Chapter 2

"Otacon can you find where that phone number is from?" said Snake with a refreshed look on his eyes.

"Of course. I've been running a program to find out where that phone number comes from."

They headed to the operations center. It was a small room with 4 computers, the heart of Philanthropy. Otacon took his seat, Raiden and Snake stood behind.

"Has it found anything" Snake asked

"Almost. The number led to a computer server that was very well encrypted but I can find a way around it" Snake and Raiden looked at the computer has Otacon punched a few keys on the keyboard "It's done."

All three looked at the computer screen hoping to see something useful, but only Otacon seemed to understand all the gibberish that was appearing. He then looked at Raiden and Snake. He knew Snake wasn't the most literate person when it comes to computers and by the look on Raiden's face neither was him.

"It seems to be coordinates to some place. Let me see if I can find it on the map."

The next few minutes Otacon typed the coordinates on the computer and an image appeared on the screen.

"What the hell!" Snake said surprised

The image showed a nearby area of Washington D.C

"Washington D.C." Otacon replied.

"It makes sense" Raiden said remembering something he had heard two years ago "A kind of consciousness formed layer by layer in the crucible of the White House. It's not unlike the way life started in the oceans four billion years ago. The White House was our primordial soup, a base of evolution"

"What do you mean, it makes sense?" Snake asked

Two years ago Raiden didn't have any time to explain to Snake about what GW had said to him but now he told him everything. When he finished a thought went trough his mind. He remembered that Snake had evidence that could tell him who the Patriots are.

How the hell did I forget about that!

"That explains a lot" Snake interrupted Raiden's chain of thought.

"What do you mean? Does it have anything to do with that disc you had two years ago?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Snake replied sensing that Raiden wanted to know more "We did find who The Patriots were."

"Were?"

"Yes, they are dead, according to Otacon it happened about 100 years ago."

"How's that possible?" Raiden asked even more puzzled than before.

"I have no idea, but now we know that the original Patriots had nothing to do with the Big Shell incident."

"It seems that the Patriots that live now are some kind of advanced A.I." Otacon replied "Kind of twisted if you ask me, a machine that controls an entire country. Its almo…"

"Let's not jump into conclusions Otacon" Snake interrupted "Let's focus on what we have to do now. Then we'll worry about the past and the future" Snake ended that conversation there. Raiden was full of questions but he knew that someone he loved needed his help.

"So what do we do now?" Raiden asked

"We'll check that area out" Snake said

"An insertion by night, right Snake?" Otacon asked

"Yes we can't risk going there like tourists, and search the place. Otacon see if you can dig up more information about that place. Raiden you need to get some equipment."

Snake led the way. Raiden followed him to the equipment room. It was a bigger room than the operations center and brighter. The equipment varied from explosives to knifes.

"Pick up anything you need. Just don't exaggerate, we may need to get out of there fast if we find something." Snake hadn't removed his equipment when he arrived so he just checked it out to see if he had enough ammo. Snake was equipped with a SOCOM pistol. A scope and a small knife "I've got everything I need"

"I need some kind of gun" Raiden replied "I've been away from guns, the only weapon I have is Olga's HF blade" he pointed to his back.

"I hope you know how to use that thing."

"Don't worry sometimes it's better than a gun."

Snake handed to him his old USP and a digital camera.

"Thanks," Raiden said,

"Just be careful with tha…" Snake was abruptly interrupted by Otacon

"I've got something." Otacon said almost out of breath.

They all went back to the operations center. Otacon pointed to the computer screen

"See this. It seems that area was excavated some time ago. I can't be precise, but it seems someone changed the records to show that nothing happened to that place but I found a topographic map of the area before the changed records."

"Then its possible there's something down there that the Patriots don't want us to know about?" Snake asked.

"Very much so, these records are public and we know how The Patriots are keen in controlling the public."

Raiden felt like that was an indirect insult. He was once controlled by the Patriots and he promised himself that would never happen again.

"We have to move fast. Otacon you better come with us on this one." Snake said.

"Sure."

"Wait there's a problem" Raiden interrupted.

"What's the problem?" Snake replied

"Oh, right the baby!" Otacon said

"What baby?" Snake asked puzzled

"I had to bring my child with me, there's no one else for me to trust."

"Alright, but it can't come with us." Snake said.

"I agree." Raiden replied

"I could call Mei Ling, Snake?" Otacon wondered what kind of effect the question would have on Snake. Since the Big Shell Incident Snake and Otacon cut all ties with the rest of Philanthropy since they found that a name on the Patriot's list was one of their biggest contributors it was obvious that they were being controlled to some extent, but not anymore. This meant getting help from someone who unknowingly was working for the Patriots. Snake had no choice.

"Ok Otacon, call her. Tell her to meet us two kilometres from here, we need to check if she's being watched, and make sure you have the security measures in place when we leave I don't want her to have access to anything that she doesn't need to."

"Fine." Otacon turned his attention back to the computer.

It took two hours for Mei Ling to get to Alaska. She was a beautiful woman, not very tall, but incredibly intelligent. Otacon checked her for bugs, as she shivered underneath her overcoat, and analysed satellite surveillance to see if the Patriots were tracking her. He found nothing. They all headed for the submarine and once they got there Mei Ling saw Snake standing beside the submarine.

"It's been a long time hasn't it Snake?" Mei Ling asked innocently.

"Yes, but we don't have time for a reunion, there's something I need you to do and you can't make any questions about it, ok?" Snake said this with resolve, she had to do it in his terms or she would go back from where she came.

"Fine, Snake" Mei Ling's response was short and to the point.

She was asked to baby-sit, but Snake didn't tell who the baby was from or why she had to do it. Mei Ling was already very suspicious for not hearing about Snake for the last two years but she took this trust as a compliment.

"We have to go." Snake said.

"When will you be back?" Mei Ling knew there was no point in asking where there were going because she knew he wouldn't answer.

"We don't know yet." Otacon said evading the question.

"Alright, be careful Snake." Mei Ling said looking straight into Snake's eyes. He remembered that it was her that made the backup copies of the CODEC calls from the Shadow Moses incident, somehow Snake still trusted her.

Raiden had kept his back turned to Mei Ling checking his equipment.

At the topside of the submarine three men got ready to go as they got their equipment on snow bikes.

"How are we going to get there?" Raiden asked.

"We still have the Kamov chopper from the Big Shell." Otacon said. "We were wise no to go back to Philanthropy with it. It's two miles east of here."

"Let's get a move on then." Snake said as he got on one of the snow bikes.

They sped off through the white snow. Soon they would be fighting.