Chapter 27

As soon as Shadow left the room Naomi tried to stop the reanimation process, but she couldn't do anything, the drugs wouldn't let her. Naomi wished she could speak to Snake and tell him about Shadow's abilities.

Wait a minute, the door.

Naomi got up from in front the computer and went to the door. She tried opening but it was locked.

No.

Behind the glass the medical machines began beeping. She looked through the glass and saw the metal coffin opening up.

My god!

Otacon found several files in the computer about Metal Gear. The files were encrypted but he found a way around it. The data was about the Metal Gear Ray that the marine had developed. Otacon saw that there were a lot of changes made. The Ray was stronger better armed and reinforced with an impenetrable armour. But what really got his attention was the new weapon that Ray was equipped with, some kind of high concentrated laser weapon. These files were even more encrypted.

Suddenly Otacon's CODEC began to ring. He answered.

"Yes?"

"Otacon it's me."

"Snake! How did you know you could contact me?"

"I saw Raiden…'cough'…talking to you…listen I've got a…'cough'…problem here…"

"What is it?" Otacon heard as Snake coughed

"Please tell me…'cough'…you have access to the facilities computer…"

Snake knew Otacon well, in all of their missions together Otacon had always found a way to get access to the enemies' data.

"Of course Snake."

"Good…'cough'…open…'cough'…the…air vents in…the Floor -4…'cough'…laboratories…fast…"

Otacon heard Snake coughing even more. He put aside the Metal Gear files and started searching for the air control in Floor -4, unlike the other floors Floor -4 had no vents that lead to the outside instead a few machines controlled the air flow in the floor. Otacon didn't know why Snake was coughing but he hurried.

Otacon heard someone else talking on the other side on the CODEC.

"No one has ever resisted my special mix of drugs." Otacon didn't recognize the voice.

Otacon found the air control system, the air vents were open.

"Snake the air vents are open!" Otacon didn't know what Snake wanted him to do.

"Open…'cough'…"

"Snake! Talk to me Snake…"

"'cough'…more…"

Otacon didn't know if he had understood it right but he complied. He put the air flow to the maximum. After a few seconds he heard a large thud. Then Snake responded.

"Keep them like this Otacon."

"Sure Snake."

"Otacon I've got something to do here."

"Very well." Otacon wouldn't bother him about Vamp.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him."

"Wha…"

"I know how you must feel, but Raiden won't let him get away, not this time."

Otacon was satisfied. Snake knew him better than he thought.

"Ok Snake, if you need anything more just contact me."

"I'll keep in touch."

Otacon took his hands to his eyes. He remembered Emma again.

She was resting beside him.

"What's wrong with E.E.?"

Emma goes limp and Otacon's glasses fall to the floor.

"Emma... Emma? Emma? Emma? Answer me!"

Otacon doesn't cry this time. He takes his hands from his eyes.

It's over Emma.

Otacon looked at the computer and started looking for a way to access the other encrypted files about Metal Gear.

"I'll be able to feed myself once more."

Raiden could hear Vamp. Raiden was with extreme pain in the stomach and in his shoulder wound. He didn't have the strength to get up.

I'm going to die.

Raiden closed his eyes and accepted it. He knew Vamp would kill him fast.

Bye Rose…

Then his CODEC began to ring. A million thoughts came to Raiden's mind, thoughts about Snake, Rose, Meryl and Otacon. He then remembered Emma. He remembered as he saw her through his PSG-1 scope being stabbed by Vamp. Raiden was full of hatred. He needed to stop Vamp. He needed to prove that he could, not only to Snake but to himself. He opened his eyes.

"Goodbye!"

Raiden looked up and used his left hand to stop Vamp's arm.

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Raiden yelled out as he grabbed Vamp's arm. He was furious. He clenched his right fist and with all his strength got up and gave a well directed right uppercut to Vamp. Vamp flew back into the wall. Raiden quickly grabbed the HF Blade that was in the floor. The pain in his shoulder was very big but he had to make an effort, he had to fight Vamp.

