Chapter 44
"What do you mean?" Raiden asked while turning around and facing Snake.
Snake quickly opened the right side door, ignoring Raiden's question and rendering the Kamov visible, and peered into the rainy night. The Ray was unquestionably hard to see, its shimmering armour reflected the night up above the buildings and road below. Snake put on his Night Vision Goggles and looked down. The Ray was moving across the roads stepping on cars and everything that crossed in its path even it's massive tail shattered windows and parts of buildings. It wouldn't stop at nothing.
Snake turned to Raiden. "Raiden give me your sword." Snake stretched out his hand.
"Why?" Then it hit him. "No you'll die."
"It's the only way to stop it now." Snake gesticulated again with his hand.
It was obvious that Snake wanted to get on top of the Ray using Raiden's HF Blade to pierce the armour and to find the white panel with the control and radar systems circuits.
"Snake that's insane!" Otacon was shouting.
"Otacon lure him to some place without buildings." Snake needed Otacon to be on his side.
Otacon didn't even try to argue. "Alright." He steered the Kamov so that it would be in front of the Ray.
Seeing Otacon's reaction Raiden looked straight into Snake's eyes and with a swift movement took out what was left of the HF Blade and handed it to Snake. Raiden had a confident look on his eyes. He knew that if anyone could pull this off it was Snake.
"Thanks." Snake rested his free hand on Raiden's shoulder and gripped it firmly.
"You want to face me!" Liquid shouted as he saw the Kamov right in front of him and followed him.
"Snake I'm going to head to that highway bridge!" Otacon shouted.
"Alright when you're there fly over the top of the Ray so I can jump down."
Otacon nodded knowing this was the worst idea Snake had ever had.
"Here it comes!" Liquid laughed as the laser erupted again from the obelisk.
"Damn I can't see it!" Otacon was steering the Kamov in front of the Ray and couldn't see where the laser was.
Snake, who was watching the Metal Gear from the side door, shouted. "Swerve left fast."
As the helicopter veered left something was hit. "What happened?" Raiden asked as he felt the Kamov shaking.
"It's the tail rotor." Otacon saw on the control panel that something was wrong with it.
Snake peeked outside and saw that there was no rear rotor. It had been cut off like butter from the rest of the tail.
"I can't control it. We're going down!" Otacon yelled between all the beeping that was coming from the panel.
The Kamov was slowing down and the Ray passed by underneath it. "Now you'll die!" Liquid raised one of Ray's arms and started firing.
"Otacon see if you can fly over the Ray for just a second." Snake only had one chance to get this right.
Bullets coming from Metal Gear Ray's arm passed by hazardously near the Kamov.
Otacon was pushing and pulling the Kamov's control and with complex manoeuvring he got it. "It's the best I can do."
Raiden stared at Snake waiting for his reaction.
"This is it then." Snake faced Ray and jumped out of the Kamov with Raiden's blade firmly tight on his left hand.
"Snaaaake!" Raiden shouted as he got near the side door. The Kamov however jerked around making it impossible for him to see what had happened to Snake.
"Mei I'm signing off now" The CODEC was turned off and Otacon shouted at Raiden. "Get in here and strap yourself."
Raiden complied and sat beside Otacon as he saw everything outside moving quite fast.
"Get ready for impact." Otacon shouted as he could feel the Kamov's tail racketing in the wind.
Raiden grabbed his seat and closed his eyes. Several memories came to his mind, Rose, Otacon, Snake and his child. He couldn't die now, not after all of this. The impact came suddenly.
Snake drove off the Kamov and rapidly grabbed what was left of Raiden's HF Blade with both his hands. The Ray got closer at incredible speed and with a large thud Snake fell directly onto its back. The Night Vision Goggles jumped out from his head on impact and a sickening pain went through his body, especially near his near fatal wound. He quickly gathered his strengths and jabbed the knife in Ray's armour to prevent falling. The armour was incredibly strong even with Snake's strength the blade only went down about one inch.
Liquid who was smiling because of the way the Kamov was falling soon became inquisitive as he saw Snake jumping from the moving helicopter. "What are you doing Snake? Do you think you can defeat this machine with that weapon?" Liquid laughed and could only wonder why Snake had jumped onto the Metal Gear with only half of a sword. Suddenly words flashed in one of the cockpit screens. "Hull Breach" Snake!
