Chapter 22

Otacon looked through the computer files to see if he found some kind of map of this facility. After a few minutes he found a few maps of the area. He looked at it closely.

I'm in Floor -4.

Otacon remembered the soldier talking about it. He saw that the facility was quite big and that it had a lot of floors. He discovered that some kind of metal shielding beneath Floor 1 prevented any communications from devices like the CODEC, only special radios would work. Otacon reached for his CODEC and tried contacting Snake. The "NO RESPONSE" signal he got meant that Snake wasn't on this floor.

He found the computer room where he was on the map and memorized the route to an elevator. He was going to search every floor until he got a signal on the CODEC.

He opened the door quietly. There was no one in sight, he ran off.

I just hope you're still alive.

Shadow and Vamp stood behind Naomi watching her pushing keys on the keyboard. Shadow was happy. This was his moment of glory.

"Sir." Shadow's radio was talking. He grabbed it.

"Yes, what is it?"

"It's the prisoner, she's gone and the child too."

"What do you mean? We don't have any prisoners here."

"Sir according to the logs the prisoner was only visited by Shalashaska."

"Ocelot."

What are you up to?

"Sir, do I send out the alert?"

"No need. Lyla has probably taken care of them."

"Alright sir. Over and out."

"It's true Snake." Ocelot said with a satisfied look on his face.

Snake was surprised. Raiden was the only person he thought couldn't be controlled again, especially by Ocelot. Raiden was furious. He was looking straight to Ocelot. No doubt that he wanted to kill him.

"Let me tell you a part of the story." Ocelot grinned "Because of time constraints I had to get you here fast. Reasons you'll find out soon. Anyway, getting you into this place wouldn't be easy, but I had a plan. Firstly I sent an anonymous tip to your Colonel that a Metal Gear and this place existed, he was working for Philanthropy and I thought he would contact you, but I was wrong. Instead of you I got his niece. She was resourceful, she was able to enter this place and stay hidden for a few weeks. But I found her. My plan had been compromised. But I had a backup one. After the Big Shell I've kept tabs on that boy." Ocelot pointed to Raiden. "I thought it was time to use him like the Patriots did."

"Damn you." Raiden yelled out in fury. "I'm gonna kill you."

Ocelot continued.

"I was able to kidnap his wife from under his nose. Then I met with the boy. I said that he would have to help me or I would kill Rose. Of course he accepted. I gave him a note with handwriting similar to yours, a nice cover story and you and your partner's location. I'm impressed at how well it worked." Ocelot gave a small laugh. "Did you really think he could have removed the nanomachines from his body alone? You and your partner fell for it and now here you are." Ocelot made a slight pause. "Now you see boy." Ocelot talked directly to Raiden. "I, like the Patriots, have control over you."

Raiden went for his gun.

"Enough!" Snake interrupted. Although he had been betrayed by Raiden he remembered something Raiden told him before "My family is the most important thing to me. That's what I fight for." Snake never had a family but somehow he understood him.

"Raiden, you didn't have a choice."

Raiden was surprised

"I too would have done the same thing."

Snake watched Meryl being bullied by Ocelot and he understood that she, like Rose to Raiden, was very important.

"Just hurry up Snake or she'll die." Ocelot disappeared into a corner with Meryl.

Rose had kept silent during the entire thing. She caressed Raiden's face.

"It's alright Jack."

Raiden was with his head bowed.

"Snake I'm sorry, but…I had to do it."

"I understand." Snake's voice was calm.

"You do?" Raiden lifted his head and looked at Snake

"Yeah."

Snake realized he had changed, before he wouldn't get attached to anyone, now he had a best friend, Otacon, someone he liked, Meryl, and someone who looked up to him, Raiden. He couldn't let anything happen to those he cared about.

"Raiden we have to get moving." Snake stretched out his arm to Raiden. "We need to get Meryl." Raiden grabbed his hand and got up.

Snake picked the card that Ocelot had thrown to the ground. Raiden helped Rose get to her feet.

"We need to go to Floor -4." Snake hadn't seen a button on the elevator that said "Floor -4"

"I know the way Snake." Raiden felt like himself again. Now that he was free from Ocelot's control he could genuinely help Snake.

Snake noted that Raiden's eyes were different, not like when they met at the submarine. Raiden was more confident.

Snake knew he could trust him with his own life.

"Then let's go."

"What about Rose?"

"The top floor is filled with soldiers. She has to come with us, maybe we'll find another way out.

The child on Rose's arm was sleeping. They began moving. Raiden saw the arrow that pointed in the opposite direction of the main elevator.

"Another elevator huh?" Snake asked

"Yes."

"Attention all military personnel report to Floor -4" the speakers came on.

"We have to move if we want to get there alive." Snake knew they didn't have a fighting chance against all the soldiers.

They ran for a few seconds and reached the elevator doors. It had some sort of card reader on the side. Snake used the card Ocelot had given him. The doors opened and they entered. Another card reader was inside. Snake repeated the procedure and the doors closed.

Here we go.

"Sir?" Shadow's radio came back on.

"What now?"

"It's the Enforcer."

"What about her?"

"Well…huh…she's dead."

Shadow froze. How could they have defeated Lyla, she was stronger that anyone else, her power was impossible to defeat.

"Sir…are you there…what do I do now?"

"Call every soldier to Floor -4. NOW!" Shadow had underestimated Snake, but not anymore.

"Yes sir. Right away."

"What's that?" Vamp asked pointing a screen.

Shadow looked up. The monitor showed the elevator doors and a man, apparently he was wearing a big white coat. He had ruffled hair and glasses on his face.

"Get soldiers in there now Vamp." Shadow couldn't believe it.

Another intruder.

His disbelief grew even more when the elevator door opened up.

Damn.

Otacon ran for a few minutes, according to his memory he should be near the elevator. After a few more corners he arrived. Beside the door there was some kind of card reader device.

Crap.

Otacon looked around trying to see any other means to open the elevator. He only saw a surveillance camera pointing in the direction of the elevator doors.

Now they know I'm here.

Otacon was about to run away when the elevator doors opened. Otacon couldn't believe it. Snake, Raiden and a woman holding a child were all in the elevator. Snake and Raiden were with their guns pointed, the woman, Otacon suspected it was Rose, was holding a child in her arms.

"Otacon." Snake sounded surprised as did Raiden.