"Very impressive…" Vamp was against the wall. He could see Raiden bleeding from his shoulder.

Raiden grabbed the HF Blade firmly. His face was one of anger. He was ready to attack.

"Even if I die today you're coming with me."

Vamp grinned "You've already tried and failed."

"This time I'll make sure you won't get up." Raiden's tone was decisive.

Vamp got ready to attack, so did Raiden.

Raiden waved his sword. Vamp deflected it with his knife. Raiden went for another strike, this time even faster. Vamp moved away but got cut in the right arm. Before he could fight back Raiden was waving his sword again. This time he made a cut in Vamp's chest. Vamp jumped backwards and Raiden went into a defence stance.

He's better and faster than before.

Vamp couldn't lose this fight. His cover had been blown, after this he would have to destroy this place.

"I won't lose to you."

Raiden wasn't scared. His face was solid as a rock. He wasn't going to back down. He went for Vamp again now with the blade facing forward.

Vamp got ready to defend with his knife.

Raiden went in with all of his fury. His attacks were strong. Vamp was having trouble deflecting them. The fight intensified, blow after blow Vamp was getting tired. He jumped away from Raiden to the pipes that went along the ceiling.

This can't be. He should be weaker than this by now.

Raiden was stronger than ever, he wouldn't let Vamp out of here alive.

"Are you afraid?" Raiden shouted at Vamp.

"What?" Vamp couldn't believe Raiden's insolence. Vamp thought about Commander Dolph and Fortune.

I'm doing this for you.

Vamp took out his daggers and held them in his left hand. "Get ready to die…" Vamp jumped towards Raiden.

Raiden got ready.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH" They both screamed in rage.

Ocelot watched as Raiden and Vamp fought one another.

Meryl tried to move but the handcuffs wouldn't let her. Someone entered the room, an old man and an old woman. Meryl saw that they were wearing some kind of maintenance suit. Ocelot turned to them and got up the chair.

"Good of you to join us."

"The work is complete Shalashaska."

"Good." Ocelot paused for a second. "I don't need you anymore do I." It was Liquid's voice. He grabbed his two Colts with incredible speed.

"What are you…?" The engineers had no time to question Ocelot. He had shot them both with incredible speed. The man fell to the ground and the woman fell onto a desk near Meryl. She was shocked.

"You bastard." She yelled out

Ocelot didn't bother with her. He put the Colts back in the holsters and sat again.

Meryl looked at the bodies. Then she saw it, a small paper clip on top of the desk where the woman engineer had collapsed, it probably belonged to her. She tried to move the chair near the desk without making much noise.

Ocelot pushed a few keys on the keyboard and changed the camera, now some kind of medical room was appearing in the monitor. Naomi and a metal coffin were in frame. Ocelot started laughing.

This gave Meryl the chance to risk it and get near the desk. Once she got there she moved her head near the paper clip.

C'mon.

She grabbed it with her mouth. She got back to where she was so Ocelot wouldn't suspect anything. She then spat the paper clip into her hand. She would have to be careful for Ocelot not to suspect anything.

Ocelot noticed the coffin opening up. He laughed even more. Then he stopped abruptly. His body was rigid as he stared at the computer.

"I don't have much time." Ocelot's voice was firm in tone.

Meryl watched as Ocelot pushed keys on the keyboard. She saw him grabbing some sort of optical disc and putting it into the computer.

Ocelot was recording the data stored in the computer of the room where the metal coffin was to the optical disc.

I have to hurry before Liquid notices.

After a few seconds it was done he took out the optical disk and put it in his back pocket.

Then he changed behaviour again. He faced the computer and watched.

Meryl didn't know what she had just seen but she knew she had to get out of the chair fast. She was picking the lock of the handcuffs.

Almost there.