Almost two weeks after escaping the hospital had me on a horse next to Adamska. As we rode, a sandstorm had us nearly blind, only the tracking of the iDroid to keep us on the right path.

Turns out, Adamska is an incredibly harsh taskmaster. Just as his mother was before him. I am grateful for his help, however. Without him, I'd still be weak, and more than likely dead. I owe him much. I suppose the best I can do for him is try to be the brother I would have been to him, had he been raised with his mother.

I suppressed a sneeze as we came to a stop. The storm was passing, but it hardly mattered. I never liked the desert. Sand blowing in my face, the air dry and hot… Even with a scarf over my face, I sneeze. The sooner this mission is over, the better.

My horse whickered and pawed the ground, excited at the prospect of a long run. He'd been cooped up for far too long.

"How you feeling?"Adamska asked, eying me over the top of his sunglasses. They slid down his nose some time ago. I have to admit, he pulls the sunglasses look off far better than Kaz does.

"Alright."

"Hm. Good."He grinned, "After four years on ice, solo infiltration of the Soviet main ground forces should be the perfect warm-up."

He calls that a warm-up? Why not just pit me against Peace Walker again and be done with it?

He hands me a fully upgraded iDroid, and I flip it on. A digital map of Afghanistan lights up.

"Kaz is being held in a place called Da Ghwandai Khar, to the north. Prior to that, however, he was taken through Da Wialo Khalai. You may be able to find some intel on his exact location there."Adamska nods toward the map, then the village in the distance.

"Right."I say, putting the iDroid away. He sighs.

"He can't have much left in him. I give him another three days, tops. If we fail, and he dies, we lose our chance at revenge."He says seriously, "You need more intel. If you just go charging into Da Ghwandai Khar like a brash rookie, you'll be putting both of your lives at risk. See what you can find out, first."

I give him a slightly annoyed stare. As if I didn't know that already.

"This is as far as I can take you. I need to be getting back to base. It can't run itself, you know."

"And who knows who's going to pull a Kaz(1)."I smirked.

"Ha, right."Adamska dismounted his horse and removed his sunglasses, "You're a legend in the eyes of those who live on the battlefield. That's why you need to handle this mission yourself. Put the last few years behind you. Return as Big Boss. That's how Kaz would want it."I nodded. Kaz always was rather optimistic; something I dismissed as him still being young; not that I'd been much older than him at the time Can't say that now, though. He's what, 28?

"I'll be sending additional intel by radio. Stay sharp."His smirk vanished suddenly, his eyes gaining a solemn glint, "Not one of his bodyguards survived. And they were good. All we found on the scene were their corpses, and these. He'll be missing them, and you're his only hope of getting them back."From his pocket, he pulled a familiar pair of sunglasses. They were Kaz's. He never went anywhere without them. I took them and tucked them safely in my own pocket. Adamska led his horse back down here we had come from a ways before glancing at me cheekily from over his shoulder.

"Now go! Let the legend come back to life!"I smiled crookedly at him, silently promising retribution for that smart-ass quip, then whipped the reigns. My horse kicked his front legs up, then shot off.

It was after dark when I found the intel file. For my efforts, I had a nice little beacon on my map; indicating the center of Da Ghwandai Khar. Assuming the intel could be trusted, I'd be getting Kaz out of Soviet hands before sunrise. Piece of cake.

Da Ghwandai Khar was a wreck. The Soviets really did a number on the place. Sandbags littered the place, making up makeshift walls. Threadbare tents made up the roofs of some of the more dilapidated buildings. Patrols were everywhere, and there was not a civilian to be seen. I had my work cut out for me.

Leaving my horse on the outskirts of the village, I kept to the shadows, avoiding the searchlights that randomly turned my way. The patrols were rather lax, and the few guards were negligent in their fatigue. Slipping past them was child's play.

It was the scent of fresh blood that finally drew me to him. Kaz was cuffed to a hook on the wall on the second floor of the village's central building. The man was a mess.

They'd left a bag over his head. Even from across the room, I could hear his labored breathing. His clothes were sweaty, and dried blood was crusted over various tears. He'd been shot in the shoulder, the wound recent. His leg was at an awkward angle. If it wasn't so important to get him out of there, I'd hunt down every last man in the village. How dare they harm my friend?!

