Alaska. Or, that's what it used to be called before the whole world went to hell. It served as a place of healing for Snake, and always had. The solitude allowed him to recuperate from missions or other events that took a toll on his spirit. He hadn't been there since the Big Shell event. He had no need. He had a job to do then. He and Otacon were busy taking out Metal Gears across the world. After his most recent mission, Snake assumed that his days as a warrior were long over. Before he knew it, he was back in his prime, his accelerated aging seemingly gone. It happened almost overnight, and Snake was finding it hard to adjust.

He had to seek out his old cabin. It was the only place that allowed him to make sense of things. He knew he wasn't crazy, as he saw plenty of other elements from his own world. For example, he saw posters advertising PMCs on many of Cannon City's walls. He had all of the weapons and suits acquired from his work with Philanthropy. He still had his codec. What didn't make sense was how it all happened and what had become of his comrades.

Snake left Cannon City, overwhelmed with all of the changes he was facing. He was a relic from a forgotten age and couldn't identify with the world he was in. Not only was it a shock to see all these strange things going on, Snake found that he couldn't just settle down in solitude like he planned. Big Boss told him not to live as a soldier, or as a snake. His father told him to live in this new world as a man. Did Big Boss know this was coming before his death? Snake couldn't ever tell what that man was thinking, so he didn't dwell on it.

Snake pondered for a long time what purpose he could serve in this world. He had an IQ of 180, which gave him an edge over pretty much everyone else in the job market. Cannon City seemed to be the only settlement in this hell hole, and it was the largest and most diverse city he had ever seen. But could he settle in to a 9 to 5 job?

Of course not. Snake had the scars of war on his very soul. No matter what he accomplished, it seemed like he was always being dragged back to the battlefield. Snake refused to believe that he was a monster. Snake knew the only reason he fought was to make the future better for people who were unable to fight. That was his purpose in life. Snake was a killer, and he knew it. But he wasn't a tool. He fought for what he believed in. The only way to bring about change in a world gone mad was with a gun.

He didn't know enough about this world to take action now. He'd wait until the world needed him. For now, he'd hone his skills until a threat arrived. Even though this new world was insane, there were some decent people in it. People that didn't deserve to suffer.