Chapter 1

The light glimmered across the lake that reflected the night up above with a slight breeze. A man stood in front of the barbed wire, smoking, and waiting for the guard to make another pass. He was wearing some kind of sneaking suit, it was very old and worn out but it still worked. While waiting something in his ear began to ring, it was the CODEC, a small transmission device that could only be heard by the user.

"Snake, you there, it's me."

"Otacon." Snake replied with his trademark rough voice.

"Yeah." Otacon's voice sounded worried, like it always does.

"What's going on, I said not to disturb me"

"I've got some important news."

"Can't it wait I'm in front of the weapons plant."

"This is more important." Otacon spoke trying not to raise his voice.

"How can it be more important than destroying a Metal Gear weapons production plant?"

"Well...huh...Raiden is here." Otacon wondered what kind of reaction Snake would have.

"..."

Otacon interrupted the awkward silence. "Snake, can you hear me?"

"I'm coming back."

Snake doubled back to the boat and headed to the Philanthropy Head Quarters. It was an old WWII submarine docked in the region of Alaska. Upon his arrival Otacon was waiting on the deck. He was a skinny man wearing dark pants and a white coat. Although the glasses didn't favour him his face was resolute.

"Welcome back Snake." his voice sounded like he had just woke up.

"Where's he?" Snake asked has he got close to Otacon.

"Below." Otacon jerked his head down.

"Let's go." Snake descended first closely followed by Otacon.

The submarine was old and rusty but surprisingly resistant to the elements, especially in Alaska. The submarine's design was different from the old WWII submarines, only the bridge remained exactly the same throughout the years. The crew quarters were transformed into a state of the art operations center for Philanthropy.

"Where is he?" Snake asked

"I'm here." the voice came from behind them, only the silhouette of a man could be seen in a dark room.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Snake glared.

"Something has happened, and I don't know what to do." the man replied

"What?" Snake had a more helpful look in his eyes.

"They told me to kill you." The voice was almost regretful for saying that.

Snake and Otacon's face changed. They exchanged looks for a second and Snake got the impression that Otacon had no idea of what was going on. The silhouette talked again

"Or they would kill her."

"Who?" Snake asked

"Rose." the silhouette became clearer as the man approached the light. He was a robust man with blond ruffled hair and wearing the "Skull" suit of FOX-HOUND. Once he had been mistaken for a woman now there was no mistake his face was manly, like it had seen too many deceptions and there was no reason to smile.

"But I won't do it, I won't kill you. However I will need your help." Raiden talked in a clear way.

Otacon gave a sigh with relief. Snake however had his eyes on Raiden, evaluating, making sure he wasn't a menace.

"I believe you, now what the hell happened?" Snake knew Raiden was talking the truth about Rose being in danger.

They sat down in the mess hall. It was small, really small, and it smelled like no one had ever used that room for many years. A small table separated Raiden from Snake and Otacon.

"Want to eat something?" Otacon asked Snake

Snake made no case of it. His eyes were directed to Raiden, still evaluating, still wondering.

"Remember the last time we met?" Raiden asked

"Sure, Federal Hall. About two years ago." The incredible sight of Arsenal's crash into Federal Hall would never leave his mind.

"Yeah, that day changed my life forever. My belief in several things had been shattered." Raiden's face changed from resolute to somewhat of an adult sadness.

"What happened after that?"

"Well, Rose quitted her job and we never went back to base" Raiden paused. He wasn't sure if he should tell the rest. He began thinking this was all a bad idea. Should I do this to him?

"Go on." Snake wanted and needed to hear more.

Raiden looked to Snake and felt like what he had felt more or less two years ago inside Arsenal Gear.

"Find something to believe in. And find it for yourself. And when you do, pass it on to the future." Snake's words changed him that day.

Raiden continued. "I did what you told me to do. I found something to believe in"

There was a slight pause and Snake stared at Raiden. He had taken Snake's advice.

"My family is the most important thing to me. That's what I fight for" Raiden said with a firm tone of voice "They kidnapped Rose two weeks ago."

"Where?" Snake asked

"We were hiding if that's what you're thinking. We lived apart from each other. I had my bases covered. The Patriots couldn't find her. I would only meet her in a secret place at night to see her and my child"

"Child?" Snake replied with a puzzled look in his eyes

"Yes." Raiden continued "But two weeks ago she didn't meet me so I risked everything and went to her house. My child was there but she wasn't. I only found this note." Raiden searched his pocket and took out a small piece of paper and handed it to Snake.

Snake took it and read it out loud.

"Rose is with us Jack, if you want to see her again find the man called Solid Snake and kill him, when you do call this number 008641367 from the phone we left by the paper." Snake stopped and looked at Raiden. He was holding a very small phone. Snake continued

"Every day at 3:00 pm we'll call you so that you can hear Rose. She'll be saying the New York Mirror headline, this way you'll know she's alive." the paper ended.

Silence set in. Raiden took out from his pocket a small picture and looked at it beneath the table, it was Rose and she was holding the New York mirror. I'm sorry Rose, but I'm doing this for you.

"This is bad" Otacon said breaking the silence

"It gets worse." Raiden put the photo back in his pocket. "I think I was the cause of it."

Snake stood looking at the paper puzzled.

"Why?" Otacon asked

"Since we went our separate ways I've been working on a nanoprobe to find the transmitter that reveals my life signs to the patriots." Raiden talked with some uncertainness in his eyes.

"All alone?" Otacon broke Raiden's speech.

"Yes, it was hard work it took me a lot of time but I got it to work and I found it. Once I removed it surgically I inserted into someone else"

"Who?" Otacon asked

"My own child it was the only way to make sure it would be safe. I couldn't destroy it, because of Olga's baby and this was the only way to keep an eye on my child." Raiden paused for a brief moment. Snake was still looking at the paper but heard everything. Raiden started up again "But it was foolish because they found out and now they got Rose."

For a moment they were all quiet with their heads bowed down. Snake was scratching his beard. Raiden was looking to the small phone.

"It doesn't make sense." said Otacon

Both Snake and Raiden looked at him.

"Well think about it. Why would the Patriots want to kidnap Rose? Just to make Raiden kill you Snake. No I don't think so. There must be some other motive."

"Maybe because I took the transmitter out and know they want me to do this for them as punishment." Raiden wasn't sure about what he was saying.

"Maybe...but I still don't think that's enough reason."

"Maybe its revenge." Snake cut in on the two sided conversation

"Revenge from whom? The Patriots?" Otacon replied

"No, someone more dangerous" a slight pause "Liquid Snake." is voice was even rougher.

"What!" Otacon and Raiden replied in unison.

"I'm sure of it."

"How do you know that" Raiden had heard that name before.

"His handwriting...it's similar to mine, he wanted me to know it was him" Snake was with a different look in his eyes. This time I'll get him.

"But that means he knew that Raiden wasn't going to kill you." Otacon replied

"It doesn't matter now." Snake said

"Does this mean you're going to help me?" Raiden asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes." Snake responded still unsure about the whole situation.