In less than two seconds, I was across the room and kneeling in front of him.

"Kaz?" I whispered, gently removing the bag. He coughed and gasped at the sudden rush of fresh air.

"No more use for me, huh?"Kaz mumbled, thinking me the enemy. I placed my hands on either cheek, raising his head and getting a better look at him.

Kaz's face was sweaty and pale, his hair greasy from not being washed in over a week. His left eye was swollen, and there was an unkempt goatee attempting to spring forth on his chin.

"Kaz, it's me."I said, still hushed, "I'm here to get you out."His fevered eyes lit up in recognition.

"S-Snake?"

I picked the locks on the handcuffs. They fell open and my friend's arms dropped to his sides. He hissed as his shoulder bounced around. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the aviator sunglasses Adamska gave me earlier. Unfolding them, I slid them onto his face. Hid right hand came up to adjust them.

"What took you so long?"Kaz asked, a relieved smile playing on his chapped lips.

"We'll talk, but not here."I told him, carefully ducking and lifting him up onto my shoulder.

"Excellent! You've secured Miller. I'll send a chopper to get you out. Make your way to the RV." Adamska's voice sounded over the radio. I felt the iDroid on my belt vibrate. Checking it, there was a waypoint indicating a site about a mile from the village. Perfectly doable by horse.

Getting out of the village was just as easy as getting in; if not easier. I'm pretty sure one of the guards was asleep standing up, though it may have been a trick of the light; or lack thereof.

"Age hasn't slowed you down one bit."He chuckled, "Not so heavy anymore, right?"I felt him slipping and adjusted him on my shoulder. I'd had to carry him to his quarters more than once when he's fallen asleep at his desk at Mother base's command center. He hadn't been heavy then, and still wasn't now. I told him as much.

"Heh… Whatever you say..."He laughed drily, "You know… It's been over four years. Those magic words of yours. I've been waiting to hear them. C'mon. Say 'em for old times sake."There was a teasing hint to his voice. I smiled, indulging him.

"Kept you waiting, huh?"I asked, and he sighed.

"It really is you, Snake..."Kaz breathed, "I didn't say a word. No matter what they did. The intel Strangelove found..."

"You can tell me all about it. Later."I tensed as an unusual mist began to roll in. I laid him on the back of my horse when I reached him before climbing on myself. The hair on the back of my neck began to stand on end. We were being watched.

"Hold on."I warned before spurring my horse to a gallop.

"This is Pequod! Have arrived at LZ! Will stand by!"Lobster, now known as Pequod, called over the radio when we'd almost made it to the RV. The mist was steadily getting thicker. It was nearly impossible to see by the time we arrived at the LZ. Kaz looked a bit green when I brought him onto my shoulder again.

"We lost it all that day. Everything. But we've gotta look ahead. There's something I want to show you..."He whispered.

The chopper tried to land, but it was no use. With the mist, the chance of accidentally crashing was too great.

"Boss, do you read me? This is Pequod. There is a gas covering the LZ. We can't land!"The helicopter ascended again, "Pulling back!"

"Gas..?"Kaz gasped, "But that would mean… Oh no, not them!"

In the fog, I could barely make out four figures stumbling erratically before leaping and taking point somewhere ahead. Something tells me that if we go that way, we'll be fuller of holes than Swiss cheese. Easing Kaz back onto the horse, I climbed up and turned back the way we came. It would take longer, but it was safer.

"Snake, whatever that mist is, it's all over the damn place. We can't see through it. I'm changing the LZ so it's outside the mist. Get over there ASAP. The chopper will be waiting. Out." Adamska radioed in. The iDroid vibrated and I checked the location. It wasn't too far if we doubled back.

"Those things..."Kaz rasped as we rode, "That's the unit that attacked us before. They came at us real fast in the same kind of mist. Our men; survivors from four years ago were wiped out like it was nothing..."

"There was nothing that you could have done."I tried to console. He wouldn't have it.

"But there was! If it wasn't for that damn restriction-"Kaz cut himself off, as if he'd said too much.

"Kaz?"

"No, it's nothing. I couldn't have done anything."And he slumped in defeat. We reached the LZ shortly after that.

