…" Riki reluctantly followed him into the same room that the ninja entered.

The first thing Snake saw was a man in a white overcoat crawling on the ground, apparently away from something. Looks like ninja-man turned his camo back on. 'Mr. White Overcoat' was backed into a corner and wet himself. He was visibly shaking from fear. "Stealth camouflage? Who are you?" 'Mr. White Overcoat' asked.

"Where is my friend?" the ninja asked.

"What…what are you talking about?" 'Mr. White Overcoat' looked away from the ninja and noticed Snake and Riki. "What next?"

The ninja turned his head to see behind him. He saw Snake and Riki. "Snake!" he said. "And a friend?"

"You're that ninja…" Snake stated.

"What? You know that thing?" Riki asked.

"Oh, a run-in…that's all."

"I've been waiting for you, Snake."

"Who are you?"

"Neither enemy nor friend. I am back from a world where such words are meaningless…I've removed all obstacles. Now you and I will battle to the death."

"What do you want?"

"I've waited a long time for this day. Now I want to enjoy the moment."

"What…what's with these guys?" 'Mr. White Overcoat' asked. "It's like one of my animes…"

"I've come from another world to do battle with you." The ninja was getting ready to beat Snake.

"What is it? Revenge?"

"No…it's nothing as trivial as revenge. A fight to the death with you. Only in that can my soul find respite. I will kill you or you will kill me. It makes no difference."

And with that, 'Mr. White Overcoat' ran and hid in the locker next to him.

"That's a good idea," Riki muttered and ran to the same locker. She thought it was two, but it wasn't. It had two doors, but was one locker. She got in and shut the door. She turned around and saw 'Mr. White Overcoat'. "AAAhhhh!" they both screamed.

"Shh…" Riki said. Let's be quiet and listen. The man nodded.

Riki and 'Mr. White Overcoat'

Snake and the ninja were still conversing on the subject of their lives. "Now," the ninja said, "make me feel it! Make me feel alive again!" Alive again? What in the crap? Riki was thoroughly confused. Riki saw the ninja advance on Snake. They fought for a long time. For most of the battle, Riki couldn't see them. She could only hear the punches and the gunshots.

"Hey," Riki whispered to the whimpering man. He was sitting on the floor of the locker with his knees up to his chest, his arms on his knees and his head in his arms. "Hey, it's okay. They're not going to bother us."

"Why are they fighting?" he asked.

"Honestly, I don't know." Riki shrugged her shoulders. "Who are you anyway?"

"I'm Emmerich."

"Oh, thank God. We found you."

"You guys were looking for me?"

"Yeah, we were sent to save your hopefully not worthless butt."

"Gee…thanks." The man stood up. When he did, it squeezed them both tightly together. It was a small locker. He extended his hand as much as he could. Riki took it.

"Call me Manta." Riki could see the light from the outside shine in on to this man's face. Hey, he's kinda cute. Riki smiled and Dr. Emmerich returned it. He didn't even call himself "Doctor". How noble. Wow…

"I remember…" the ninja said. "That punch."

Both Riki and Dr. Emmerich turned around quickly and pressed their faces to the locker doors, looking out the slits.

"I felt that Snake…" the ninja continued. "Do you remember me now?"

"It can't be…!" Snake said. "You were killed in Zanzibar…"

What? Killed? But he's here? Riki was even more confused.

"Eeeeyaaaaah!" the ninja yelled. He started shaking.

"What?" Snake said. "Not again…"

"The…the mediciiiiiine!" The ninja fell to the floor and started banging his head. Riki and Dr. Emmerich held their ears. The noise was extremely loud. "I…I…I'm losing myself…" The ninja's exoskeleton crackled with electricity.

"Is it over?" Dr. Emmerich asked.

"Don't know…" Riki shook her head.

The noises from the fight outside had ceased and they both knew it was over. Dr. Emmerich cracked the door open and saw the ninja leave. He finished opening the door and he helped Riki climb out after he himself had emerged.

"What happened?" Dr. Emmerich asked.

"Hang on," Snake said. "Manta, codec. Campbell."

"Okay." Riki turned to Dr. Emmerich. "Set here for just a few minutes. I promise we'll be right back."

Dr. Emmerich nodded.