Chapter 20

Otacon hid himself behind the boxes. He heard the door opening and two people talking.

"What's this thing for anyway?"

"Don't know, but it's marked so we take it."

Otacon heard a thud.

"Alright, let's get something to eat."

"Sure."

The door closed again. Otacon peeked. He could see a big box that wasn't there before. It had something written on the side "FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC". Otacon opened the box and saw several weapons.

What are these?

He had never seen weapons like that. They seemed modern. He was going to pick one up for close inspection but a noise outside the door made him go back behind the boxes.

The door opened again.

"You see, the elevator is down here."

Otacon felt stupid.

"Who could it be?"

A soldier grabbed his radio.

"Security, did anyone access the box elevator in floor -4."

They used the elevator to take the boxes to the surface.

Otacon realized it now. It was obvious that the Patriots research and development made all the technology available at the United States. They would create some prototypes and then release them to the army or to the general public when they saw fit. After a few seconds the radio spat back.

"No, no one has been authorized."

"Maybe it's another intruder."

Otacon now knew that Snake and Raiden had already caused a bit of confusion.

"Search this room. I'll search the corridor outside."

"Very well."

The door close, Otacon didn't know what to do, he couldn't fight the soldier.

Damn

Otacon could see the soldier's flashlight. He was getting near.

Shadow was walking across the room behind the glass.

This is taking too long. We need her now.

"Shadow" Ocelot's voice came from Shadow's radio.

"Ocelot where are you?"

"I'm currently in Floor -3. I've found her."

"Naomi?"

"Yes. I've got two soldiers with me. They'll take her to you."

"Very good. What about you?"

"They seem to know about Metal Gear, I'm going to the hangar."

"Alright." Shadow turned the radio off. "We're back on schedule Vamp."

"It's not wise to let him near Metal Gear."

Shadow pointed to the metal coffin on the other side of the glass. "He's more important than Metal Gear now."

Meryl was running followed closely by Naomi and Rose, with a child on her arms, the child was calmer. They couldn't hear Raiden's screams anymore. Rose was worried by what that meant but she kept following Meryl. Meryl followed the arrows that pointed to the elevator. Then she stopped and lifted up her hand, making sure Naomi and Rose stopped too. She could hear someone talking.

"Follow me you two."

"Yes Shalashaska."

"Yes sir."

Meryl knew that voice.

Ocelot.

"We can't go through here." Meryl whispered to Naomi and Rose.

"Then where do we go?" Rose asked.

"We can take a longer route to the elevator through there" Naomi pointed to another corridor behind them.

"Alright we'll do that. Let's go quietly."

They began moving but stopped suddenly as a scream came through the room. It wasn't Raiden.

Snake.

Meryl was apprehensive. Then the child on Rose's arms began to cry.

"No, no, no don't cry, please don't cry." Rose's efforts were in vain.

"How interesting!"

Ocelot was behind them with the soldiers. They heard the scream and the crying and got there before Meryl, Naomi and Rose got away.

Ocelot reached his radio.

"Shadow."

"Ocelot where are you?"

"I'm currently in Floor -3. I've found her."

"Naomi?"

"Yes. I've got two soldiers with me. They'll take her to you."

"Very good. What about you?"

Ocelot looked at Meryl and smiled.

"They seem to know about Metal Gear, I'm going to the hangar to check if something's wrong."

Meryl wondered if Ocelot discovered she had been here looking for information about Metal Gear.

"Alright." Shadow responded.

Ocelot knew that with Naomi near Shadow he would have the time to do what he wanted.

"You two take her to Shadow." Ocelot pointed with his gun to Naomi.

Meryl couldn't do anything. They grabbed Naomi and went in the opposite direction of the elevator. Meryl remembered seeing an arrow that said "Elevator" but pointed in another direction.

"It seems Snake is in trouble. I hope he makes it or this is all in vain." Ocelot's voice changed a bit.

