Chapter 39

As Meryl caught sight of Snake, her feelings about him surfaced. Now she felt that she shouldn't have left Snake.

That evening when she wrote the paper to Snake, saying that she was going away because her uncle needed her. It was a lie, but the time she passed with Snake hadn't been all good. Snake was cold and vague about his feelings towards her. She decided that it would be best, for both, to leave. Goodbye Snake. As she wrote the last line she got up with all her gear and pinned the paper to the door. Snake had gone out with his dogs and once he came back it would be the first thing he'd see.

After a few days she met with, her uncle, Colonel Campbell. "Meryl!" The Colonel had always helped Meryl, like they had a connection that went beyond uncle and niece.

"Uncle." Meryl was not as enthusiastic as her uncle, the thought of Snake reading the paper she had left behind dwelled in her mind.

Campbell gave her a place to live and after some time he visited her, unexpectedly, with news.

"I've found something you might like to be involved with."

Meryl wondered what kind of job it was.

"I heard from my connection in the Pentagon that an organization was created with the specific intent to find and expose Metal Gear."

Meryl knew that after Shadow Moses, the plans for Metal Rex had been sold to every industrialized place on the earth.

"A representative of the organization asked me to join in and I would like you to come with me."

Meryl thought about Snake, the last thing he wanted to do was to fight more Metal Gears. "Alright count me in." She hoped to forget about Snake.

After a few reconnaissance missions her uncle received anonymous information about a secret facility in Washington D.C. that supposedly held a Metal Gear, Meryl hastened to get the mission done. After she arrived at Washington D.C. and after being able to enter the facility she broke contact with her uncle. He had advised her if he didn't hear from her in one month he would send someone else in.

Inside the facility she found Revolver Ocelot, the one that had sold the Rex plan's in the black market. She tried to discover what he knew about Metal Gear but was unable to do so. She needed help hence the decision she made to stay hidden for a month and wait for the arrival of a second operative. When she found about Raiden, she thought he had arrived but those doubts soon evaporated as Raiden didn't seemed to fit the profile as a Philanthropy operative.

Then when she met Snake, she became restless. Her feelings for him became stronger than ever. She couldn't lose him again.

"Snake!" She yelled out.

Snake made eye contact but soon turned his eyes back at Ocelot, who stood nailed to the ground observing both Snake and Big Boss.

Big Boss was lucid "Snake…the day…" He wasn't sure of his words, but he didn't hesitate. "I died…I wanted to tell you…everything." He had come to the conclusion that he must have been back from the dead.

Naomi checked his pulse again. "He was able to get out of the state of shock. He's alright now."

Snake looked and heard attentively.

"…but I thought…you wouldn't understand…"

"Understand what? That you betrayed me four years before that! That you wanted to kill me." Snake was sure about what he was saying. There was no way for Big Boss to rationalize those actions.

"At Zanzibar Land…I realised…when you destroyed Metal Gear…that..." Big Boss coughed, this didn't bode well for him. "…that…you had to…take my place."

This was like a punch in the stomach for Snake. "What? I'm nothing like you. I would never do anything like you did." Snake was almost losing his temper.

"…you're wrong…you were and maybe still are…like I was…long time ago…"

"No that's impossible."

Big Boss stopped talking as his strengths started to disappear from his body.

"Snake." Ocelot's voice came on the speakers. "You're smart enough to get past the soldiers but I still have Meryl with me. Hurry Snake, we're very close"

Snake quickly turned around and faced the door that lead to the hangar. "Let's move." He completely ignored what Big Boss had said before.

"Snake." Naomi didn't quite know what to tell to help him.

Raiden had kept his mouth shut during the scene. He knew only to well this type of confrontation. He remembered when he was face to face with the only father he knew. Solidus. At that time he had no choice but to kill him. He wondered if things could've been any different. No. Solidus had to die. Raiden justified his actions because of all the terrible things that Solidus had done to him. After all it was him that killed Raiden's parents and that could never be forgiven.

"Let's go." Snake repeated as he made his way to the door.