Snake, still felling an enormous pain through out his entire body, used his right hand to hold the blade and his left hand to find a climbable spot. Once he did he pulled out the blade and plunged it in a new spot closer to obelisk. Through the corner of his eye he could see the Kamov falling in the distance of the night. He just hoped everyone would be fine.
Liquid moved the Ray faster to each side to see if he could throw Snake from it.
Snake was shaken to the side almost losing its grip on the blade. I can't let go. He could see that the Ray was right on top of the bridge. The road had massive holes on it caused by the Metal Gear Ray enormous legs.
After several unsuccessful tries Liquid was getting irritated. "What the hell are you doing up there?"
Snake heard, through Ray's speakers, as Liquid sounded more infuriated. Suddenly he saw it, the small white panel contrasting with its black gleaming armour that had the radar and control systems circuits. The Ray was still moving across the highway bridge smashing cars, lights post and everything that would appear on its path.
The white panel was in a very difficult spot right on the base of the obelisk. He tried everything to get a good grip and tried to reach it but the rain didn't help. After a few seconds of frustration he got close to it by grabbing the obelisk with his free hand. He then pulled out the blade from the hole he had done before and gathering his strengths he rose up his arm and jabbed the knife into the small white protective panel. Sparks jetted out from within the panel and Snake let go of the blade. Whilst the Ray made a sudden move to the left Snake lost his balance. He still tried to grab the blade, firmly stuck in the middle of the white protective panel, but the surface was too slippery and he fell all the way through Ray's spine and tail "Ahhhhhh." Snake screamed as he fell onto the ground right in the middle of the highway bridge.
The Ray was moving in an abnormal way and Snake could still see, from the ground, the sparks spurting out from the panel.
"What's happening?" Liquid's voice resonated through the rain. "How did you!" Liquid couldn't see where he was going and the controls weren't responding accordingly. After a few seconds the Metal Gear took a step in the direction of the water and unbalanced it started falling. "This can't be!" Liquid was feeling the Ray falling on its side. As it crashed into the ground the cockpit shook all over the place throwing Liquid all around the cockpit instruments. Even his radio was affected as it smashed into the controls.
Snake got up grabbing his SOCOM, from his equipment, with his right hand and tightening the piece of cloth around his chest with is left. He then made his way towards Ray's cockpit with the help of the bridge lights that didn't went off during Ray's fall. The cockpit door on top of ray's head opened up and a hand appeared. Liquid came out crawling. How did he do that? How did he stop me again?
"Liquid stop right there!" Snake was a few feet away staring at Liquid's back.
Liquid got to his feet and raised his arms. "How could you do this?" He didn't turn.
"I have friends I can count on." Snake cocked his SOCOM.
"So will you kill me now?" Liquid replied as the noise from the rain became stronger.
"I think I have to." Snake wasn't afraid to kill him.
Liquid turned around and faced Snake. His dog tag was dangling on his bare chest, only the Colt's holsters, the overcoat and bits of his ripped suit protected him now. Not even the gizmo that prevented bullets from hitting him worked. "Look at you Snake. You're getting old by the minute."
Snake was aware that he grew older faster than most people because of his genetic doomed fate.
"You should be helping me." Liquid spoke out as he dropped his arms.
"Doing what? Killing people just for the purpose of revenge!" The image of Liquid firing at Big Boss was imprinted in his mind.
"My ultimate plan was to steal this Ray." Liquid talked calmly as the rain poured down on the scene creating puddles of water everywhere.
"What about Big Boss?" Snake gave a step forward with his gun pointed.
"After the Big Shell I took the information, about the machine that could regenerate tissue from DNA cells, from Ocelot." Liquid gave a step forward. "When I gained access to the facility I saw the plans they had for the Metal Gear Ray and I decided that I would do everything to get my hands on it." Liquid gave another step and stopped near a puddle of water. "After the plan to alter Ray's cockpit configuration was well under way I decided to take care of Big Boss. I fed Shadow Fox, the man who ran the facility according to the Patriots orders, the story that Big Boss had important information's concerning Metal Gear." Liquid positioned his arms and go ready. "Shadow only wanted to please the Patriots and after persuading him I made arrangements to get you here."
"Just to kill me and Big Boss." Snake stared at Liquid.
"Yes, a fitting end to a perfect plan…" Liquid quickly waved his leg and launched the water in the puddle towards Snake, blinding him for a fraction of a second.
