Chapter 14

A radio was being held by a steady gloved hand.

"Sir they are in B2 Computer room?" A voice came from the radio.

"Good, if anything changes let me know." Ocelot's voice was cold and rugged as it ever was.

"Very well sir."

Ocelot was in front of a machine that meant inspiration to him. A torture device stood in the middle of a room surrounded by computers, a locked door in front of the torture machine led to an empty cell on the right there was another door, which was about to open. From it a dark figure appeared with some kind of weird black tentacles wrapped around him. Solidus Snake and his power suit were incredibly intimidating.

Ocelot quickly placed the radio over one of the computers and addressed Solidus. "Everything is has planned." Ocelot stared at the white bandage over Solidus left eye.

In response Solidus stepped closer to Ocelot. "Good, what about Snake and that…man?"

"The last report said that they lost track of them." Ocelot replied while taking his left hand to his waist.

"What about Vamp?" Solidus asked sounding a bit irritated.

"He hasn't contacted us yet, but I'm sure he won't fail…what about your eye?"

"It's gone forever…but maybe I should thank them. It'll take me one step closer to him and to his dream. At least these power tentacles will help my loss." Solidus grinned as he waved the tentacles around. "I'll be checking the final preparations."

"What about Dead Cell?" Ocelot asked.

"Tell Fortune that after I get what I need she can carry on with her own plan." Solidus said as he headed out of the room.

"Very well, King…"

The door closed leaving Ocelot behind with a slight grin.

Snake was heading towards the hostages, he would let know to Jennifer that they were heading to B2, however as Snake reached the lounge area his radio came on letting every one hear it.

"Snake! I didn't make it on time... Arsenal's going active!" Raiden's voice echoed across the room making every head turn and look, with their eyes wide opened, to Snake.

Snake quickly covered the radio with his hand and took a few steps from the lounge. Otacon followed behind.

"Yeah, I heard. The hostage rescue's gonna have to wait." Snake said realizing that the most important thing to do was to stop the massive machine from getting away.

"I'm going after Emma." Raiden replied.

The virus…"We'll secure the Computer Room." Snake said. "Looks like we can't install the virus program without Emma." He replied referencing the virus that Emma had created.

"Can't your partner do it?" Raiden asked.

"I would if I could. But the security for this system is no joke. I need more time..." Otacon said while glancing over at the turned off device. He would need to use a working computer.

"That's why we need her."

"Understood. I'll make sure you have your family reunion..." Raiden said and signed off

"We need to go Otacon. We'll wait in B2 for Emma and Raiden."

"Wait a minute." Jennifer interrupted abruptly Snake's sentence. "We're leaving us here alone!"

Snake turned and saw Jennifer holding a moistened cloth probably used to ease the pain on some other hostage.

"Sorry but we have to do this…Otacon and I will be right back." Snake said.

"Well I hope so." Jennifer said and walked away to the lounge.

"Let's go." Snake said heading for the elevator. B2 Computer Room was where the door to the dreaded machine was located.

"There's no turning back after this Snake. We've never been so close to disrupt a plan of the Patriots." Otacon said while putting his device in his coat pocket.

"I know, and it all started with that info you got." Snake said taking in what Otacon had just said. In that precise moment they were fighting against the Patriots, however a thought rushed over to Snake's head. What if they were supposed to think they were fighting against the Patriots? Could something so big as the Patriots be tricked?

As the elevator door slid open, Snake focused an observed the empty space before them. There was a door to the left and one to the right.

"Let's hope this place is deserted." Otacon said.

They took the left door and it didn't very take long for them to state the fact that B2 was indeed empty. The main area was where the computer room was and where the massive door that led to Arsenal Gear stood.

"This is it." Snake banged on the door. It felt incredibly heavy and thick. No lock…

Both forgot the door and headed for the computer room, Otacon and Snake placed themselves near the computer that was closest to the entry points of B2. This way Snake could keep a close eye whoever entered.

On top of one of the computers stood a yellow cage, and inside stood a beautiful green parrot. "Hal…Hal…" It chirped as it saw people getting near.

"EE?" Otacon took notice of the bird realizing it was telling its name.

"I'll call Raiden" Snake said realizing that Otacon probably wanted to know where and how his sister was. "Raiden, we've infiltrated the computer Room. What's your situation?" Snake pulled out his radio.

"Emma's safe. We're heading your way." Raiden responded.

Otacon sighed with relief. "Good job!" He then turned on the computer in front of him and immediately got to work.