Big Boss remained silent, sweating and feeling that his body wasn't getting better anymore, he had done what he could to tell Snake. He only hoped Snake would believe it to be the truth behind his actions. His limited strengths were leaving him fast.

Snake was closely followed by Raiden. Naomi was behind them steering the wheelchair.

As they progressed through the door, a dark corridor appeared before them populated by some lights that weren't all that powerful. The walls were dirty and the overall aspect of the place gave the impression it was very old.

Big Boss's words echoed in Snake's mind as they walked through the corridor. Is this what you wanted Ocelot? For my past to haunt me again? Snake's doubts had to wait for an obstacle appeared before their eyes, two flights of old and rusty iron stairs.

"What now?" Raiden asked.

"You grab the left side and I'll grab the right." Snake response was swift as he walked close to the wheelchair.

Raiden got to the left of the chair and Snake to the right. They lifted the chair and started to climb the stairs.

Snake only hoped Big Boss wouldn't start to talk again, even if he did Snake would pay no attention.

The first flight was easy the second however was harder because of the certainty that beyond that point they had no protection. As they reached the top they saw the massive hangar. This was what Snake and Raiden had seen when they got to the elevator for the first time, an enormous black space. They couldn't see anything because the lights were off, now however they saw everything. A massive hangar very wide and very high with some kind of control tower to left of the old stairs. It was also populated by some crates and boxes but what really got Snake's and Raiden's attention was the gigantic machine, very similar to Metal Gear Ray except for a small obelisk that stood in the back of the head, the absence of markings and it's shiny black colour. It stood on top of a platform that was being carried through an enormous door. There it is. Snake thought that was the only exit out of this place and that that machine was the Metal Gear.

As they lowered their eyes Ocelot, wearing a suit beneath his brown overcoat, Meryl and a soldier, with his gun ready to fire at her, came into focus.

"At last…" Ocelot spoke out at them.
Snake and Raiden put the wheelchair safely on the ground and headed towards Ocelot, observing as several other soldiers gathered around them with their guns ready to fire.

"Snake!"Meryl yelled out.

"It took you long enough." Ocelot was grinning. He seemed almost happy, a rare sight. He looked conscientiously at Big Boss. His body was pale and naked covered only by a lab coat. Ocelot couldn't see if the body was still charred from his battle with Solid Snake twelve years ago. Only his face, with his black eye patch, seemed like it once was.

"He's here, now release Meryl." Snake ordered as he eyed the soldier pointing a gun at her.

Ocelot seemed like he didn't even heard Snake. He was still staring at Big Boss. He's really here.

"Ocelot!" Snake shouted wondering why he seemed so oblivious to what was going on.

Ocelot was brought back to reality and looked at Snake. "Before that I want you to know why you're here and why Big Boss is here." Ocelot took a few steps towards Snake as if taunting him. "I wonder what you'll think of my reasons."

Snake and Raiden didn't move to find their guns, it would have been folly. Instead they listened to Ocelot.

"I see that he's still with you." Ocelot looked at Raiden. "Do you trust him Snake?"

Raiden eyed Snake in the hope of a favourable response.

"I trust him with my life." Snake answered without doubts.

"Very well." Ocelot waved his hand and pointed at Snake. "I guess it's time for you to know the truth…" He paused. "…dear brother." It wasn't Ocelot's voice anymorethis one had a distinct British accent.

"Liquid?" Snake wondered when he would appear, but somehow the change had been different. The last time he had seen the change Ocelot jerked and twisted while holding his right hand. It was a very violent change. This time however there was no such thing.

"Correct brother, it's me, your shadow." Liquid laughed.

Raiden was stunned as well as Naomi and Meryl. Big Boss however remained perfectly still on his seat.

"What do you mean, what the hell are you?" Raiden asked sensing he had missed something.

"You haven't realised it yet?" Liquid was mocking everyone. "It's been me all this time Snake."

"What?" Snake gave a step forward and the soldiers around them drew their weapons.