Snake rapidly used his left hand and wiped his face only to see Liquid's hand going directly into his face. The strength of the punch threw Snake backwards. As he gained his focus again Liquid was gone.
"Snake I was going to take this Ray someplace safe and then infiltrate the Patriots ranks again. After that it would be just a matter of time before I used their machine and became whole again. Then I would resume my mission to crush the Patriots and create father's dream" Liquid was shouting.
Snake turned left and right, with his gun held high, trying to find him, but he could only see the fallen Ray. "You're insane." Snake talked normally.
"No I'm as rational as anyone can be. After you die I'll still be here." Liquid started laughing.
The noise of the rain didn't help Snake finding Liquid. "You're forgetting one thing. The Patriots know you stole the Ray." Snake was looking over one of the Ray's fallen arm.
"Do they? According to the facility's computer the Ray was stolen by a Philanthropy operative." Liquid laughed again. "And Big Boss, they'll think it was the great Dr. Naomi that revived him."
Snake frowned as the situation got worse. It seemed that Liquid had thought of everything.
"Damn you Liquid!"
"All I need to do now is to kill you and get the Ray back to the facility. That way I'll gain even more of their trust." A shot broke from one of Liquid's colts.
Snake noticed that the sound came from behind, but as he turned a bullet grazed his right shoulder. Snake immediately took cover behind the Ray's fallen arm. Liquid had taken his time reloading his Colt's as they were talking.
The Kamov impacted the ground with incredible force. Both Raiden and Otacon became unconscious. After a couple of minutes Raiden started to wake up, every part of his body was aching especially his left hand, his shoulder and the two small wounds he had on the left part of his chest caused by Vamp's small daggers. Out of the shattered glass window's of the cockpit he could see the Ray fallen down in the distance. Snake did it. He turned to Otacon and wiggled him with his arm. "Otacon wake up!"
Otacon woke up startled. "What is it?"
"Look." Raiden pointed to the Ray.
"We were lucky."
"Do you think he's okay?"
"I think so."
Suddenly Raiden's CODEC rang. "Yes?"
"Jack it's me." Rose sounded cheerful. "I see the chopper, we're heading there now!"
"Otacon can you get out?" Raiden asked as he opened his belt.
Otacon followed and replied. "Yeah."
"Rose is coming here with the others." Raiden said as he opened his door and jumped out. The Kamov had landed on top of a car in the vicinity of a building.
"A few more inches and we would have crashed into the building. " Otacon said as he got out of the Kamov. The rain was still pouring strong and dawn was still a couple of hours away.
The jeep was arriving as Otacon and Raiden got by the Kamov's side door.
Meryl seemed busy talking on the CODEC. "Alright we'll meet them there in fifteen minutes."
Naomi held the child as Rose ran to Raiden and threw herself at him. "I've missed you Jack."
"We were apart for just a few minutes Rose."
"It seemed like an eternity to me."
"Where's Snake?" Meryl asked as she got close to both Raiden and Otacon.
Raiden turned and faced the bridge. "There."
Very far away Meryl saw what had to be Ray fallen down. "Is he okay?" She asked.
"We don't know. He gave his CODEC to Rose." Otacon replied.
Meryl felt her eyes filling up with water. "Everybody get on the jeep." She got back behind the wheel.
Otacon sat next to her and Naomi, Raiden and Rose, with the child on her arms sat on the backseat.
Snake there are still things I need to say to you. Meryl pushed the accelerator and they sped off.
Snake looked at his shoulder, while ducking behind Ray's arm, and saw a bit of blood from where the bullet had grazed him.
"You know Snake I'm disappointed that you didn't die beside our father. It would have been such a fitting end to it all." Liquid spoke out knowing full well where Snake was.
The rain was falling heavily and Snake had the feeling that the end was very near, if not for Liquid then to himself. There was nothing that would stop this fight; no bomb like it had been in Shadow Moses and no superior advantage by Liquid like it had been on top of Arsenal Gear two years ago.
Snake got up and saw Liquid pointing his two colts at him, behind one of Ray's legs. Liquid smiled at the sight. They stared at each other for a few seconds and suddenly.
"Have at you Snake!"
Liquid quickly pulled the trigger on both of his Colts, but Snake moved to the side in a roll avoiding the shots. His wound felt worse at each movement he made. He hastily got on one knee and shot towards Liquid. However Liquid had already crouched behind Ray's leg.