After a brief moment Snake spoke again. "Shell 1's deserted. Looks like everybody's aboard Arsenal."

Otacon then got near the radio Snake was holding. "I had a look at the system but there's nothing I can do. EE's our only hope."

"Right... I'll put her on then." Raiden replied.

"Huh? EE? How...?" Otacon was fumbling his words.

"I'll use my Codec as a relay." Raiden said.

"Ahem, umm..." Otacon seemed to be preparing to give a speech.

Snake handed the radio over to him.

"Here she is..." Raiden spoke.

"Uh... Hal...?" Emma's voice was incredibly crisp and young. It sounded like it belonged to an innocent little girl.

"Ah... EE? Is that you?" Otacon replied.

"Hal..." Emma spoke back.

Otacon wasn't sure of what to say. "EE..." The thought of his sister being connected with weapons of mass destruction rushed to his head faster than anything else. "Uh... Why're you involved with Metal Gear?"

"Huh???" Emma replied in awe.

Otacon continued. "You knew our family's dark history, and still got involved!? What's wrong with you!?" Otacon sounded hostile.

"I should have known..." Emma replied obviously disappointed.

"Answer me! Why are you repeating the same mistake?"

Emma stood silent for a few seconds. "I wanted to hurt you... I wanted to see you suffer..."

"EE...?" Otacon's head fell as he herd his sister talking in a way he had never heard.

"You abandoned me –" She continued.

"No! That's not what happened..." Otacon tried to explain but Snake stepped in.

"Alright - that's enough!" Snake had had enough of insults.

"Who are you?" Emma asked promptly.

"I'm a friend of Otacon's, Emma."

"Otacon..." Emma said her brother's name in a despiteful way.

"Enough with the sibling rivalry." Snake continued.

"That's not what this is!!" She replied.

"We haven't got time for this! Raiden! Get her over here, right now!"

"I - I ..." Emma was at a loss for words and was cut in by Raiden.

"Gotcha, Snake. I'll head over there with Emma."

"Most of the enemy's aboard Arsenal. But I suggest you be careful. Make sure Emma gets here in one piece."

"Raiden... take care of my sister." Otacon replied.

"Don't worry. I'll get her there." Raiden signed off.

"Humph, she's your sister alright." Snake said while resting his M4 over one the computer workbenches.

"She's so different, not like what I remembered." Otacon was keeping his head down.

"That's because you haven't seen her for quite some time." Snake got close to the computer. "Can you find a way to speed Emma's work?" Snake asked trying to give Otacon some focus.

"Humm…yeah…sure." Otacon got near the computer and started pushing keys. "I have to see the security protocol for sending data to Arsenal Gear. Once I overwrite it we should have no problem."

As Otacon pushed keys a beeping noise came from the computer. "That noise?" Both Otacon and Snake had heard the noise before in Strut I.

Otacon franticly pushed a few more keys and a camera feed appeared on screen. The camera was filming a corridor of Shell 1 Core first floor. But the feed only lasted about three seconds. After that the shadow of a person passed in front of it and knocked it offline.

"Damn!! What was that!!?" Snake said.

"Do you think it's the one who sent the message Snake?" Otacon sounded worried as he fixed his glasses before they fell from his face.

"I'll have to check it out." Snake said while he grabbed the M4.

"We don't know who or what it is?" Otacon said.

"Don't worry about me, just get that job done and wait for Raiden. If you need to contact him use your CODEC." Snake ran out of the computer room towards the elevator. The first floor was his destination.

Snake pushed the button of the first floor and checked both the M4 and the USP for ammo.

The door of the elevator opened revealing a silent first floor. Snake got his M4 ready to fire. He took the path to the left where the cameras were located. One of them had the wire cut off. The shiny floor reflected Snake and his steady pose as he made its way to the big corridor. In the distance near the other cameras Snake saw the shadow of someone, someone he had seen before, the shadow disappeared in the next instant.

"It can't be!!" Snake said to himself. He reached for his headphones and called Raiden on the radio. "Raiden? I may have to sign off for a while. Just a small errand... Don't worry about it." Snake had no idea of what was about to transpire, but he knew it would be tough.

"What's it about?" Raiden asked.

Snake heard a noise coming from behind and rushed to sign off. "Here goes -- I'm going offline!"

Snake only had time to notice a small reflection on the floor from the corner of his right eye. He jumped forward into a roll avoiding what seemed to be a slash made by a cutting weapon. Snake hastily turned around and with a knee on the floor pointed his M4 to the enemy. "You!!"