Liquid waved a hand up forcing the soldiers to stop. "After that meeting two years ago on Arsenal Gear I gained full control over Ocelot." Liquid laughed uncontrollably. "After that I made sure the Patriots didn't suspect me. I fed them the story of a second surgery, just to make sure they didn't find it suspicious that I didn't 'appear' anymore."

Snake gave him a bewildered look. This was why he was acting so strangely, so unlike Ocelot. Snake reminisced about Shadow Moses at that time he had been tricked into thinking Liquid Snake was in fact his old master Macdonald Miller.

Raiden stepped in not believing what he was hearing. "But the voice…"

Liquid interrupted "It took a lot of practice, but I got the voice and his mannerisms right." Liquid laughed again. "And that's not the only thing I got from Ocelot."

"What do you mean?" Snake asked. His frustration towards the situation was apparent in his voice.

The soldiers around also seemed not to fully grasp the situation, but their loyalty was to Shalashaska.

"I now understand Ocelot's fascination with Big Boss." Liquid pointed towards Big Boss who however stood motionless in the wheelchair and apparently wasn't paying any attention to what was being said.

"He knew him Snake!" Liquid yelled out. "He knew him. Big Boss greatly influenced Ocelot.

The story started to seem unreal for Snake. Big Boss was alive, Liquid had taken control over Ocelot it was all too much.

"Of course that was what saved me." Liquid took out the glove that covered his right hand. "That's why Ocelot chose me, becauseI was the son of Big Boss." Liquid made a fist with his hand.

Snake had his eyes wide opened. Is Liquid speaking the truth? Liquid has been controlling Ocelot since that night on top of Arsenal Gear, not the other way around.

Raiden and Meryl couldn't believe what they were hearing. Naomi although she had seen Big Boss come to life, this surprised her even more.

"I think it's time to tell you why you're here." Liquid calmed his voice and eyed Snake.

Snake turned his focus back to Liquid.

"I'm not sure you'll understand the reasons though." Liquid talked like he had all the time in the world.

"Reasons for what?" Snake asked boldly.

"To bring Big Boss back from the dead and get both of you here."

It almost seemed absurd what Liquid was saying.

"That's not Big Boss." Snake said. "That's just a shadow of his former self." Snake gave another step forward. The urge to grab his gun and start shooting was almost unbearable.

Liquid made no case of what Snake said. "For the past two decades or even more the Patriots have been researching the possibility of genetic immortality. From what I can tell Ocelot was immediately attracted to the possibility of bringing back Big Boss."

"That's the most…"

Snake's new try for interruption didn't work since Liquid continued talking "The plan was almost scrapped, but before it was someone had the idea to make a test subject."

Naomi forgot to breathe for a second. She knew of whom Liquid was talking about and this made it clear that she was in fact working for the Patriots at that time.

"Gray Fox!" Snake said.

"Yes. He was a failure in many things, but it allowed him to be here now." Liquid pointed towards Big Boss.

Naomi almost felt compelled to reach for Snake's gun and shoot Liquid, but enough blood had been shed in her brother's name.

"You see Snake, what I want is very simple." A memory came to Liquid's mind. He was on top of Metal Gear Rex accompanied by Snake. You killed our father with your own hands! You stole my chance for revenge! Now I'll finish the work that father began. I will surpass him...I will destroy him! Liquid continued."I wanted revenge and now I have the chance, like you did, to kill Big Boss. The way it should have been!"

Snake thought that Liquid was insane. He brought back Big Boss just to fight with him, just for revenge.

Liquid was yelling out. "For you see Snake I found that in fact I am the superior one, not you."

"What!" Snake remembered Liquid's words. You're fine. You got all the old man's dominant genes. I got all the flawed, recessive genes. Everything was done so that you would be the greatest of his children. The only reason I exist is so they could create you.

"Yes Snake and now I'll have my revenge and then I'll surpass him…" Liquid paused.

Something was not right. A noise could be heard near the old iron stairs behind Snake and the others.

As Snake and Raiden turned immediately a silhouette came into focus.

"You're still alive!" Liquid said as he grabbed one of his guns.