"I just wished Ocelot was a little younger, but if everything goes right I won't be like this for much longer." Liquid said as he peeked out and shot two times with one of his Colts. Snake quickly ran away to cover as both bullets hit puddles of water.
"I'll stop you Liquid!" Snake shouted as he rapidly made his way over the Ray.
"How will you stop me Snake, you know I'm the strong one." Liquid was unaware Snake was walking over the Ray and almost reaching his position. "I'm going to win Snake, like I always do."
"Not this time!" Snake was on top of the Ray looking down on Liquid, as they were about seven feet apart. Liquid turned to fire, but Snake shot first and hit the Colt in Liquid's right hand sending it a few feet away into a puddle of water.
"Damn you!" Liquid shouted as he pointed the Colt he still had on his left hand.
Snake was about to take the shot when he slipped as the shimmering black armour of Ray allied with the pouring rain led to a very greasy surface. Snake let go of his SOCOM and tried to get up. As saw Liquid about to pull the trigger he made an effort and jumped towards him. Snake fell on top of him and avoided Liquid's shot.
Liquid was quick and pushed Snake away with a kick that led him to the ground.
Snake got up and held up his arms as did Liquid, finding that the Colt that had been on left hand disappeared.
Snake tired to punch Liquid with his right hand, but his wound hurt even more possibly because of his fall. Liquid of course took the opportunity and punched Snake in the stomach.
"Ah." Snake grinded his teeth as the pain from the punch went all the way through his body. Liquid was very strong, possibly even stronger than Steiner. Liquid hit Snake on the head with a backspin kick and then he saw it, the Colt that had been on his left hand was right there on the ground just a few feet behind Snake.
Snake held up his arms again, but the pain was almost unbearable.
Liquid punched Snake again and again, Snake fought back but the searing pain didn't help.
"Face it Snake." Liquid punched Snake again, this time near his wound.
"Ahh." Snake cried out in pain.
"You're weak!" Liquid punched him in the face and Snake fell backwards, with a bloody nose and his arms stretched out, on the watery ground near a couple of puddles of rain. Liquid took his time picking the Colt that was by Snake's feet.
Snake hadn't seen it laying there.
"You and Solidus were always weaker than me!" Liquid pointed the gun at Snake. "I'm the true son of Big Boss and soon I'll be the only one!" He cocked the Colt.
Snake tried to move his arms, but he had no more strength left. As he moved his hands he noticed something. His right hand was inside a small pool of rain water and inside it he groped for something that resembled the shape of a gun. Liquid's Colt!
Liquid eyed Snake on the ground arms opened wide, blood all over his chest and grinned. "Goodbye, brother!" Liquid was about to pull the trigger.
Snake had a chance, he grasped any strength he could gather and with a roar he picked up the Colt and shot towards Liquid. The bullet scratched Liquid's neck and caused Liquid's shot to land just a few inches away from Snake's head. He rapidly used his free hand to feel his neck and cocked the next bullet on the Colt. Snake pointed his gun carefully at Liquid and focused his eyes to discern the Colt's eyesight from the heavy rain. Liquid was too slow pointing his gun and Snake's next bullet hit him in the middle of his chest.
Liquid immediately dropped his gun and took his other hand to his chest fumbling backwards. He looked down at his chest and saw blood on his hand. He turned again to Snake with fiery hate in his eyes. "Ahhhh…" Liquid shouted as he tried to pick up his gun again, but he had no more vigour. "Snaaaake!" Liquid forgot the gun. He took a few steps back and leaned on the Ray until his legs gave out. "I….I…" Liquid fell down. He was sitting down on the rainy ground trying to talk. "I…will…surpass…him…" Liquid's head dropped and he didn't speak again. The water washed away the blood from his chest.
Snake took a few seconds to get up with every part of his body aching. As he got up he eyed Liquid's body. The rain was stopping and Snake raised his head to the sky. The moon was still shining bright as dawn approached. Snake then looked at the Colt, it was empty and it had a bullet encrusted in the handle. "Hmm…" Snake smiled as he threw it to the ground.
"Snake!" Someone was shouting his name.
Snake turned around and saw a black jeep approaching. Meryl.
As the jeep stopped Meryl got out and embraced him. "You're okay." She sighed with relief.
Everyone else on the jeep saw Ocelot's body leaning against the Ray.
"I've called my uncle. He sent a helicopter to pick us up, okay?
"I trust you Meryl." Snake pulled her from his body and stared her in the eyes. He wanted her to know that he was different.