"This is Pequod! Have arrived at LZ!" The chopper touched down and I placed Kaz on board. I joined him after activating the Fulton recovery balloon in my horse's saddle, slumping tiredly. I wasn't used to this anymore.

Looking to Kaz, his leg was being tended to by the on-board medic. When he set my friend's leg, I cringed at the snapping sound of the bones being moved back into place. He stifled a scream, blood dripping from his hands from where his nails had dug into his palms. The medic applied a splint, them moved on to treat the wound in his shoulder.

"Snake..."Kaz called, slumped in exhaustion, "Why are we still here? Just to suffer?"I was taken aback by the bitter despair in his voice, "Every night, I can hear the screams. The ghosts of our fallen comrades asking for help; asking why we didn't save them. The torment..."He raised a bloody, shaking fist, and slammed it to the floor of the helicopter.

"It never goes away..."I jumped when he reached out and grabbed my left arm, "You see them too, don't you? I'm the one who got caught up with Cipher. A force above nations. Even the US!"He pulled me forward until my nose was scarce inches from his; I could see the anguish and self-loathing clear in his eyes, "And I was the parasite below, feeding off Zero's power!"It was plain as day. He blamed himself.

Mindful of his broken leg, I picked him up by the sides and shifted him onto the seat in front of me. His eyes never left mine.

"They came after you in Cyprus."Kaz growled, "Then Afghanistan. Cipher never stops. It swallows everything in it's path. Who knows how big it's grown now? We'll make them pay, boss. And I won't rest until they've suffered a thousand fold!"

"Approaching Mother Base!" The pilot indicated and we peered out the window. Though it was only a single platform, it was huge. Large orange struts held it steady above the raging ocean currents. The command tower was easily ten stories tall, with areas for possible expansion. There were at least three helipads.

"Our new Mother Base..."Kaz sighed, "I've no idea how long it'll take, but I'll make it bigger. Better than before."He pointed toward the single strut, then let his hand fall back onto his knee. I gently took his single free hand into my own gently and threaded our fingers, squeezing.

"Kaz..."I started, "What should I do, my friend?"With my free hand, I massaged my throbbing temples.

"Boss..?"

"Tell me..."I implored, "Tell me like you used to."

He said nothing then.

The chopper landed just moments later. Getting out first, I helped Kaz down and brought his arm over my shoulder, leading him toward the approaching stretcher.

"Things have changed, boss."He said finally, "We pull in money and recruits just to combat Cipher. Rubbing our noses in bloody battlefield dirt. All for revenge. The world calls for wet-work, and we answer. No greater good. No just cause."

"Kaz..?"

"Cipher sent us to hell, but now? We're going even deeper."

"Hell, huh?"I chuckled, "I guess heaven's not my kind of place, anyway."

"Dogs of war for almost half a decade..."He began as I eased him onto the stretcher, "That ends today. Now you're not sleeping, and we're not junkyard hounds. We're Diamond Dogs."As he clenched a fist in pride, the medics pushed him to lie down, placing an oxygen mask over his face. He fought them weakly. Apparently, he still had more to say.

"Let them talk."Adamska ordered as he strode up to my side. The medics let him up.

"We can crush Cipher, boss. And you can create the army that can do it."He said passionately. I shook my head.

"Just one thing, Kaz. This isn't about the past. We're fighting fr the future."

Before I could say more, it seemed one of the medics had had enough of our stalling and jabbed Kaz with a sedative. His eyes rolled up in his head and he fell back onto the stretcher. I rolled my eyes at their antics. He knows Kaz is going to get him back for that, right? Adamska placed a hand on my shoulder and walked with me a ways.

"Good work getting him out of there. He wouldn't have lased much longer."

"Of course."The few recruits that remained on the base saluted as we walked by. I nodded in acknowledgment.

"Listen. First chance you get, head down to the R&D lab. Dr. Strangelove needs to talk to you. It's ah… important."

"Right."

He nodded and left to go do...whatever it is he does. For some reason, I could sense that things were about to change. Whether for better or worse, well. We'll just have to see, now won't we?

(1)look up on youtube the Kaz & Snake Sauna. That'll explain things nicely.