Chapter 14

Shadow waited for Steiner's communication on the research floor. It was taking too long so he reached for his own radio.

"Steiner. Report in."

There was only silence on the other side.

"Steiner, are you there?"

Shadow was getting worried.

What happened? Why doesn't he answer?

He headed for the elevator, but the doors closed. It was going down. Shadow was suspicious.

"Vamp. Can you hear me?"

"Yes" Vamp was on the other side of the radio

"Go to Floor -4 and guard him with your life."

"Of course."

Shadow went into the labs. Naomi was sitting in front of a computer. She had one of her lab coat sleeves rolled up.

"I hope you fell well now?"

Naomi didn't answer or couldn't answer. Her face was livid.

Shadow was concerned about Steiner but he couldn't fake a small smile.

Very soon.

"Philanthropy!" Snake sounded surprise. Then again he knew the Colonel would go against anything related to Metal Gear not to mention that there are a lot of organizations where the operatives don't know each other "I also work for Philanthropy. With Otacon. In fact I created it with him."

Meryl was a bit surprised, but it seemed she shared the same thought as Snake.

"I knew it couldn't be true." Meryl said

"What?"

"More or less four years ago yours and Otacon's name was associated with a terrorist act. A tanker that had been sunk near Manhattan."

"We didn't do that. Ocelot did."

"I knew it couldn't be you."

"How's the Colonel?" Snake changed the subject.

"He's fine. It's not like the military, but it's a cause worth fighting for."

"How did you ended down here?"

"Well a couple of months ago we received an anonymous tip that this place existed and that a Metal Gear was stored here."

Snake heard everything, but he didn't like anonymous tips.

"After I got here, I took one of the soldiers uniform and then I found Ocelot, he was definitely weirder. He seemed to act a bit different and he also had a new right hand. Weird isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Snake didn't want to pursue that matter.

"Go on."

"I got to know this place pretty well but I needed one more person to help me getting into Ocelot's office. That's when I saw Raiden. I suppose he's here with you?"

"Yes. He's looking for someone."

"I know. He told me. Anyway, he got into his office but didn't found anything about Metal Gear" Meryl paused "And now here I am."

"Alright" Snake got up "We've got to hook up with Raiden. Do you know where he is?"

"He's in the floor above us."

"How did you contact him?"

"With this." Meryl took out her radio and handed it to Snake.

"Are there enemies above?"

"Yes, quite a few soldiers."

"Get your gun ready and take this." Snake handed Meryl a hand grenade.

"They must be waiting for Steiner. We'll use the element of surprise."

They began walking towards the elevator.

"Raiden" Snake spoke into the radio.

"Snake" Raiden spoke in a whisper

"How are you doing kid?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. Listen. Stay back and stay down."

Meryl called the elevator.

"We're going up."

Snake handed the radio back to Meryl. They checked their equipment. Snake had his SOCOM and a hand grenade ready, Meryl had Steiner's Glock and a hand grenade.

The elevator doors opened and they went in.

"We've got only one shot at this. We've got to pull the pins before the doors open or the surprise is ruined"

"I got it."

"Good."

The last thing Snake wanted was to lose Meryl, again.

Raiden heard the elevator coming up. The soldiers were still talking. The oriental woman was walking back and forth. As the elevator stopped Raiden got down.

When the doors opened two big explosions occurred. Raiden only saw smoke, then shots being fired. A soldier was running to the back. Raiden got up and used his gun like a baseball bat. The guard never knew what hit him. The oriental woman saw Raiden hitting the guard. She was standing in the middle of the room and yet no bullets hit her. She was looking straight into Raiden's eyes. Raiden began feeling tired. Then a shot passed over his head and he snapped out of it. The woman was escaping. She was going to the dormitories. Raiden followed, he knew she was going to take the vent as Snake did. He had to stop her. Once he got to the showers, there was no trace of her. She had escaped.

"Damn?"

Raiden went back to the lobby, the shots had stopped. The dead bodies filled the floor. He could see Snake and Meryl.

Snake and Meryl got ready. They would have to be quick. The elevator was going to stop.

"We should pull the pins." Meryl suggested.

Snake nodded. Both pulled the pins. They had 5 seconds before the grenade exploded.

One

The elevator stopped.

Two

The doors began to open.

Three

The doors were wide open. The soldiers turned their heads looking towards the elevator.

Four

Snake and Meryl threw the grenades.

Five

The grenades exploded. A wave of heat crossed the room. A few soldiers were instantly dead. Snake and Meryl pointed their guns. They began firing upon anything that was standing. They hoped that Raiden took Snake's advice. Snake ran out of bullets. He went for another clip. Meryl was still shooting, saving bullets.

She's not a rookie anymore. Those eyes have no more innocence in them.

When Snake finished reloading, everyone was down. They walked out of the elevator.

The floor was full of bodies. In the corner by the dormitories, Snake saw someone.

"Snake." Raiden removed the balaclava from his head while running towards them.

"Meryl."

She nodded.

"What happened to you kid?" Snake asked.

"It's a long story" Raiden wanted to tell him other things. "Ocelot's here and Vamp too."

"Vamp. Are you sure?" Snake sounded surprised.

"Yes it's him."

"Who's Vamp." Meryl asked

"He's just a lackey of the Patriots, someone that should be dead." Raiden sounded a bit angry, the memories of Vamp stabbing Emma still lingered in his mind.

"Who are the Patriots?" Meryl asked as she heard the name 'Patriots' for the first time.