"What about him?" Otacon asked pointing towards Ocelot's body.
"Leave him. The Patriots will take care of him." Snake said with a decisive look in his eyes. He didn't anything to do with Ocelot or Liquid anymore.
"But Snake, they might…" Naomi was pleading.
"Don't worry!" Snake got close to Naomi rested his hands on her shoulders.
It wasn't Naomi's responsibility anymore.
"Then let's go." Meryl said.
Both Naomi and Meryl helped Snake getting into the back of the jeep as there were no more seats.
As the jeep moved away from the scene Snake surveyed Ocelot's body until it was too far away to discern. Several choppers and sirens could be heard. The Patriots cleanup squad. Soon this would be just another story in a sleazy tabloid.
"What now Snake?" Raiden asked him.
Snake thought about what he should say. As much as Snake wanted to destroy the Patriots the thought of him becoming more like Big Boss frightened him. It was now clear to him that the Patriots were somehow of a necessary evil and even if one could destroy the men and women in charge then others would take their place. Big Boss had tried to fight against them and that only led to madness. "We have to continue the fight against Metal Gear. After that who knows."
"What about the Patriots?" Raiden wanted more than anything to destroy those who had caused him so much grief.
"We'll worry about them when they come after us, until then we fight what we can." Snake knew this was the right thing to do. "We'll fight them together."
"Together?" Meryl asked as she got near an open field and a Sikorsky helicopter circled over it.
"Yes, I've been alone for too long." Snake confessed.
"Yeah we've been alone for too long." Otacon grinned.
Snake looked again at the bridge. Somehow he had the feeling that Liquid, despite all his injuries was still alive. Liquid's own words came to his mind. I won't die. ...as long as you still live. Snake shook the thought from his mind. It doesn't matter. If I have to I'll fight him again. Snake had a weapon that no one else had. His will.
The jeep stopped and everyone got out. Snake got close to Rose and Olga's child. "Is the child alright?" Snake asked pointing to the child sleeping on Rose's arms.
"Yes." Rose smiled and walked away towards the Sikorsky.
Snake had kept his promise to Olga and got her child from the control of the Patriots. He watched as one by one everyone entered the helicopter Meryl, Rose and Olga's child, Naomi, Otacon and Raiden. Snake came to the conclusion that without them he would have never got through all of this. He entered the chopper and closed the side door and as the chopper raised Snake looked to the horizon.
We can only fight those things we can see and we never know what the next fight will be. I'll continue the fight for a better world, but this time I won't be alone. I'll have friends by my side. Building the future and keeping the past alive are one and the same thing, but we need to make sure we know the truth about the past so we can build an honest future.
The sun was getting up on the horizon, much sooner than expected.
END
Ocelot carefully opened his eyes and checked both his wounds. It's not that bad. Although his wounds were aching he would live. He then reached for his radio, still sitting on the cold and wet ground, and tuned a frequency.
"Sir it's me…yes it's done" The voice on the other side of the radio was imperceptible "…no Liquid is unconscious I have full control" It was Ocelot's rough and accented voice "…yes the test to the facility was a success…no, no one suspected it was a test…the Metal Gear is fine…yes if Liquid hadn't changed the design it would have been impregnable…the laser worked perfectly…of course sir, it's ready for production…no, unfortunately the Enforcers didn't survive…no, I don't think Vamp will be a problem again sir and if he is I'll take care of him…yes, he was able to fool Shadow Fox, but so did Liquid…very well…they took the Doctor, but we had no more use for her…yes, I was unable to get Snake's location from Liquid, but I took care of that; Raiden's nanomachines died out long ago, but I was able to influence Liquid with my plan…yes, Olga's child, the child's nanomachines will reveal their position…of course, I have the data with me" Ocelot reached his back pocket and took out a small data disc. "…no, Liquid doesn't know I have the data…yes, it was unfortunate what happened to Big Boss…I agree sir, the soldiers had orders to retrieve his body once I left the facility…yes, soon the research will be complete…yes, Liquid will resume control once I'm done, he can still be of some use to us…of course sir, I wouldn't dream of it, you all rule this nation with an iron grip…very well, goodbye…" Ocelot's radio died as sparks flew from it and the conversation was interrupted. The damage it had sustained when the Ray fell had crippled the battery. Ocelot threw the radio to the wet floor. He then placed the optical disc on his back pocket and waited as the choppers and the sirens got closer.
THE END