Meryl waited for Ocelot to kill them but he did nothing he stood there as if he was waiting for something, or someone.

"Take a load off you two." Ocelot ordered.

Meryl sat near the wall as did Rose.

The pain was unlike any pain Snake had experienced before. He began seeing things. It was blurred, he only saw white. The vision became clearer, several men and women with white lab coats were around him. A man spoke.

"As you can see the aging process was the only thing that wasn't one hundred percent assured." The man pointed to a screen with several graphics "But I'm confident that won't be a problem."

The pain grew bigger.

He saw himself training, reading books watching videos, alone, always alone.

Even more pain.

He was talking to a man.

"FOXHOUND is the right place for you."

Snake began to scream, the pain was unbearable. He could see two men walking towards him. One had a large brown raincoat over him. The other was wearing a green combat suit.

"This is Gray Fox" the man with the raincoat pointed to the man in the combat suit "And I'm Big Boss, the commander of FOXHOUND"

Snake fell to the ground but Lyla hadn't finished it. The pain continued.

Snake saw as Gary Fox helped him with his training, punching and kicking him down.

"You have to be stronger than that."

Snake could see Big Boss across the room watching.

"You really are a tough one…" Gray Fox looked deep into Snake's eyes "Solid Snake."

Then suddenly the pain stopped. Snake could hear Lyla talking.

"I do not like interruptions Jack."

Snake opened his eyes. He could see Lyla facing him and Raiden behind her with his gun pointed at her, smoke coming out of the barrel.

"I know how you act Jack, the gun will not help you" Lyla turned and faced Raiden. Raiden got ready to shoot again.

"This time the pain will not stop, Jack."

Snake knew this was his chance he went for his equipment and grabbed the last stun grenade.

Lyla was walking towards Raiden. Raiden was afraid. If he missed Lyla would make him see his past again. He stood there frozen with his gun pointed at her.

Snake pulled the pin and threw it. The grenade stopped under Lyla's legs.

A loud bang and a white flash.

Snake had kept his eyes closed. He got up and opened them. He pointed his gun to where Lyla was, hoping to get a clear shot at her head. He could see Raiden still pointing his gun, but Lyla wasn't there.

Snake felt a kick on the back. He dropped his SOCOM. She was by his side. She had moved so quickly and so quietly that Snake didn't notice it.

"Impressive Snake, but not good enough." Lyla gave Snake another kick, this one to the head. She seemed to know some kind of martial art.

Raiden snapped out of it. His head became clearer. He passed his hand over his forehead. Although his past worried him, the present was more important. He ran towards Lyla and Snake. And grabbed Lyla's leg as she was about to kick Snake again.

"Now it's my turn." He kicked Lyla's other leg and she fell down.

Raiden turned to Snake. "Snake get back"

Lyla got up very fast. She took out a knife from underneath her suit and forced it towards Raiden. He was distracted looking at Snake

"Ahhhhhh."

She stabbed Raiden near his right shoulder. Snake watched Raiden falling to the ground bleeding. Lyla was looking at Snake.

"Get ready to face your past again."

Snake reacted fast by grabbing Lyla's arms stopping her from using the knife on him, and closing his eyes.

"You will not defeat me like that."

Snake felt as Lyla kicked him again and again. Snake was grabbing her arms trying to reach the knife in her hand. He opened his eyes for a second and saw it.

My knife?

Lyla must have removed it from Steiner. Snake grabbed it and try to take it from her hands.

"To use the knife Snake you will have to open your eyes."

Lyla was right. There was no way that Snake could hit her without opening his eyes because unlike his battle with Steiner, Lyla was very quiet.

Snake had no choice. He opened his eyes and took out the knife from her hands. He held the knife looking straight to the ground, only his SOCOM, Raiden and Lyla's legs were visible. He knew that once he looked at her face, the pain would begin. Then he noticed it, a reflection.

Will it work?